On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, Governor JB Pritzker announced the appointment of Raychel Wesley as an Employee Commissioner of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. This is effective immediately. This fills the vacancy from the recent departure of Commissioner Baker, and now all three Commission panels are again full.
Commissioner Wesley earned her Juris Doctorate Degree from De Paul University, College of Law, and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education from De Paul University College of Education, both in Chicago, Illinois.
For more than 25 years, Ms. Wesley worked as an attorney at several law firms, with workers’ compensation a part of her practice. She was appointed an Arbitrator at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission by Governor Pritzker in 2020, and reappointed in 2023.
Congratulations Commissioner Wesley.
The eleventh annual Workers’ Compensation Benchmarking Study’s industrywide survey is currently underway and we think it continues to be a thought provoking and worthwhile exercise for our membership.
This year’s study will—for the second time in its history—survey frontline claims professionals (versus claims executives) to ascertain alignment between industry leadership and those who directly handle workers' compensation claims. The study will also identify any substantial changes since last surveying frontline professionals in 2019, which was notably prior to the pandemic experience. As the industry’s largest talent constituency, with the greatest influence on financial and injured worker outcomes, visibility into their views will highlight advancement opportunities for the entire industry.
The Illinois Self Insurers' Association is forwarding this survey as a valuable opportunity for members to assess and enhance operational alignment within your claims organizations.
Please note, all confidential data will be aggregated, and no individual or organization will be identified in any way in study findings.
In return for completing this brief 10-minute survey, all frontline participants – as well as all Illinois Self Insurers' Association members – will receive the Annual Report which can be used to validate operational alignment, verify existing strategies, advocate for resources in support-challenged areas, and identify opportunities to impact claim outcomes.
Again, here is the confidential survey link. We appreciate your involvement in this important industrywide effort, and we encourage you to share this survey link with your frontline colleagues.
Thank you, Illinois Self Insurers' Association
On Thursday, May 18, 2023, Chairman Brennan announced the appointment two of the ISIA’s Board Members to the Illinois Self Insurers Advisory Board (“SIAB”), Toni L. Herwaldt of Navistar and Gina M. Koenig of Ascension. Ms. Herwaldt has been involved in Illinois Workers’ Compensation issues in many capacities. She is currently the Director of Risk Management for Navistar. Ms. Koenig is the Associate Risk and Workers’ Compensation Litigation Manager at Ascension. Both Ms. Herwaldt and Ms. Koenig have extensive Workers’ Compensation experience with self-insured employers, and each will bring significant experience to the SIAB. We congratulate them on their appointment.
ILLINOIS SELF-INSURERS’ ASSOCIATION SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR 2022 - 2024
President: Ms. Gina L. Rossi; Marriott Corp.
Vice President: Ms. Gina M. Koenig; Ascension
Secretary: Mr. John Traub; Albertsons Companies
Treasurer: Ms. Clarice B. Fleming; Exelon Corp.
With America beginning to open up, it is not too soon to start thinking about the NCSI 2022 Annual Conference. The program will kick off on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch and will run through Wednesday morning. As in years past the conference will feature a blend of medical, administrative and legal topics. A copy of the program agenda will appear on the NCSI website later. The NCSI Annual Conference has proven to be an important opportunity to renew friendships, make new business acquaintances, network and enjoy the company of workers’ compensation professionals. Next year will be no different. Mark your calendars now.
Visit the NCSI website for more information.
Hilarie Carhill and Daniel Ugaste Associate
On February 3, 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court held that claims under the Biometric Information Privacy Act (Privacy Act) are not barred by the Workers’ Compensation Act’s (Compensation Act’s) exclusive remedy provisions and therefore, claimants may seek redress in the Circuit Court and not at the Workers’ Compensation Commission. In Marquita McDonald v. Symphony Bronzeville Park, the Court accepted Bronzeville’s interlocutory appeal in order to provide this answer to a certified question. Marquita McDonald v. Symphony Bronzeville Park, LLC, IL 126511, 2022.
In reaching this conclusion, the Supreme Court performed an analysis of each of the Acts and what they were intended to cover. The Court noted, the exclusivity provisions in the Compensation Act (sections 5(a) and 11) function so that an employee’s physical or psychological accidental injuries, that arise out of and in the course of his/her employment, must be brought exclusively to the Workers’ Compensation Commission, instead of as civil lawsuits in state or federal court. The only way to avoid the exclusivity of the Act is for an employee to prove: (1) it was not accidental; (2) it did not arise out of the employment; (3) it did not occur in the course of employment; or (4) it was not compensable under the Compensation Act. The Court focused on the fourth factor – whether the injury was compensable under the Compensation Act.
