Illinois still not fully back to work
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[October 02, 2021]
By Kyle Kimball
(The Center Square) – Nearly a month after
the expiration of extended federal unemployment benefits, Illinois is
still not close to being fully back to work.
Todd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, a
disconnect between policymakers and pandemic management may be a reason
why.
“Policymakers – both in Illinois and nationally – have not evolved
enough in their thinking to really address these emerging issues in
recognizing the fact that they’re likely to be with us for years,” he
said.
Ultimately, it’s the difference between confronting the economic
realities of a pandemic versus an endemic.
All this in the run-up to the all-important holiday shopping season,
where there’s a trifecta of concern: a workforce scarcity, inflation
fears, and ongoing supply-chain issues.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Oct/02/images/ads/current/culligan_sda_SFARM_2021.png)
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Concerning the latter, Maisch said, “If you have
something you have to buy for your family or a loved one for
Christmas, and if you haven’t ordered it already, get on the
internet, go to the store, order it now.”
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Oct/02/images/ads/current/peasley%20lda%20080907.png)
As to what employers are doing to incentivize
potential hires, “They’re instituting hiring bonuses or saying, if
you stay with me for a while, we’re going to give you another bonus
in six months,” Maisch said. “But even that has its problems because
employees who have been there two or three years are then saying,
‘Why are the newbies getting these bonuses?’. So, it’s truly
difficult for employers to navigate this current labor climate.” |