When former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the Freedom to Work Act, or FWA, into law in 2016, the circumstances weren’t all that controversial. The measure, prompted by a Jimmy John’s policy that barred employees from getting hired at rival sandwich shops, would protect low-wage workers from noncompete agreements that stifled their earning potential. Even Rauner, a politician reviled by organized labor groups, got on board with the idea after the Illinois Attorney General’s Office sued the chain known for its “freaky fast” delivery

Illinois, like the nation as a whole, is seeing its economy rebound as the pandemic comes to an end. However, massive tax increases proposed by the Biden administration on top of the unnecessary tax increases on employers passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by the governor in 2021 threaten to derail the recovery, hurting Illinois job creators and families.

SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois business leader is finding it easy to keep from getting overexcited about a new ranking that has the state Number One in the nation.

(The Center Square) – Small business growth lags in the Land of Lincoln according to a recent report by Paychex, which puts Illinois last in hourly and weekly wage growth among small businesses.