State of Illinois Workers Accidents & Chicago, IL Workers Comp Lawyers
The state of Illinois is an equal opportunity employer that offers a wide range of positions and titles. By law, the state must comply with specific hiring criteria using the best candidates for employment. Some of these mandates include:
- Any qualified Illinois veteran is to be provided the opportunity to interview for a job before non-Illinois veterans who also apply for the identical position.
- Any qualified Illinois resident is to be provided the opportunity to interview for a position before out-of-state veterans who are applying for the identical position.
- The collective bargaining agreements oversee many job opportunities. When these vacancies are being filled, current workers might have a contractual right to the job over a non-union employee.
The Pros and Cons of a Government Job
Many individuals choose to work in the state of Illinois because of the extensive benefits package that includes health coverage, paid leave, and flexible work schedules. Also, the state provides retirement benefits, family medical leave, Worker’s Compensation, promotions, jpb advancements, military leave and other miscellaneous benefits. In detail, the pros and cons of working for the government include:
- PRO – Job Stability: Unlike working for the private sector were corporations can unexpectedly go out of business, employment for the State of Illinois will always be available. Even if a specific department, office or agency closes their doors, existing workers are given the opportunity to shift to another department and not lose their benefits, retirement package or insurance coverage.
- PRO – Job Flexibility: Most occupations with the state of Illinois provide the opportunity for maintaining a healthy work-life balance, where some workers can tell a commute or choose alternative weekly, monthly or yearly work schedules. In some positions, the worker can perform their duties away from their desk. Other positions are part of a mobile workforce where the employee rarely works at a desk or in an office.
- PRO – Extensive Benefits: Like the federal government, the state of Illinois provides extensive government benefits that tend to exceed those provided by the private sector. Long-term, full-time employees usually have access to the best healthcare available at a lower cost than those provided by private companies. Also, state employees can participate in a comprehensive retirement plan.
- PRO – Ongoing Employment: The state government continues to float even during times of prolonged recession when private sector companies are failing. The support system provided by the state of Illinois must continue to serve residents and citizens even through hard economic times, which is good for the state employee.
- PRO – Extensive Paid Time Off: The state provides generous leave time benefits where every federal and state holiday is observed.
- CON – Sluggish Salary Growth: Pay raises at Illinois State jobs tend to be extremely slow where the government fails to respond the cost of living adjustments to keep up with inflation. Any large salary increase is often reserved for a top performer or those competing for a vacant job opportunity that pays a higher salary.
- CON – Capped Earning Opportunities: While some jobs with the state of Illinois pay exceedingly higher salaries than others within the government, salaries are far less typically, the best workers will eventually move to the private sector to capture higher earnings before they retire.
- CON – Minimal Control: The upper echelons of bureaucracy at every state government tend to move at a snail’s pace which can frustrate workers and residents alike. Rarely does change come quickly even when it is an immediate necessity. The requirement of an extensive, formal approval process tends to happen had a glacial crawl, which can be extremely frustrating to employees.
No matter what lifetime career the worker has in mind, a job opportunity for the State of Illinois in that occupation is likely available. However, the employee must be prepared to deal with negative aspects of working for citizens instead of companies.
List of State of Illinois Agencies
Every state employee works for a specific agency, boards, offices, or commissions under the direction of the Governor. The comprehensive list of Illinois state entities listed below include:
- Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois
- Capital Development Board
- Department of:
- Agriculture
- Central Management Services
- Children and Family Services
- Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Corrections
- Employment Security
- Financial and Professional Regulation
- Healthcare and Family Services
- Human Rights
- Human Services
- Insurance
- Juvenile Justice
- Labor
- Natural Resources
- Public Health
- Revenue
- State Police
- The Lottery
- Transportation
- Veterans' Affairs
- Department on Aging
- Emergency Management Agency
- Illinois:
- Arts Council
- Board of Elections
- Board of Higher Education
- Budgeting for Results Commission
- Bureau of Criminal Investigations
- Civil Service Commission
- Commerce Commission
- Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability
- Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service
- Community and Residential Services Authority
- Community College Board
- Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
- Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Criminal Justice Information Authority
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission
- Educational Labor Relations Board
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Executive Ethics Commission
- Export Advisory Council
- Finance Authority
- Gaming Board
- General Assembly
- Guardianship and Advocacy Commission
- Health Information Exchange Authority
- Historic Preservation Agency
- House Democrats
- House Republicans
- Housing Development Authority
- Human Rights Commission
- Independent Tax Tribunal
- Judicial Inquiry Board
- Labor Relations Board
- Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
- Liquor Control Commission
- Medical District Commission
- National Guard
- Office of Management and Budget
- Pollution Control Board
- Power Agency
- Prisoner Review Board
- Procurement Policy Board
- Property Tax Appeal Board
- Racing Board
- Senate Democrats
- Senate Republicans
- State Board of Education
- State Board of Investment
- State Fair
- State Police
- State Police Merit Board
- State Toll Highway Authority
- State Universities Civil Service System
- State Universities Retirement System
- Student Assistance Commission
- Workers' Compensation Commission
- Office of the Illinois:
- Attorney General
- Auditor General
- Comptroller
- Governor
- Lieutenant Governor
- Secretary of State
- State Appellate Defender
- State Fire Marshal
- State Treasurer
- State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor
- State Retirement Systems of Illinois
- Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois
State of Illinois Workers' Wages
The annual employment data maintained by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for the year 2016 revealed that State of Illinois workers earn $59,000 on average every year. The income generated by state pay positions is competitive compared to national averages.
