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* Mark Maxwell…
An iconic nonprofit thrift store is crying poor in the face of looming payroll increases, and it is announcing plans to layoff disabled employees in order to take on the extra cost.
However, the 501(c)(3) organization pays no taxes, collects state funding, was awarded state contracts, and has special permission from the federal government to pay disabled workers well below the minimum wage floor.
Sharon Durbin, President and Chief Executive Officer at Land of Lincoln Goodwill, told dozens of disabled thrift store workers they would no longer receive a paycheck as a result of the state’s new minimum wage increase, and she warns future job cuts could still be coming to the last 11 remaining disabled employees still on the payroll.
Durbin runs the Central Illinois nonprofit branch that oversees 15 retail locations and more than 450 total employees. She wrote about “upcoming changes to the Vocational Rehabilitation Program” in a letter dated June 14th. Her letter said the program “is funded through the Illinois Department of Human Services,” but the funding “does not cover all of the significant costs of the program.”
The abrupt shift not only comes as disappointing news to dozens of disabled workers in the area, including some who live in group homes without their parents, but it also threatens to weaken the core promise of Goodwill’s mission statement. […]
Durbin’s son, Brian Durbin, was hired onto the Executive Leadership team and makes an annual salary of $95,747 at the nonprofit. […]
Durbin acknowledged that her group already pays the sub-minimum rate for 27 of 50 disabled workers, however, inexplicably, she says the nonprofit is “progressing away from that.” The federal formula requires employers to pay disabled workers based on a productivity scale at a rate commensurate with the work they complete. […]
The organization’s 990 tax documents from 2018 reveal Durbin takes home an annual salary of $164,849 plus another $6,145 in benefits.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Looks like a deputy governor and a powerful state Senator are quite displeased…
This. @GoodwillIntl ought to be ashamed. https://t.co/OuOLUQPr5w
— Christian Mitchell (@cljmitchell) July 16, 2019
*** UPDATE 2 *** Another legislator…
Seems to me that this is the opposite of what “goodwill” means. Hey @GoodwillIntl - You can’t say our donations “create jobs” when your greed means your clients don’t get paid while your CEO makes $165K & her son makes $95K https://t.co/FjAFQkBd5r
— Rep. Kelly Cassidy (@RepKellyCassidy) July 16, 2019
Senate Majority Leader…
What a sorry excuse for a charity.
The comments I read were ridiculous, disappointing and, frankly, disgusting.Thread:https://t.co/c98×1fS617
— Kimberly A. Lightford (@LLCoolK_4) July 16, 2019
*** UPDATE 3 *** Ruh-roh…
Land of Lincoln Goodwill CEO Sharon Durbin, who pulled paychecks from disabled workers, happens to share some rather extreme political views on her Facebook page.
Here, she compares liberals to Nazis & suggests lax public school dress codes & sex ed invites school shootings. pic.twitter.com/4ZJA9yogKb
— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) July 16, 2019
Durbin also posted this meme saying "everyone outside of Chicago has no voice" in Illinois. She worked for IDOT under the Blagojevich administration, and her nonprofit receives state funding and state contracts. pic.twitter.com/JiJTvZ4qD2
— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) July 16, 2019
*** UPDATE 4 *** This info was also posted in comments earlier today…
It's interesting when you look at their 990s - CEO Sharon Durbin made $134,912 in 2014 and increased to $164,849 in 2017 (current 990). CFO Ron Culves made $49,845 in 2014 and increased to $106,063 in 2017. But they can't manage the increase in minimum wage? BS.
— Kathy Robinson 📚 (@Real__librarian) July 16, 2019
*** UPDATE 5 *** I followed up and was told that a committee hearing “is something we are currently reviewing”…
News that Land of Lincoln Goodwill in Springfield is laying off dozens of workers with disabilities without a valid explanation is drawing concern from State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield).
“It is disheartening that Goodwill would use false excuses to terminate the employment of reliable, hardworking staff with disabilities in Illinois,” Morrison said.
Morrison – who is chair of the Senate Human Services Committee and founder of the Special Needs Caucus – passed a series of measures this year aimed at increasing state employment of individuals with disabilities, all aimed at breaking down the barriers to employment.
