
Pick up a newspaper and you’re likely to read about some disturbing trends. Health care costs are on the rise, insurance can be difficult to come by, wages are shrinking, and many employees aren’t taking full advantage of benefits that can help them ease these worries. With today’s tough economy taking a toll on workers, more and more employers are seeing the value of financial wellness programs.
One in four American workers is seriously distressed about their personal financial situation. This often translates into problems with productivity, attendance, and retention – all factors that affect the bottom line. Studies have shown that up to 80% of financially distressed workers spend time on personal financial issues instead of working.
With these concerns in mind, a new program was designed to help ease the stresses of everyday life for Chicago workers and in turn, enhance their work and relationship with their employer. Dubbed ‘Chicago Supports Workers’, this new initiative from the Center for Economic Progress is working to help employees of local employers to gain access to important programs and benefits they may not be aware of.
In cooperation with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the City of Chicago and RealBenefits, the Center partners with numerous local employers to bring health insurance screening and enrollment, tax assistance, financial education and savings and credit education to hundreds of Chicago workers.
Employers include Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Hyatt Regency on the River Walk, Hilton Hotel, Magid Glove and Safety, Christy Webber Landscaping, ARAMARK Regional Staffing Center, James Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
This program is made possible by grants from the Families and Work Institute and the Field Foundation. For more information on this initiative, contact (312) 252-0280 x274. Read the Chicago Tribune article on Chicago Supports Workers.
On July 14, David Marzahl, the Center’s president, testified during a hearing of the United States Senate Committee on Finance. The hearing was called to discuss the future of individual tax rates and the effects on economic growth and distribution.
As jobs continue to disappear and wages decline, it’s gotten more and more difficult for hard-working, low-income families to make ends meet. In the midst of these challenging times, the demand for free tax and asset build services has grown. Join at the National Community Tax Coalition (NCTC) Regional Summit in Detroit, Michigan on August 4-5 as we continue working together to make a real impact in the communities we serve.

At the Center, donations come in a variety of forms. From individuals donating their time to help our clients to generous companies providing us with monetary or in-kind support, each donation helps make our mission possible. We encourage you to check out this month's featured donor: Paragon Promotions. For your promotional item needs, visit Paragon Promotions.
The Center for Economic Progress has recently been featured on lifestyle cable network Plum TV as a part of an initiative sponsored by Bank of America to highlight the remarkable efforts of four organizations that are making a big impact in the communities they serve.
The Center for Economic Progress has partnered with Chili's restaurants throughout Illinois as part of the new Chili's Pepper Profit Partner Program. Visit a participating Chili's between December 5 and April 30 the Center will get 10 percent of the total purchase.
The Center for Economic Progress has been awarded a grant by COUNTRY Financial through its Count on COUNTRY Financial grant program. The Center was one of five grant recipients.
With little tax training, low-income families are among the most likely to leave money on the table at tax time. Become a Center volunteer and help offer free tax and financial services to low-income families.
Savings is as important as consumption when it comes to the future economic health and vitality of the U.S. economy. Read more about our savings policy work in our latest policy paper.
During the 2009 tax season, the Center put $52 million back into the pockets of more than 33,000 Illinois families and their communities. Read our Tax & Financial Services Highlights to see how we've helped families use our tax and financial services to get ahead.
The current economic crisis offers a historic opportunity for transformation. Our annual report highlights how we are reimagining our work as we focus on the pocketbook issues of working families.