Recently I read an article about a robotics company in Waukegan deciding to move their operations to Wisconsin. Stuff like this happens all of the time. Some companies move to Illinois, others move out.
In this case, the company Yaskawa is consolidating facilities and moving its headquarters. Reportedly more than 2,000 jobs will be affected.
It remains to be seen how many people will make the move to Wisconsin with the company. I can tell you from talking to Milwaukee work comp lawyers that the job protections in the Badger state are terrible compared to Illinois. Given a choice to file a workers’ compensation case in Illinois vs. Wisconsin, the choice is clear. Illinois is MUCH better for injured workers.
The good news is that if you are a worker whose company relocates you out of state, there is still protection for you, even if you get hurt at the new location. And even if you get hurt years from now.
Illinois Jurisdiction Laws Protect Injured Workers
If you are hired in Illinois, as long as you continuously work for that company, if they move you out of state you can still bring an Illinois workers’ compensation claim if you get injured on the job.
In other words, if you get hired in 2024 (or whenever) in Illinois, even if ten years down the road you have been living and working in a different state, you can still bring a case here.
This is because under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, if your hiring took place in Illinois then Illinois has jurisdiction – fancy legal word meaning the right to make a legal decision – over your case.
This is incredibly important because it will give you the ability to get the best medical treatment, the highest compensation for your time off work and ultimately a much higher settlement when your case is ready to be resolved.
Note that this is true for every employer. We have seen a lot of Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Southwest Air and other big company employees request a transfer to a different location for personal reasons. So if you are a gate agent at Midway or O’Hare and decide to move out of state to be closer to family or some other reason, you still get Illinois work comp protections as long as you don’t have to get rehired for the job.
This is probably the least understood Illinois law and every year hundreds of former Illinois workers don’t take advantage of it because they are not aware of it. And you can’t count on your employer or the insurance company to make you aware of your rights.
If you think this situation might apply to you or you just have questions, call us any time at 312-346-5578 for a free consultation.
