NFIB has joined a coalition of Illinois business groups in urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to delay the next two increases in the state minimum wage because of the sudden drop in the economy caused by the novel coronavirus.
The state minimum wage is set to increase in July from $9.25 to $10 an hour. Pritzker said recently he saw no reason to delay the increase, telling reporters that COVID-19 “is unrelated to the rise in the minimum wage, which is a very small raise.”
“To subject employers to another significant expense at the same time they have had to lay people off, close or operate at an extremely limited capacity, or expend tremendous resources to adapt their operations to the demands of the pandemic, is unreasonable and alarming, especially for employers who have seen their sales significantly reduced or completely eliminated,” the letter said. Read the letter.
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NFIB also joined other business groups on Monday in issuing a statement opposing emergency rules pushed through by the Pritzker administration regarding workers who are stricken with COVID-19.
The statement says, “… many industries are suffering from unprecedented losses and closures including the hotel, hospitality and tourism industry. Yet, this commission chose to suddenly impose a drastic policy change that will significantly increase costs and require employers to pay for medical expenses and salary benefits if an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19 without proof the illness was contracted at the workplace.” Click here to read the statement in its entirety.