After a detailed analysis of the case law, the Court found that the type of injury covered under each Act is distinctly different, which warrants separate forums. The Compensation Act is meant to cover medically documented physical and psychological injuries, providing financial protection for an employee’s impaired earning capacity. By contrast, the Privacy Act provides specific recourse to civil court, in the context of employment or for the general public. Employees who have experienced violations of the Privacy Act have an injury of special character that may not require medical care.
In support of its finding, the Supreme Court noted that as a matter of legislative intent, generally, later-enacted statutes control over earlier statutes, and more-specific statutes control over general acts. Further, the Privacy Act was enacted after the Compensation Act and is more specific.
The final argument presented by the defense in McDonald was that a finding for McDonald could lead to unmitigated exposure in civil court, for corporations who have committed technical violations of the Privacy Act. But the Court responded that this concern of whether the statute strikes a proper balance between violation and damages, is one for the legislature; the Court is limited to interpret the law as it has been written.
The Supreme Court’s Decision provides clarity as to the breadth of exclusive remedy provision of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. This Decision will also allow for the vast number of paused Biometric Privacy Act lawsuits to now proceed.
The NBKL blog is provided for informational purposes; we are not giving legal advice or creating an attorney/client relationship by providing this information. Before relying on any legal information of a general nature, you may consider consulting legal counsel as to your particular facts and applications of the law.
By Lisa Azoory-Keller, Partner, Nyhan Bambrick Kinzie & Lowry
Nearly two years after the beginning of the pandemic, claims handling for COVID-19 cases in workers’ compensation is far from an exact science. Employers across Illinois continue to try to implement best practices for COVID-19 claims with many questions still looming about compensability and case value.
Panic was widespread at the beginning of the pandemic, and this panic was reflected in the quick implementation of new rules surrounding COVID-19 in the arena of workers’ comp. In a short span of time, employers have come a long way in learning how to handle a COVID-19 claim and mitigate exposure.
HISTORY OF THE COVID-19 RULES IN ILLINOIS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
The first new rule regarding COVID-19 was implemented on April 13, 2020, by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. In recognition of the potential gravity of COVID-19’s impact on front-line and essential workers, the temporary emergency rule amended the Commission Rules to include a rebuttable presumption in favor of these essential workers. The Commission was able to implement such a rule due to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, which allows the use of emergency rulemaking involving a "threat to the public interest, safety or welfare."
The emergency rule was quickly replaced by a new, modified rule that was more detailed. The new rule added "occupational disease" resulting from exposure to COVID-19 as part of the rebuttable presumption. In support of the rule, the Commission explained that employees should not be placed in a situation that would cause more hazard in the state by continuing to work.
Illinois employers heavily opposed the rule’s implementation and broad scope, which ultimately led to the Circuit Court in Sangamon County issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) and Preliminary Injunction against the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and the Chairman in his official capacity. The efforts were spearheaded by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) and Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA). Although the IMA and IRMA were named as Plaintiffs in the action, they were not alone in opposing the rule, with multiple industry groups supporting the TRO request. On April 27, 2020, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission voted unanimously to repeal the emergency rule.
Approximately one month later on May 21, 2020, the Illinois General Assembly (through an agreed bill process) passed legislation that amended the Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act to provide a rebuttable presumption in favor of compensability for first responders and front-line workers who contract COVID-19. The amendment was narrower in scope than the Commission’s original emergency rule, which was good news for employers. One source estimated that the difference between the first emergency rule and the legislation could save employers up to $2 billion.
Like the original rule, the new legislation created a rebuttable presumption in favor of compensability for essential workers, but called for an "ordinary" rebuttable presumption standard. Specifically, employers only need to prove that "some" (as opposed to "clear and convincing") evidence is needed to support a finding that the employee contracted COVID-19 from something other than work.
This legislation covered diagnoses made in the timeframe from March 9, 2020, through December 31, 2020, and was then amended to extend to June 30, 2021. The rebuttable presumption does not apply to COVID-19 diagnoses after June 30, 2021.
