 But all of the talk hasn't changed the reality for Tom Mercier. He's
the president of Bloomington Offset Process Inc., or BOPI, a
printing company in the central Illinois towns of
Bloomington-Normal. Mercier said he's been waiting for months for
something to happen to lessen the costs or scope of workers' comp in
Illinois. But he's also been dealing with the reality of the current
system."We've been doing pre-employment physicals. We have random
drug tests. There's a lot we're trying to do to make sure we have
good-quality people who work for us," said Mercier. "But I tell you
... I had an employee who went to the doctor on a foot problem. He
comes back and says, '(The doctor) is telling me I've got carpal
tunnel really bad, and I need carpal tunnel surgery.' And he's
walking good today. ... I think he got a sales job."
Mercier said if lawmakers can tweak the cost, or cause, of
workers' comp claims, it could go a long way to helping his shop of
about 50 workers.
"The rest of the place may not get a raise. The employee health
benefit may have to change how much we pay into it. Presently, I
pick up 90 percent of the employees' health care costs," said
Mercier.
But it's not just about paychecks and benefits. Mercier said
workers' comp costs are part of the question of whether his business
is competitive -- and not just competitive with other businesses in
Bloomington-Normal.
"We're in the business-to-business area, so if businesses
continue to move out of this state or expand out of the state,
that's going to have a dramatic effect on my business. Electrolux
from Bloomington is leaving. They're going to North Carolina," said
Mercier.
Chris Olsen is vice president of community and governmental
affairs for Tate & Lyle, which supplies ingredients to the food and
beverage industries. He said the business has to be globally
competitive.
"We sell our ingredients all over the world, and we need to be
competitive with companies all over the world. So we really need to
look at (workers' comp reform) or reducing our costs to keep us
competitive," Olsen said.
Tate & Lyle employs hundreds in Decatur and has a corporate
structure that makes handling workers' compensation cases different
than at smaller employers like Mercier. But Olsen said that still
doesn't make it any cheaper.
"When an injury happens, it takes time from management,
supervisors, support staff, doctors, lawyers, so the costs really
add up over time," Olsen said.
[to top of second column] |
Gov. Pat Quinn spoke to Olsen, Mercier and several hundred other
manufacturers and retailers in Springfield on Wednesday. Quinn told
the business audience that he wants to see Illinois' system changed
and become more competitive.
But the governor didn't have any specifics beyond that. His
office has not introduced legislation, and Quinn is not taking sides
on the current proposals moving under the Capitol dome.
The governor also sidestepped the focus of workers' compensation
negotiations -- the cause of a worker's injury.
"The best way to go at it is to take what courts and judges have
said about where the injury must occur and how it must occur and put
that in the statute," said Quinn. "I think that's the best way to
go. We're going to try to codify the words of the judge or the court
on this issue that injuries must be during the course of
employment."
But state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said that may not be
possible.
"It's my professional and legal opinion that if you want full
causation, the only way to do that constitutionally and legally is
to blow up the system and send them back to circuit court," said
Bradley, who is a lawyer.
Mercier said there has to be some middle ground, or at least
common sense.
"If somebody gets hurt on the job, I want them fixed. I want them
back to work. I want to do everything I can for them. I pay for
long-term disability for all of my workers, out of my pocket. ... I
believe in my employees. I've got a good group of people who have
stayed with me for a long time, and I'll take care of them," said
Mercier. "But if somebody is doing kick-boxing stuff on the weekend,
and all of a sudden their shoulder hurts on Monday -- you know what,
it's not from BOPI."
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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