The law firm of
Johnson & Bell, Ltd. is offering a seminar on
employment-related issues for business owners and
executives, in-house counsel, human resource
directors, and risk managers From 1 p.m. to 5:30
p.m., October 18, in Chicago. There is no fee and
space is limited to the first 80 registrants.
The Human Resource
Certification Institute has approved the program
for 3.75 credits toward PHR and SPHR
recertification. Contact info@johnsonandbell.com
for a brochure. For a full program agenda
click MORE
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Is your company one of
the 'best places to work in Illinois?' Now is your
chance to prove it.
The Illinois Chamber
is proud to announce its co-sponsorship of a new
statewide program designed to honor companies in
Illinois that show a dedication to their
employees’ growth and quality of life.
The
"Best Places to Work in Illinois" awards
program is open to all for-profit and non-profit
companies in the state. Honors will go to
companies in two categories: medium-sized
companies (25-199 employees) and large companies
(over 200 employees).
To enter the
competition or learn more, visit www.bestplacestoworkil.com or
contact Gloria Guy, Illinois Chamber VP of Member
Services at gguy@ilchamber.org. The entry deadline
is Nov. 4, 2005 and a participation fee funds the
analysis by Best Companies Group. MORE
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| The State of Indiana is
offering a tax amnesty for individuals and
businesses to pay and file past-due listed taxes
free of penalty, interest and collection fees and
without fear of criminal or civil prosecution. It
runs from September 15 through November 15, 2005.
Taxpayers who are eligible to participate in
amnesty but choose not to do so will be subject to
a substantial penalty. Please visit Legislative
Services' web site to see the entire House Bill
1004. For answers to Frequently Asked
Questions about the amnesty program CLICK
HERE. |
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Effective immediately,
Illinois employers must extend unpaid leave
to workers whose spouse or child has been called
into military service for 30 days or more. The new
Illinois Family
Military Leave Act (P.A. 094-0589) imposes the
following leave requirements on Illinois
employers: Illinois employers with a payroll of 15
to 50 workers must offer up to 15 days of unpaid
military leave during a time of either federal or
state deployment. Those with 50+ workers must
provide up to 30 days of unpaid leave. MORE
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A new debate has emerged
in the federal appeal courts. According to a
recent decision by the Fourth
Circuit Court of Appeals (including Maryland,
North & South Carolina, Virginia and West
Virginia), any employee waiver of Family &
Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights is unenforceable.
Compensation in return for the waiver does not
cure the defect in this jurisdiction. The Fourth
Circuit ruling stands in direct conflict with a
decision handed down by another appeals court.
Look for the High Court to weigh in on the issue
sometime in the future. MORE
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Perhaps it’s good work
if you can get it. Mercer
Human Resource Consulting recently surveyed
350 of the largest public companies and found that
the median compensation paid to directors rose 18%
in 2004. Researchers found that the median salary
for corporate directors rose to $155,000, up from
$132,000 in 2003 and $105,000 in 2000. The 2004
increase reflected a 10% gain in cash and a 30%
gain in equity. MORE
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The answer depends on
whom you ask. According to Runzheimer
International, 43% of the 78 companies
surveyed fattened their travel budgets in 2005 in
anticipation of more travel and higher costs. At
least half of the companies polled plan to beef up
both the number of domestic & international
trips as well as the number of workers taking
them. Other surveyors disagree,
however. MORE
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Seventy-one percent of
small business owners in the Midwest are
optimistic about the economy, says the National
City Corporation. In developing their
statistics, National City has polled more than
35,000 small business owners located in Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and
Pennsylvania since January 2005. MORE
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The premiums assessed to
American workers rose on average 79% in 2003 as
compared to 1996, concludes the U.S.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ). But workers aren’t the only ones carrying
the heavy financial burden. During the same
seven-year time span, employers paid an average of
89% more to offer the valued benefit. It is
estimated that 63% of Americans obtain health
insurance through their employment. MORE
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It’s time for the
critics to give it a rest. The fact of the matter
is this: many U.S. employers actually shine in
their workers eyes. Of those responding to a new
study conducted by the professional staffing firm,
Hudson
Highland Group, 70% say that they are actually
having fun at work. In addition more than
three-fourths (76%) of American workers say they
are either very or somewhat satisfied with their
work-life balance. While 39% of those responding
work 40+ hours per week, only 14% say that weekly
conflicts arise between work and family life.
MORE
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Just a click
away! For the latest HR news and analysis, CLICK
HERE or use the button at the top of the
Chamber home page. The site is updated daily to
keep you informed on current developments in HR
and how they might impact your bottom
line.
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| Current
Economic Indicators |
For the latest on the
economy, visit the Chamber's ECONOMIC
INDICATORS website.
- Illinois
Unemployment Rate: While the Illinois
unemployment rate remained unchanged, economy
enjoyed its sixth consecutive month of job
growth with 4,000 more employees at work in July
as compared with June.
- Illinois
Metro Unemployment Rates: The July
unemployment rates fell from year ago levels in
11 metropolitan areas.
- U
of I Flash Index: Index fell last month to
106.5, ending a string of monthly increases that
began last December.
- National
Unemployment Rate: Nonfarm payroll
employment increased by 169,000 in August, and
the unemployment rate was little changed at
4.9%.
- Consumer
Price Index (CPI): +0.5% in July.
- Producer
Price Index (PPI): +1.0 in July.
- Employment
Cost Index (ECI): +0.7% in 2nd Quarter of
2005.
- Productivity
& Costs: +2.2% in 2nd Quarter of
2005.
- U.S.
Import-Export Price Indexes: +1.1% in
July.
- Gross
Domestic Product: GDP increased at an annual
rate of 3.3% in the second quarter of 2005. In
the first quarter, real GDP increased 3.8%.
- Conference
Board - Consumer Confidence: Index, which
had declined in July, rebounded in August. The
Index now stands at 105.6, up from 103.6 in
July.
- Conference
Board - Help Wanted Index: Index edged up in
July and now stands at 39, up from 38 in June.
It was 38 one year ago.
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| Check out some of our
programs and see how your membership pays with the
Illinois Chamber:
Learn more about these programs
and how they benefit your company when you Join
the Leaders! |
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| Illinois
Chamber HELPLINE |
| Knowing what you can and
can't do will help you prevent costly mistakes.
Call Howard Parker, our Chamber HR expert. He will
help you deal with problems safely and avoid
disputes. You can reach the Helpline toll-free at
800-322-4722. |
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 The Chamber urges
all Illinois employers to recognize their Guard
and Reserve employees by signing and displaying
the ESGR Statement of Support. To get yours,
simply complete
an online form and you will receive a
personalized certificate that demonstrates your
support. Also visit the SBA Veteran's Business
Development web site for assistance to small
business owners that have employees activated in
the Guard or Reserves. Click MORE
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The Exec
Report - Susan
S. McComb, J.D., SPHR, Editor
Copyright © 2005
The Illinois Chamber
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