TMA E-News Bulletin January 21, 2026

INFORMATION

VESSA’s Expanded Recording Protections: What Illinois Employers Must Do Now

Effective January 1, 2026, the Illinois Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), as recently amended, now prohibits employers from disciplining employees for using company-issued technology such as phones, laptops, or tablets to record evidence of domestic, sexual, or gender-based violence, whether inside or outside of the workplace. This change in the law immediately puts many employers at odds with their own “no-recording” and “acceptable use” policies, which often prohibit any form of recording on company property or devices. Navigating conflicting policies and avoiding liability under VESSA will require employers to exercise extreme caution. More HERE.

U.S. Ed. Dept. Green-Lights New Rule Stopping Funding of Low-Paying Degrees

The Department of Education is finalizing a new rule that will require schools to include the average earnings of graduates of the degree programs they offer. Furthermore, if graduates of those degrees don’t earn more, on average, than a high school graduate, those degrees will be prohibited from receiving federal funds. The Administration is looking to “break the cycle of student debt and poor return on investment” plaguing too many graduates, explained Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent.

November Machine Tool Orders May Signal Surge in 2026

According to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT, new orders of metalworking machinery in November 2025 dropped (19.6%) from October, roughly equaled orders in November 2024, and are up 17.8% YTD. The metalworking machinery market remains on solid ground with firms seeking to exhaust capital equipment budgets and maximize tax benefits as evidenced by YTD orders for the first 11 months in 2025 are nearly 5% higher than for all of 2024. More HERE.

ADVOCACY

TMA Candidate Questionnaires In The Mail

TMA mailed out more than 150 questionnaires this week to candidates for Governor, Illinois House and Senate, and U.S. House and Senate in TMA member regions to garner their positions on issues important to small and midsize manufacturers. Deadline to complete the questionnaires is February 6, and TMA will be sharing the candidates’ responses with TMA members later in February.

TMA Hosts Second State Manufacturing Task Force Meeting

Several TMA members appointed to the state’s Manufacturing Task Force met again last week to continue discussions on ways to improve and expand small and midsize manufacturing in Illinois. Task force members were briefed on TMA’s efforts to amend state law to boost Career Technical Education in high schools and pledged to educate legislators on the issue. The task force will meet again in March.

MEMBERS

Atlas Tool Works, Inc. Wins TMA “Being Born” Artwork

TMA’s Wylie Douglass stopped by TMA member Atlas Tool Works, Inc.. to present President Zach Mottl a piece of TMA history — a limited edition print “Being Born,” which Zach won as part of our Centennial Celebration in 2025. As a former TMA Board Chairman and leader of a company that’s been a member since 1928, Zach and the Atlas team embody the strength, legacy, and innovation that define TMA members.

EVENTS

TRAINING

PARTNERS

GOLD | 2026

SILVER | 2026

BRONZE | 2026

RESOURCES

TMA HR HOTLINE

TMA members have access to unlimited, professional HR counsel free of charge via our

HR Hotline at 888-849-0451. Additional HR services provided at a TMA discounted rate.