Sharon Durbin, the President and Chief Executive Officer at Land of Lincoln Goodwill in Springfield, communicated to laid off employees the reason for their job loss was due to the state’s recent enactment of a minimum wage increase. Because they hire workers with disabilities, however, Goodwill is permitted by the U.S. Department of Labor to pay these workers below the minimum wage. In addition, the first increase in Illinois’ minimum wage will not take effect until January 1, 2020.
According to a recent WCIA report, Sharon Durbin’s salary at Land of Lincoln Goodwill is more than $160,000.
In 2018, Goodwill received nearly $400,000 in state grants and contracts solely to be used for workers with disabilities.
“What are these contracts going toward if not for the employment of individuals with disabilities?” Morrison said. “That is something we will be looking into. We need Goodwill to return to its mission of working to lift up those experiencing barriers to employment, especially those with disabilities.”
*** UPDATE 6 *** WMAY’s Jim Leach…
This afternoon on the show: we were scheduled to talk to the CEO of the local Goodwill as a firestorm erupts about their decision to cut jobs for disabled people, but we were told moments ago that she’s now unavailable.
*** UPDATE 7 *** From Kathy Carmody, CEO of the Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities…
Community agencies across Illinois that support people with disabilities have had to work vigorously to develop creative and mission-driven solutions to the challenges we face in providing quality and essential services. While the pending long-overdue increase in minimum wage will have a significant fiscal impact on all social service organizations, directly impacting the very people we exist to serve should be the last place an organization goes to balance its ledger.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:00 am
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Disgusting
Comment by Powdered Whig Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:02 am
This is disgusting and an absolute abuse of power. The Executive Director and son need to be investigated. The company gets tens of thousands of dollars in subsidies for hiring disabled workers but now wants to lay them off? Something stinks with this “Leadership Team” - forensic accountants and auditors need to do some investigating of their accounting practices.
Comment by MakePoliticsCoolAgain Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:06 am
Well that’s not gonna fly. Every nonprofit has a governing board. Unless this one is stocked with cronies, expect heads to roll, starting with her son.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:09 am
Every non-profit deals with this. The salary needs to be high enough to attract effective talent, but how high is too high?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:11 am
#Badwill
Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:11 am
If I had Honeybear’s gift for poetic venom, I’d deploy it here.
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:11 am
Shame on her. I hope people take their business elsewhere. What do she and her son do to generate that income on second hand clothes and household items?
Comment by Flynn's Mom Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:12 am
This is as terrible as it sounds, probably more so, since real people are being hurt, disabled people, because of this monetary decision made by those who appear to be doing quite well at the expense of others.
More sunshine. More harsh spotlights.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:12 am
Looks to me like Goodwill needs a nepostism policy.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:13 am
Wow. This is just poor management of the situation. How can any leader of an organization implement such a tone deaf idea.?
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:15 am
Time for new leadership at the Goodwill. Maybe a new gig for Chance?
Comment by Froganon Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:15 am
The good feelings I had after reading the post about Chance The Snapper quickly fled after reading this post.
Powdered Whig said it all.
Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:16 am
You have 6 years to prepare for the $15/minimum wage (which Goodwill doesn’t even have to pay at) and you’re laying off people already. Bad business but not surprising from a company who gets people to donate their stock and turn around and sell it at 100% markup no matter what the price.
Comment by OurMagician Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:16 am
I don’t have a beef with her salary, Jamie Dimon made tens of millions the same year his bank took a massive government bailout and the savings and investments of hundreds of thousands of people evaporated.
The nepotism is appalling though.
There had to be another way to reduce costs rather than doing on the backs of the disabled.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:17 am
This is an effect of every other fully functional employee getting a raise. I’m curious what suggestions people have to cut overhead and payroll costs…aside from cutting the $170k directors salary, which would probably amount to peanuts in the grand scheme of the cost.
Layoff able bodied employees? Raise the price of the items in the store?
Comment by Phenomynous Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:17 am
This is disappointing in a number of ways. Not being the kind to do yard sales, when the closets and garage get a cleaning the stuff goes to Goodwill or Habitat. You hope the money goes to a good cause and not someone’s inflated salary. Unfortunately Non-Profit does not mean nobody’s making money on the deal
Comment by Bemused Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:18 am
Maybe the OEIG should look at those contracts to make sure state funds are being properly spent.