Illinois Workers Fatalities and Injuries
- Case 1: Mount Carroll, Illinois – A 25-year-old suspect who was previously implicated in the death of an Illinois child welfare employee now faces a first-degree murder charge indictment. The Cook County coroner’s office determined that the 59-year-old female victim died of blunt force skull injuries after she was repeatedly kicked in the head while attempting to take a boy into custody in September 2017. The state employee arrived at the family residence to remove the 6-year-old boy after the suspect had been accused of dragging the child by the foot and “striking him in the face during a July 29 incident."
- Case 2: Alsip, Illinois – Just after noon in September 2017, a state employee collecting debris on the Tri-State Tollway in Alsip was struck by an 18-Wheeler while working on the shoulder of the road. An Illinois State police master sergeant working the scene stated that “while [the worker] was outside his vehicle and walking back to his vehicle, he was struck by a semi-truck pulling a semi-trailer." The Illinois State worker died at the scene. Investigators have yet to determine how fast the truck was moving at the time. However, the driver failed to stop and is currently at large.
- Case 3: Massachusetts – A Water Resources Authority employee was killed after cleaning away snow and debris will to clear the roadway after a winter storm that dropped more than 12 inches of snow. Authorities indicated that the worker “suffered a medical emergency while clearing snow" in January 2018. No other parties were involved in the accident.
- Case 4: West Hartford, Connecticut – A 43-year-old state employee inspecting a bridge in West Hartford was crushed to death after the bucket truck he used during the inspection process tipped over. The bucket remained hanging in the air for hours after the accident occurred.
- Case 5: Atlanta, Georgia – In January 2018, a passing Atlanta-bound CSX train collided with a vehicle operated by a Georgia Department of Transportation employee, who died at the scene of the accident. The 60-year-old worker had been treating the snow and ice-covered roadway after a winter storm had passed. The train collision with the salt truck occurred at approximately 9:00 AM in more land, along Bethlehem Church Road and Railroad Street.
How to Obtain Compensation to Ensure Your Financial Recovery
Our lawyers help injured State of Illinois Workers obtain compensation under the IL Worker’s Compensation Act and through civil lawsuits. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers (888-424-5757) provide Free Case Reviews and a No-Win/No Fee guarantee.
Were you injured on the job and believe that you are entitled to receive monetary compensation? More than likely, you’re right. You can probably file and obtain benefits through Worker’s Compensation. However, you might also be eligible to receive additional funds through third parties that might also be at fault for your injuries.
Contact A State of Illinois Workers Compensation & Injury Law Firm
As your legal representatives, our lawyers can ensure that all documents are filed in the appropriate county courthouse before the state statute of limitations expires. Additionally, our law firm can build your case, gather evidence and negotiate an out of court settlement on your behalf or take your lawsuit to trial.
We accept every compensation claim through contingency fee arrangements. This agreement postpones payment of legal fees until our law firm has successfully resolved the case through a negotiated out of court settlement or by winning a jury trial award. Be assured; if we do not win your case, you owe us nothing!
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Illinois_state_agencies
- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-murder-charges-dcfs-death-20180223-story.html
- https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Tollway-Worker-Struck-Killed-on-I-294-Multiple-Lanes-Closed-Police-445447283.html
- https://www.necn.com/news/new-england/Massachusetts-State-Worker-Dies-While-Clearing-Snow-468163803.html
- http://connecticut.news12.com/story/34841847/state-worker-killed-during-i-84-bridge-inspection