New Law Prohibits Employers from Discriminating Based on a Job Seeker or Employee's Credit History

CHICAGO - August 10, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that prohibits Illinois employers from discriminating based on a job seeker or employee's credit history. The new law will remove a significant barrier to employment for the growing segment of the population whose credit history has been affected by the historic national recession.

"A job seeker's ability to earn a decent living should not depend on how well they are weathering the greatest economic recession since the 1930s," said Governor Quinn. "This law will stop employers from denying a job or promotion based on information that is not an indicator of a person's character or ability to do a job well."

House Bill 4658, sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) and Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), creates the Employee Credit Privacy Act. Under the act, Illinois' employers may not use a person's credit history to determine employment, recruiting, discharge or compensation.

The new law forbids employers from inquiring about an applicant or employee's credit history or obtaining a copy of their credit report. The law does not affect an employer's ability to conduct a thorough background investigation that does not contain a credit history or report.

Employers who violate the new law can be subject to civil liability for damages or injunctive relief.

Under the new law, employers may access credit checks under limited circumstances, including positions that involve: bonding or security per state or federal law; unsupervised access to more than $2,500; signatory power over businesses assets of more than $100; management and control of the business; access to personal, financial or confidential information, trade secrets, or state or national security information.

Pre-employment credit screenings are on the rise throughout the nation. The Society for Human Resources Management recently found that 60 percent of employers run a credit check on at least some applicants. That is an increase from the 42 percent in 2006 and 25 percent in 1998.

The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2011.

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On August 1, Lifelink International Adoption became a subsidiary of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (LCFS) creating Illinois' largest provider of adoption services. The move strengthens services and creates a new program with a comprehensive set of domestic and international adoptions. All Lifelink International Adoption employees and programs will become part of LCFS, including your local service sites in Moline and the Quad Cities.

Both agencies have worked with adoptions domestically and abroad for years. LCFS has focused mostly on domestic adoptions, while Lifelink's specialty has been international adoptions. The combination brings together the expertise of both organizations in a way that gives adoptive parents more options.

While many non-profit agencies are struggling and cutting back on services during these tough economic times, LCFS has been strengthening their range of services to meet the increasing needs of the children and families they serve. This acquisition also allows LCFS to diversify their revenue sources in order to become less dependant on public funds.

Healthcare Tax Credit a Big Question Mark for Small Business; the Iowa numbers that supporters toss out just don't add up

DES MOINES, Iowa, July 28, 2010 - "We're from Washington and we're here to help" never had a more hollow ring or was more factually baseless than in the claims made by some health reform supporters in the number of small businesses that would qualify for the new health insurance tax credit passed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"Supporters claim 4 million small businesses are eligible for the temporary credit, but the fact is less than 2 million small businesses will receive it," said NFIB tax counsel Bill Rys. "This recently-released research shows how many small businesses will be eligible, but it doesn't take into account whether the firms even offer health insurance."

The research referred to by Rys was put out by Families USA and the Small Business Majority. But the small business authority, NFIB, paints an entirely different picture. In Iowa, the Small Business Majority/Families USA data claim 51,100 small businesses would benefit from the new tax credit. The NFIB Research Foundation, however, pegs the real number at 17,651, using data from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Kaiser Foundation.

"Will a temporary credit help some of the smallest, lowest wage businesses? Sure," said Rys. "Is it the 'saving grace' it's being made out to be? Probably not. The minimal benefits of this tax credit are easily outweighed by the new and expensive burdens of this law."

"Of the four required criteria to receive a credit, they [SBM/Families] only looked at two pieces (firm size, average wage). They leave out whether the business offers insurance and pays for half (both are required to receive a credit)," Rys continued. "The truth is about one-third of firms under 25 employees offer insurance. And, the lower the average wage of a firm, the less likely it is to offer insurance."

None of the talk over the putative benefits and very real drawbacks of the national legislation even takes into account what states have been doing to ensure small businesses can't insure, reminded NFIB/Iowa State Director Kristin Kunert. "States, and Iowa is no exception, continually add more and more requirements onto the basic plans businesses can buy, and each one raises the cost of premiums and pushes affordability further and further out of the reach of small business owners. Having the option of low-cost plans tailored to the needs of each, individual business would do more to bring the uninsured into coverage than some elusive tax credit out of Washington, D.C."

[Business owners can see if their enterprises qualify for the healthcare law's new small business tax credit on health insurance, and if they do, how much it is, by going to www.nfib.com/creditcalculator]

Grocer to dare shoppers to compare savings, average family to save nearly $2,000 annually

Batavia, Ill. (July 15, 2010) - Starting Monday, select assortment discount grocer, ALDI, will boldly launch a "one week challenge," daring consumers to shop ALDI for one week and compare the cart-to-cart savings to their typical weekly shopping bill.  The new campaign comes with its own reward for shoppers: a family of four can save approximately $1,996.80 per year - each year - compared to traditional supermarkets' store brands, or $998.40 compared to big box store brands.

"Everything we do is designed with one goal in mind - to help our customers stretch their grocery dollars," said Joan Kavanaugh, ALDI vice president of corporate purchasing.  "Competitors may offer specials or sales on an item here or there, but cart-to-cart, no one matches the quality and value ALDI offers everyday."

Known for offering high quality grocery items, fresh meats and produce at up to 50 percent less than the competition, customers can expect to find more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased items sold under its exclusive select brands.

The grocer's streamlined, efficient approach eliminates hidden costs (such as in-store banking, pharmacies, bagging clerks, check cashing, photo processing or other non-essential grocery store services), and passes on the savings to customers in the form of lower prices.

ALDI stores' efficient layout makes it easy for shoppers to get in, get out and get on with their day, and the smaller store footprint uses less land and utilities, all helping keep prices low on the high quality items offered every day.

"We know that anyone who shops ALDI will save money, but there's nothing like seeing those receipts for yourself and feeling the satisfaction of having more money left in your pocket," said Kavanaugh.

Quality, taste and satisfaction are always double guaranteed at ALDI. If for any reason a shopper is not 100% satisfied with any product, ALDI will replace the product and refund the money.

[Note: Estimated savings based on the average $416 monthly grocery shopping bill for a family of four, according to Consumer Reports, 2009.  ALDI prices are typically 30 to 40 percent less than store brands at traditional supermarkets and 15 to 20 percent less than big box store brands.]

About ALDI Inc.

A leader in the grocery retailing industry since 1976, ALDI has more than 1,100 U.S. stores located in 31 states primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. In the spring of 2010, ALDI opened a new division in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  A select assortment discount grocer featuring its own ALDI select brands, ALDI applies smart and efficient operational and business practices to save more than 20 million monthly customers up to 50 percent on their grocery bill.  ALDI, named 2009 Retailer of the Year by PL Buyer, sells more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items in manageable, non-bulk packaging.  For more information about ALDI, go to www.aldi.us.

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