Comment by DIstant watcher Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:18 am
You’ll be hearing more of these stories in the coming years. Although, my hunch is in the for profit world it will be more a story about kiosks replacing workers .
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:18 am
From the WCIA post-
“It really was not a job,” she (Durbin) said. “It was a work component and through it we gave them through grace out of our budget to pay them so they had a paycheck to go home with.”
She.Needs.To.Go.
She has no appreciation for the work she should be doing in this non-profit world. She would be better off getting a job for herself and her son at Walmart. There, perhaps, her callousness would be better appreciated and “rewarded”.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:19 am
===how high is too high?===
When you can no longer pay disabled workers the pittance of what you make.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:20 am
I almost wonder if there isnt some kind of systemic structural issues, policies, and funding that lend to these types of situations at Goodwill and other similar organizations…..
I almost wonder if overall system funding and the fund braiding these organizations have to do to stay afloat is well past not keeping pace with cost pressures, archaic regulatory structures, rigid payment models, etc. Have not adequately evolved.
Question the salary and nepotism if you like, but folks the entire DD system has been kept together on pennies and mission based organizations and staff. On any given day a major incident or death could happen just about anywhere in the state and then government is left with a DCFS like situation -crisis- because they didn’t respond to the needs staring it in the face.
Anyway…
Comment by Waffle Fries Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:22 am
Where is the Board on this? They are the ones that can fix this posthaste.
Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:32 am
Check this out from 3 years ago:
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20160611/land-of-lincoln-goodwill-industries-sets-aggressive-expansion-goal
It sounds to me like she (and her board?) want to take on Walmart. These workers she’s laying off are in the way.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:33 am
Over the past 3 years I have lost track of everything I have donated to Goodwill. Cleaning out my parents house and attempting to downsize and declutter myself has not been easy, but I continue to do so because I know the monies raised were used for many worthy purposes and programs. I have also been a customer looking for bargains, especially in the books and music section - can’t beat those prices.
But this revelation is very disturbing and disheartening. Maybe it is time for me to consider other options.
As Willy said - “More sunshine. More harsh spotlights.”
Comment by illini Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:35 am
Not a religious person by any stretch, but I really hope there is a special ring in hell for people like her.
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:36 am
Annoying, not so much the salary as the nepotism. And if could find another reliable place to drop off surplus stuff I would. But Goodwill makes it so easy and they have branches all over the place. In this Marie Kondo era, they seem almost, well, indispensable.
Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:39 am
Salvation Army. Where your donations and their intentions are for the best.
Comment by Wylie Coyote Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:45 am
Greed knows no boundries and the GOODWILL organization, while it says it’s a not-for-profit, certainly does not operate like, say, the Salvation Army?
Back in college (SIU-C) I Had a teacher teach us that there are no not-for-profits for all entities have to earn something in order to survive.
However, methinks Goodwill (at least this unit) is bordering on the extreme…
Comment by LINK Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:46 am
So disappointing. Never again to Goodwill.
Comment by oh? Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:51 am
When did IPI takeover Goodwill? She seems to be straight out of the John Tillman school of management and employee relations.
Hope someone puts the board that oversees her in the spotlight.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:56 am
I shop at Goodwill to find out of print records and CDs. One of the last times I went, the CDs were being restocked by a hard working disabled lad. He was certainly earning whatever little Goodwill was paying him. The Director needs to reconsider her decision.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:57 am
“Where your donations and their intentions are for the best.” Assuming “Salvation” is on your agenda.
But seriously, seems like there are hardly any businesses/organizations we can frequent any more.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:57 am
As someone who has worked/volunteered with several small and large nonprofit organizations: please do your research before you give.
I have seen one too many nonprofits run into the ground because of financial mismanagement, boards that were not providing dilligent oversight and egotistical excutive directors/CEOs who offer no guidance to the organization and act as though the organization is their own personal fiefdom/cashbox. Ask questions about the organization’s reputation and look up their annual filing status with the Secretary of State or search the Charitable Trust Database at the Illinois Attorney General. Be wary folks. Just because an organization says it serves a good cause doesn’t mean they are good stewards of your donation.
