An Illinois law that requires municipalities to pick up the tab on health insurance coverage for public safety workers who suffer a catastrophic injury on the job is coming in for some challenges. The issue, city officials say, is a lack of clarity over what...
The issue of workers' compensation at Illinois state institutions has been in the news of late. At issue is a startling claim that just a dozen or so institutions in southern Illinois made up almost one-third of the total amount awarded through the workers'...
It is not uncommon for some Illinois farmers to presume that they are exempt from carrying workers' compensation coverage. While that may be true in some cases, it not always true. During the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago this year, Chris Hemenway who...
In Illinois and elsewhere, workers' compensation is available for those employees who are injured on the job. It can be used to cover medical expenses for injuries sustained while at work, and even to make up for lost wages while the employee recovers. Lately though,...
Faced with the same budget shortfalls that are affecting governments everywhere, Illinois' Windy City has a new target. Led by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Alderman Edward Burke, Chicago is cracking down on workers' compensation cases, with the goal of trimming $15 million...
Due to the weak economy and the still continuing aftershocks of the 2008 housing crisis, many state governments are having trouble paying their bills. The State of Illinois is no exception as its overdue bills amounted to $3. 8 billion at the end of fiscal 2011, which...
Each year, thousands of workplace injuries happen across the country. Luckily, most of the incidents are relatively minor. Even so, the injured worker may be entitled to benefits through hir or her state's workers' compensation system. These benefits provide...
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act specifically prohibits firing an employee because he or she filed a claim for benefits. And yet, it often happens, as some employers seek ways to cut costs at the expense of employees who have been injured.The law gives the...
Workers' compensation claims are costing the city of Springfield, Illinois a lot of money. Its city manager wants to do something about it. The city has paid some $16 million over the past three years to cover medical bills, final workers' compensation settlements and...
If you injure or kill someone by way of recklessness or drunk driving while on the job in Illinois, don't expect to receive workers' compensation for any injuries you sustain. That is the gist of a new bill signed into law earlier this month by Governor Pat Quinn. In...
