HR Compliance & I-9 Audit Services for Illinois Employers

Employee Handbooks, Policies & Procedures

It is critical that your organization has established, written policies and procedures that set clear rules; however, you must also demonstrate that these are more than just a “paper policy." In other words, your organization must practice what it preaches. We review, write, and implement customized policies based on your specific industry. This includes the review and complete development of Employee Handbooks for both single and multi-state organizations to ensure local and federal compliance.

Incident Reporting & Third-Party Investigations

Every organization must have secure processes in place to capture, store, and report workplace incidents or employee grievances. Deluxe Employment Services will review your current processes or act as your unbiased, third-party HR provider to handle all investigations with the strictest confidence and timely resolution.

Sexual Harassment Prevention & Bystander Training

Illinois law requires every employer to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. Under the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (Public Act 101-0221) , training must include a definition of sexual harassment under Illinois law, examples of prohibited conduct, an explanation of the internal complaint process, legal remedies available to employees, and retaliation protections. Deluxe Employment Services can develop and deliver a compliant annual training program tailored to your industry and workforce.

Chicago-area employers face additional, stricter obligations under Chicago Municipal Code § 2-160-100 . Chicago requires employers to maintain a written anti-sexual harassment policy, post it in the workplace, conduct a one-hour annual bystander intervention training for all employees, and provide an additional one-hour training specifically for managers and supervisors. Records of all completed training must be retained for at least five years.

Chicago Pronoun & Gender Identity Protections

Under the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance (Municipal Code § 2-160-030) , gender identity and expression are fully protected classes. Employers operating within the City of Chicago are required to use an employee's stated name and pronouns. Intentionally and repeatedly misusing an employee's preferred pronouns can constitute unlawful harassment under Chicago law, exposing your organization to complaints filed with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR).

Deluxe Employment Services assists Chicago-area businesses in navigating these requirements — updating employee handbooks, training managers on respectful workplace practices, and implementing pronoun-inclusive policies that bring your organization into full compliance with local ordinance.

Workplace Safety Compliance & OSHA Readiness

Workplace safety is an employment compliance obligation — and OSHA violations can be among the most expensive liabilities an Illinois employer faces. Rosemarie Nilson holds the OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification, giving DES the depth to help your organization build defensible safety programs, complete required safety recordkeeping, and prepare for OSHA inspections before an inspector shows up.

• Safety Policy Development: We help you write or update workplace safety policies that align with OSHA's General Industry standards and integrate cleanly with your employee handbook.
• OSHA Recordkeeping (300/300A/301): We review your injury and illness recordkeeping practices for accuracy and completeness — a common citation target during OSHA inspections.
• Hazard Communication & Training: We assess whether your workforce has received required safety training (GHS/HazCom, emergency action plans, PPE) and help close the gaps.
• OSHA Inspection Preparedness: We walk you through the inspection process, your rights as an employer, and how to respond to citations — so you're never caught off guard.

Comprehensive HR Compliance Audits

We perform thorough, proactive assessments of your organization's compliance risk to identify vulnerabilities before they become liabilities.

• Form I-9 Verification Audits: We check for any errors or omissions in your employment eligibility verification procedures and ensure you are prepared for federal audits, while advising on future documentation requirements.
• Full-Scale HR Audits: An exhaustive review of your employee records, employee handbook, hiring and onboarding processes, FLSA compensation classification, performance evaluations, benefits administration, and required compliance training.