The Experts

By SCOTT CRUZ The Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act (the “Act”) took effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to contracts that took effect between a “contracting entity” and a “freelance worker” on or after July 1, 2024, if the value of the freelance worker’s services is equal to or greater than $500 over a…

By LINDA FARHA As businesses enter the early stages of 2026 planning, many leaders find themselves engaged in the same annual ritual: reviewing past spending, finalizing departmental budgets and shaping priorities for the year ahead. While this process may feel procedural, economic indicators suggest it is far more consequential, particularly in states like Illinois where…

Article summary: The host employer holds the primary responsibility for maintaining injury and illness records, providing personal protective equipment (PPE), and conducting necessary training, despite both the host and staffing agencies sharing safety responsibilities. Proper training ensures that temporary workers can identify hazards and know how to work safely in the workplace. Additionally, it is…

By GREG HAWKS Trust is disappearing fast inside companies. We can feel it before we see it. A previously chatty team member stops contributing. A smart, thoughtful manager starts offering mediocre ideas. A solution that should have been pitched never gets mentioned. She has not quit her job. She’s quit participating in the routine processes.…

By CAROLYN GREEN Some business leaders don’t know their revenue goals. A lot do not have tangible goals for marketing activities that will generate profit from that income. A starting place for 2026 is to ask yourself three questions: What did the business bring in last year? What’s the next milestone to that we want…

Finding the right employees for your small business is far more complex than looking for someone who can do the basic tasks you need done. You not only need a competent worker with the appropriate skills and experience, you also likely want someone who will fit in with your company culture and represent your brand…

With consumers expected to spend over $1 trillion amid inflation and economic uncertainties, First Mid offers financial strategies to help stay on track this holiday season As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy for spending to snowball. First Mid Bank & Trust is sharing tips to help people make smart financial choices to keep spending under…

By CAROLYN GREEN Automation is a super powerful tool. But before we plug anything in, I want to talk about the the golden rule of technology: Never automate chaos. If your process is clunky, automating it just multiplies the mistakes. (Let’s call it bad momentum.) Automation should amplify what’s working, not increase chaos. Step 1:…

By CORY JOBE, President/CEO Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, 39% of them say that of the factors limiting their leisure travel in the next year, the leading factor by a wide margin is financial constraints and economic uncertainty. And 64% report that travel…

Article summary: Permit-required confined spaces pose various hazards, including oxygen deficiency and toxic gases. Employers must assess their worksites, inform employees about potential hazards, and restrict unauthorized access to these spaces. This article emphasizes the importance of recognizing confined spaces and understanding the associated risks. Article and images submitted for publication by Illinois Department of…