EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
The IMA supports the creation of a quality, highly skilled workforce though legislative action and partnerships.
To compete and succeed globally, manufacturers in Indiana require a high-quality, highly skilled workforce. The Indiana Manufacturers Association is a leader in the push for legislative solutions and continues to partner with educational partners, state groups, and manufacturers to ensure that the next generation of life-changing technologies is manufactured here in the heartland.
Worker’s Compensation – Maintain caps of 200% of Medicare on Medical Reimbursement. With the passage of House Enrolled Act 1153 during the 2022 Legislative Session, 200% caps apply now to care provided at hospitals and at ambulatory surgical centers (ASC’s). This legislation will also increase benefit levels for claimants through 2025. The Indiana General Assembly should allow for more time to measure the impact of the benefit increases and the cap on ASC’s on the worker’s compensation system in Indiana and refrain from any changes during the 2025 Legislative Session. If any future policy changes are to be made by the General Assembly, careful attention should be given to the fact that new studies demonstrate that the vertical integration of medical providers in Indiana has led to higher medical payments per claim and longer duration of claims. Any increase in disability or salary indemnification benefit levels without measures in place to control medical costs within the workers compensation system will be opposed by the IMA.
Unemployment Insurance – Maintain Existing Statutory Scheme and Oppose Modification
Indiana’s unemployment insurance system is designed to protect individuals with substantial attachment to the workforce who are unemployed through no fault of their own, and employers in those instances must be able to verify employment and wages in a reliable manner to prevent fraud. The policy of the Indiana General Assembly should be to maintain a healthy Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to insure Indiana’s employers and employees against future economic downturn and not to incentivize employee departure , or partial separation, from the workforce. Though there is a need for qualified, skilled workers in Indiana, the General Assembly should not increase or supplement unemployment insurance benefits for the purpose of incentivizing unemployed workers to seek further education and training.
Workforce Development – Maintain Investment in Workforce Development Programming Directed to the Manufacturing Industry and Address Growing Child Care Needs. The biennial state budget enacted by the Indiana General Assembly during the 2025 Legislative Session should sustain investments in programs that: (1) allow traditional K-12 students to explore manufacturing careers at early stages; (2) provide manufacturing firms with financial resources to train their existing workforce for career advancement and jobs of the future; and (3) attract adult learners who have departed from the workforce. The lack of access to affordable childcare continues to be a challenge that employees face when it comes to entering or re-entering the workforce, and advanced educational opportunities for incumbent workers. The General Assembly should continue to focus on directing resources to employers to this end. Legislation that is designed to increase access to affordable child care in Indiana will be supported by the IMA.