Letter: State law balances interests of workers, businesses
Illinois citizens, including business owners, should want the law to protect the public. To do otherwise would turn the law on its head, where the law protects wrongdoers at the expense of victims.
The July 15 letter from Wade Keats wrongly cites laws designed to protect people as a major problem facing Illinois. Not so.
Illinois thoughtfully balances the economic interests of businesses while recognizing the need to hold accountable those that negligently or willfully cause injury. Mr. Keats' comment about meritless cases providing risk to small businesses, and in turn "forcing hefty settlements," is not the experience of this author or any other trial lawyer I know. Skilled defense lawyers ensure otherwise. The costliness of bringing a lawsuit also counsels strongly against bringing a meritless case - because you will lose.
Illinois also balances the workers' rights with the interests of business owners. By treating injured workers fairly, employers in Illinois are incentivized to take safety seriously - something borne out by the data. The rate of injury in Illinois (2,655 per 100,000 workers) is significantly lower than in Wisconsin (3,935), Iowa (3,875), Indiana (3,529) and Michigan (3,271). Owners and workers should celebrate this, not bemoan an item on the balance sheet while ignoring the other economic and interpersonal benefits.
Further good news: workers' comp cost to Illinois employers dropped more than half between 2010 and 2020 according to the commission.
Mr. Keats' anecdotal reference to Caterpillar is misplaced. Cat did not offer work comp law as a reason for leaving. The 240 white-collar office positions being relocated pose little work comp expense compared to the approximately 17,000 factory-related jobs staying, where injuries that involve workers' compensation are more likely to occur.
Illinoisans should be proud to live in a state with laws that don't leave injured workers to fend for themselves.
Patrick A. Salvi II, President
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Motto out of date?
Twice in the last few days I've read letters to the editor that quote your motto: "To fear God, tell the truth and make money".
The writers are using this to argue their point that the lack of God, as in the Christian god, in our country, is the reason for mass shootings.
In our now diverse country, where a large proportion of good people don't follow the capital G Christian god, I strongly object to this line of thought.
Maybe it's time to change your motto. I'm sure you have many non-Christian readers.
Jan Nafis
Mount Prospect