Why all Illinoisans need action on workers’ comp
Why all Illinoisans need action on workers’ comp
The cost of workers’ compensation for municipalities, counties and state government in Illinois is more than $400 million per year.
Illinois companies announce 650 mass layoffs in November
Illinois companies announce 650 mass layoffs in November
Employers in the Land of Lincoln announced 650 mass layoffs in November, according to the November edition of the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, report. This report marks the first time since July 2015 that there wasn’t single mass-layoff announcement in the manufacturing sector. The types of jobs lost were spread across...
After court ruling, Chicago food trucks must fight on against protectionist city rules
After court ruling, Chicago food trucks must fight on against protectionist city rules
In her Dec. 5 ruling, a Cook County Circuit Court judge said Chicago’s oppressive food truck regulations serve legitimate city interests. But evidence shows the only interests the rules protect are those of politically connected restaurant owners and politicians.
Judge upholds onerous Chicago food truck rules
Judge upholds onerous Chicago food truck rules
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Anna Helen Demacopoulos squelched a ray of hope for Chicago food trucks Dec. 5 as the court upheld two of the city’s most oppressive regulations. In recent weeks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been coming after these small-business owners. But they’ve faced the city’s wrath for years, even after City Council...
Jason B.
Jason B.
“I was homeless before I got this job. I sat right out here for years with a sign that said ‘Please help.’ Every day, for years, even with eight feet of snow out here. Every day. People look at me a lot different now. They were seeing me sitting on the ground, now they see...
Aaron Moore
Aaron Moore
“This thing started with me, my buddy and a paintbrush. It was all bootstrapped. We ran the businesses out of two garages and a den at our secretary’s house. Now we have anywhere from 20 to 40 guys working for us. I’m really proud of it. It’s what I’ve spent my entire adult life doing....
Trump can help save Chicago manufacturing jobs by taking on sugar tariffs
Trump can help save Chicago manufacturing jobs by taking on sugar tariffs
Chicago and Illinois have plenty of their own problems on the manufacturing front, with issues such as high property taxes and workers’ compensation costs driving production facilities to other states. But U.S. trade policy regarding sugar isn’t helping matters. For each one sugar growing and harvesting job saved through high U.S. sugar tariffs, nearly three confectionery manufacturing jobs are lost, according to the International Trade Administration.
Illinois House fails to override bill tying prevailing wage to union rates
Illinois House fails to override bill tying prevailing wage to union rates
The proposed legislation would have hiked costs for taxpayers and undermined market forces, all to benefit special interests.
Madigan spokesman, trial bar peddle myths about workers’ compensation
Madigan spokesman, trial bar peddle myths about workers’ compensation
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s spokesman, Steve Brown, has repeatedly implied that Illinois insurance companies are hoarding cost savings. However, this couldn't be happening unless insurance companies were colluding in violation of the principle of antitrust laws, and there's no evidence they are. Illinois trial lawyers have echoed Brown's sentiments, but they don't seem to see evidence of antitrust violations either given that they haven't brought lawsuits against insurance companies for violating federal antitrust law.
McDonald’s counters Fight for $15 with automation nationwide
McDonald’s counters Fight for $15 with automation nationwide
Calls for a minimum-wage hike nationwide and in Illinois are increasingly met with businesses’ use of technology to cut costs.
Village of Barrington to resist Cook County minimum wage hike
Village of Barrington to resist Cook County minimum wage hike
The northwest suburb of Barrington passed an ordinance to allow local businesses to forgo Cook County’s minimum wage hike, which has the potential to be devastating for jobs in the county.
Workers’ compensation for state, county and municipal workers costs Illinois taxpayers $400 million per year
Workers’ compensation for state, county and municipal workers costs Illinois taxpayers $400 million per year
Workers’ compensation is a significant cost to Illinois taxpayers and drains scarce tax dollars from government coffers. Political and business leaders often view workers’ compensation as a costly regulation that affects private-sector investment and employment in Illinois.[1] This description is accurate yet incomplete. The same heavy costs imposed on private-sector employers[2] are also imposed on...
Illinois lost 80,000 millennials between 2011-2015
Illinois lost 80,000 millennials between 2011-2015
Millennial out-migration from the Land of Lincoln is worse than all its neighboring states.
October BLS jobs report: Illinois has region’s heaviest manufacturing job losses in 2015 and 2016
October BLS jobs report: Illinois has region’s heaviest manufacturing job losses in 2015 and 2016
Since the beginning of 2015, Illinois has lost 14,100 manufacturing jobs.