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With more open and warmer months ahead, businesses are having
problems finding employees to come back to work. Some blame
generous unemployment benefits.
More than 15,000 Illinoisans filed for additional unemployment
benefits last week.
That’s nearly 1,000 more than filed for the expanded traditional
benefits than the week before. More than 2,200 independent
contractors also applied for benefits, a decrease of around 200
from the week before.
In total, the state has nearly 430,000 people getting benefits,
more than 40,000 than the week before.
State Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield, said every restaurant
owner he talks to says there’s an employee shortage.
At the beginning of the pandemic, and following government
orders prohibiting indoor dining and other services, Karen Conn
with Conn’s Hospitality Groups said she had to lay off more than
75 people from all of their properties. Since then, they’ve
brought back around half.
Jay Shanle is corporate administrator for Conn’s Hospitality
Group. He said he doubles up interviews knowing many won’t show.
And he’s offering increased benefits.
“Full time, part-time, I would take anyone that would come into
the door and would want to work and I would work around them,”
Shanle said. “And even with those concessions, I am not finding
any candidates whatsoever.”
Despite paying above minimum wage and offering health and
retirement benefits, Conn said that doesn’t compare to enhanced
and sustained unemployment benefits.
“In conjunction to all the stimulus checks that have gone out in
the last six months, and the discussion of a fourth-round
potentially going out, what is the incentive to actually work
for a living,” she said.
Unemployment benefits have been enhanced and extended through
Sept. 6.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security’ website provides
a process for employers to file claims of “refusal to return to
work.”
“This information will assist IDES in making our determination
of benefit eligibility,” according to the agency’s website.
“Generally, an individual must show good cause for refusing a
bona fide, suitable offer of work.”
Before the pandemic, Conn said the online process worked. Now,
they have to wait months.
“It takes us anywhere from three-to-four months, depending on
how quickly that mail gets here because it’s all paper-related
now, that we can say ‘doggonit, these people are still drawing
against us,’” Conn said.
She worried employers will be stuck with covering increased
unemployment costs as employers pay unemployment insurance.
State Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield, said other employers are
in the same position, and it’s unacceptable.
“There’s just a total lack of communication in regards to the
IDES with the employer and I’ve been asking those questions,”
Murphy said.
Messages seeking comment from IDES were not returned.
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