IL Attorney General Charitable Database Search and Resources for Consumers - http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/charities/
IL Secretary of State Corporation/LLC Search (Includes Not-for-Profit) https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/business_services/corp.html
Comment by RuralJewel Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:00 am
I don’t think her salary is the real problem here.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:06 am
“So disappointing. Never again to Goodwill.”
To be clear, this is not the CEO of Goodwill. It is the CEO of the one branch of Goodwill. Trust me, the CEO of Goodwill makes way more than $170k. So don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:07 am
If you are in or near the Clinton, IL area and are looking for an alternative to GW ( who, by tha way, just opened in the old Walmart plaza), this is one of the best disability groups around.
And, their thrift store is pretty great ( banned punctuation).
https://encoreservices.org
http://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/441665
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:09 am
Aerosmith summed up my take on this here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-0lAhnoDlU
Comment by MG85 Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:10 am
An organization is granted 501(c)(3) status based on a mission, and is restricted from certain political activities. The board is not allowed to profit from the organization’s activities. The organization, itself, is allowed to hold assets and make a profit.
Ms. Durbin’s actions seem to indicate the mission has been abandoned. Her focus on criticizing the minimum wage increase and suggestion the governor do something about it appear to be a slick way to do political lobbying. Maybe that’s the whole point?
Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:11 am
It’s interesting when you look at their 990s - CEO Sharon Durbin made $134,912 in 2014 and increased to $164,849 in 2017 (current 990). CFO Ron Culves made $49,845 in 2014 and increased to $106,063 in 2017. But they can’t manage the increase in minimum wage?
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/370661254
Comment by Fishy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:17 am
Agree 100% with Wylie Coyote, Salvation Army is the better choice.
Comment by pool boy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:19 am
OK, so this is personal… I’m an Executive Director of a non-profit, but I’m also the father of a disabled child.
1.) I’m so sick and tired of non-profit executives crying poverty. Watch your money, plan, and pay attention to details. Our agency is thriving. You will NEVER hear me cry poverty. Figure it out. Period.
2.) I’ve always been disgusted by wages of disabled people. I hire disabled employees, and pay them above minimum wage. These are humans.
Shame on anyone who punishes employees for the raise in minimum wage. Curses to those who punish vulnerable people and treat them as political pawns.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:25 am
It’s infuriating on so many levels.
Somebody asked “where is the board on this”
The Board is onboard with it.
They obviously approved it.
That’s because these corporate boards are carefully chosen and cultivated.
They are just as malignantly callous as the CEO’s.
They should have
non-privileged members of the board
or like Germany, worker representatives on the board.
I find nonprofit boards to be hives of
callous privilege
totally disconnected
and even disdainful
of those they serve.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:31 am
I will remember to never donate anything to them again.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:38 am
If you can, donate your used clothing to locally-owned thrift shops. Goodwill and the Salvation Army end up shipping a ton of their non-saleable clothing overseas and this clothing ends up destabilizing the development of the 3rd world.
Cheap second-hand American clothing wreaks havoc on the native textile industries in places like Africa. Textile industries are an important early stage of industrialization for developing economies and have historically served as a value-added bridge between agrarian economies and industrial production. Clothing sellers in developing countries will buy bales of thrift-store reject clothing from the US and then sell this stuff at a price which undercuts native-produced textiles.
You can find a ton of info on this by doing some web searching.
Comment by sulla Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:40 am
Who are the current Board of Directors? Their website does not provide any information on who governs this woman and her son.
In the past prominent GOP appellate judge was on the board. The board needs to be asked some questions by the media.
Ms. Durbin has turned the organization after the previous Executive Director was arrested. The board was clueless before his demise. Board members although volunteers have a fiduciary duty regarding the organization actions.
Comment by Klaus VonBulow Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:41 am
And this is why I donate to Salvation Army. Goodwill has not had any good will for a long time.
Comment by Dog Lover Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:42 am
I just Freecycle my old stuff. It goes directly to people who need it. I don’t get a tax break, but oh well.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:46 am
Continued..
If I recall many if not all of Goodwill’s disabled workers are subsidized by federal and State disability programs.
Comment by Klaus VonBulow Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 11:47 am
@Klaus VonBulow, this link includes the Board of Directors: https://llgi.org/about/leadership/
Comment by Fishy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 12:03 pm
Fishy, thanks for the link. I believe one of their directors probably works at the Department of Human Services as opposed to the stated “Department of Human Resources.”