When the presumption is applicable, employers can rebut the presumption of exposure in the following ways:
Demonstrating that the employee was working from home or on leave for more than 14 consecutive days prior to the injury or incapacity;
Demonstrating that the employer was implementing (to the best of its ability) industry-specific workplace sanitation, social distancing and health and safety practices based on updated guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control or Illinois Department of Public Health for at least 14 days prior to the employee’s injury. This includes the use of personal protective equipment such face coverings; or,
Demonstrating that the employee was exposed to COVID-19 by an alternative source.
Pursuant to the legislation, employees also must establish that they were required to encounter members of the general public or work in an employment location with more than 15 employees.
In another piece of good news for employers, the bill allowed for employers to assert a credit for temporary total disability benefits (TTD) if the employee was paid other benefits (such as sick leave benefits) if the employee contracts COVID-19.
If the employer successfully rebuts the presumption of exposure, the presumption ceases to operate and the evidence is presented at trial as if the presumption never existed. In this scenario, the employee would need to prove – by a preponderance of the evidence – that the COVID-19 exposure arose out of and in the course of the employment with the respondent.
THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON CLAIMS HANDLING
Both employees and employers remain in unchartered territory regarding the value of COVID-19 cases. In Illinois, in order to receive permanent partial disability benefits (PPD), there must be some sort of permanent partial or permanent total disability as a result of the injury/exposure. If the employee fully recovers from COVID-19, no PPD should be owed, even if the employee was hospitalized. With orthopedic injuries (which are the vast majority of injuries in workers’ compensation), employees may have lingering residual symptoms that justify the worker’s claim for an award for permanent partial disability. However, where no residual symptoms exist, the employer should theoretically not be responsible for paying any settlement. Unfortunately for employers, this is not the way COVID-19 claims are being handled. Employee representatives believe that the value of a COVID-19 claim is bolstered with hospitalization, medication or time off. Employers are reluctant to pay anything on COVID-19 claims involving little treatment, as it would set precedent in the workplace for other COVID-19 claims to surface.
BEST PRACTICES FOR EMPLOYERS
Employers must remain vigilant about safety precautions and mitigation of COVID-19 exposure allegations even when it seems that the pandemic is waning. Employers should take the following steps when an employee files a workers’ compensation claim for benefits due to COVID-19 exposure:
Initiate efforts at contact tracing and determining alternative sources of exposure. For the safety of other employees, it is important to ask questions of the employee regarding sources of exposure and timeline of exposure.
Make sure to document policies on PPE, and have employees sign off on their understanding of safety measures in the workplace. Ideally, training sessions are done periodically to address appropriate use of PPE.
Check in on the employee and express a genuine support for the employee’s recovery and return to work.
If the workers’ compensation case is being denied, make sure the employee understands what other benefits may be available during their recovery and time off work.
Whether the rebuttable presumption is applicable or not, employers should still take steps to rebut work-relatedness where exposure cannot be pinpointed. The costs of the pandemic have already been heavy on Illinois employers, let alone the increase in workers’ compensation claims. As always, employer groups should remain vigilant about opposing new rules and legislation that pose a threat to doing business in Illinois.
Lisa Azoory-Keller is a Partner at the Nyhan Bambrick Kinzie & Lowry law firm in Chicago. Contact Ms. Azoory-Keller at lazoory-keller@nbkllaw.com or (312) 629-0288.
Adam CoxPartner
“Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the January 2021 legislative session the General Assembly approved HB 4276, which Governor Pritzker signed into law as PA 101-563. This extended the rebuttable COVID-19 presumption under the Illinois Occupational Diseases Act until June 30, 2021. Although efforts were taken to extend that deadline during the Spring legislative session, those proved unsuccessful. Please take note that the “sunset” on the COVID presumption in Illinois happens tomorrow. While this change does not bar COVID-19 exposure claims after that date, it will no longer be presumed that an industrial exposure occurred for those individuals who test positive and meet certain criteria.
When evaluating whether COVID-19 exposure claims fall within the period the COVID exposure presumption applied, the focus should be on the date o f the alleged “exposure” as defined by the Occupational Diseases Act. One must be mindful that the legal definition of “exposure” may not mean solely the moment of contracture, which often can be imprecise and difficult to identify. Please feel free to contact me directly or follow up with your attorney for more information about the sunset provision and other considerations for occupational exposure claims in Illinois.
Stay safe and be well.
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