Families say security beats `nice things'

The economy is taking its toll on American families.

Just being financially secure is becoming more important to themwhile "having nice things" is less important, according to the 1991American Family Values survey from Massachusetts Mutual LifeInsurance Co.

Not surprisingly, then, 86 percent of the families agreed thatit is "impossible to support a family on just one income." In thatsame vein, all but 3 percent agreed that "both spouses need to takemajor responsibilities in the home."

More than a third of the survey participants said they spend toolittle time with their families, primarily because they have to workso much. Still, that's down from 46 percent in 1989.

The authors noted, however, "it is not clear whether this10-point swing is due to a change in the actual amount of time spentwith family or a change in the expectations people have about howmuch time together with family is acceptable."

Unstable job outlook: For every Chicago area employer planningto hire workers early next year, there is one planning to cut itsstaff.

That unsettling news comes from a survey on employment plansconducted quarterly by Manpower, the Milwaukee-based temporaryservices firm.

Fifteen percent of Chicago area employers said they plan to hireworkers during the January-March quarter, while 14 percent said theyplan layoffs. Another 68 percent expect no changes and 3 percentaren't sure.

The projections reflect a typically reserved first quartercompounded by fears about the economy, Manpower officials said.

The majority of the Chicago area hiring will be in the northernsuburbs, the survey shows. In the city, only 11 percent of employersplan to hire workers while 18 percent expect to cut staff.

Nationally, 15 percent of employers plan to hire and an equalnumber plan to fire.

Where we work: In the Chicago area, small businesses are gettingsmaller, but they're still located primarily in Cook County.

The latest statistical analysis of where workers work in thesix-county Chicago metropolitan area is being released today by theIllinois Department of Employment Security.

The report shows that the number of Cook County jobs grew by 18percent from 1989 to 1990. 75 percent of the jobs in the area during1990 were in Cook County, down from more than 80 percent in 1981.

Du Page County comes in a distant second, with just over 12percent of the jobs. In 1981, just 8 percent of the area jobs werein that west suburban county. Also, the number of jobs in Du Page isup nearly 50 percent from a year ago.

In the middle of the employment ladder are north suburban LakeCounty, with 6 percent of the jobs, though the number increased 19percent over the previous year; west suburban Kane, with 3.9 percent,up about 10 percent, and southwest suburban Will with 2.5 percent, upjust 4 percent.

Bringing up the rear is sleepy northwest suburban McHenry Countywith a miniscule 1.7 percent of the jobs and a tiny 2.4 percentgrowth. In 1981, Lake and Kane each had 4 percent of the jobs, Willhad 2.4 percent and McHenry had just 1.2 percent.

The size of the labor force in the six-county area grew by 19percent from 1981 to 1990 - to 3.1 million from 2.6 million.

The number of employees at each business continues to fall, thereport shows. In 1972, the average number of workers per firm was23. In 1990, it was 20. Cook County firms employed an average of 21workers, while Du Page firms had 18 employees; Lake, 16; Kane, 17;Will, 14, and McHenry, 13.

In Chicago, 1.2 million workers toil. About two-thirds work inmanufacturing while the other one-third are in service businesses,the analysis shows.

Free of drugs: The Illinois Drug-Free Workplace Act takes effectJan. 1.

The law applies to any Illinois company with more than 25employees that receives $5,000 or more in state grants or contracts.The law is modeled on a 1988 federal law that applies to firmsreceiving federal grants or contracts worth more than $25,000.

Under the Illinois law, companies will be required to publish astatement that prohibits the use, distribution or possession of acontrolled substance in the workplace and outlines the disciplinaryprocedure. The policy must be given to each employee who, in turn,must agree to abide by it.

Firms that fail to comply could find their government contractssuspended or canceled and could be banned from doing business withthe state or federal government for up to five years.

A brochure on drug-free-workplace issues is available free fromthe Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority at (312)793-8550.