When she’s done laying off disabled workers and hiring family, maybe the local CEO can do some executive level double checking.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 12:33 pm
I admit that I’m pretty stubborn when it comes to my beliefs, but once in a while someone makes such a compelling argument that it makes me reevaluate my stance on an issue.
The topic was physician-assisted death, and all but one person involved in the conversation believed people of sound mind should be entitled to make life ending decisions.
She was paraplegic, and her argument against PAD laws was that she was worried that the government sees disabled people as a burden, and would make life so difficult for them that suicide would seem like the only rational option.
When I have repeated her argument, the response I get most often is “The government would never do that.”
And yet here we are. The government allows companies to pay disabled people less than minimum wage, and in turn Goodwill has decided that they are a burden and their employment must be terminated.
Comment by Lake County Mom Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 12:54 pm
To the Update:
Sure to be some questions about those state contracts when a DHS Bureau Chief is on your board of directors.
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:02 pm
===when a DHS Bureau Chief is on your board===
I’ve asked him for a comment.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:14 pm
Also please remember that refusing to donate to Goodwill going forward will negatively impact those who rely on Goodwill to meet their basic needs.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:20 pm
This is common practice at Goodwills throughout the country. The executives at these places pay below poverty wages and make $500,000+ per year. They aren’t the only one with Illinois government-funded contracts who engage in this despicable practice.
Comment by Employee Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:20 pm
Fish, thank you for the link.
The link also indicates an HFS (Medicaid) representive.
Comment by Klaus VonBulow Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:31 pm
== Raise the price of the items in the store? ==
They have been doing that the last several years. I still shop there but I don’t round up … and all my donations go to Salvation Army.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:46 pm
== Who are the current Board of Directors? ==
Pull up their 990 … Board and Officers will be listed.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:53 pm
== Also please remember that refusing to donate to Goodwill going forward will negatively impact those who rely on Goodwill to meet their basic needs. ==
There are church based alternatives most places. And most of those will provide basic clothing needs for free.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 1:57 pm
Please, please, please don’t let this jade people’s views of nonprofits. The vast (vast!) majority operate ethically and do so on very tight budgets. Leaders and nonprofits like this should be held to account, but they do not reflect the sector.
Comment by Left Leaner Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:13 pm
50 full time employees at 8.25 an hour vs 50 full time employees at $15 an hour is an increase of $702,000
Is this just easy political points score saying disabled workers need paid more?
Everyone saying 14c is bad. No one in the free market would pay for the special requirements needed by the employee. While the state starts these programs and doesn’t really want to pay. The state will instead pay for caretakers to take care of them somewhere else and them not working.
How much does a CEO of a company with 450 employees usually get paid? Do you think they could find someone qualified for under 100k?
Comment by Tortilla Chips Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:16 pm
-Also please remember that refusing to donate to Goodwill going forward will negatively impact those who rely on Goodwill to meet their basic needs.-
Nice concern trolling
Goodwill doesn’t help people meet their basic needs. It is a ” is an American nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs for people who have barriers preventing them from otherwise obtaining a job.”
Sure you can find cheap stuff there. But it’s not a food pantry or a shelter or free healthcare clinic.
What this CEO is doing is actually going against the mandate of their raison d’etre.
It’s acting like a profit making entity.
Hardly 501 behavior is it.
Cutting out the disabled/handicapped workers because
They will soon cost too much?
Privileged lives
produce
privileged behaviors
(nepotism)
(unnecessary layoffs for profit)
How about the good politicians above
challenge
Goodwills non profit status.
Make them prove it.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:20 pm
Rich, you’re gonna need another update: http://twitter.com/MarkMaxwellTV/status/1151211627712339968
Wow, just wow.
Comment by Not a Superstar Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:30 pm
Oh, I forget to mention.
I don’t care about Durbin’s salary.
Her son’s salary is skeevie and smacks of nepotism.
I would challenge the board on that if I thought they weren’t already corrupted.
Cutting the disabled workers shows me all I need to know.
National Goodwill should sack the board and the CEO.
I don’t know if that’s how it works
but….
If I were national
I’d be deploying the legal team right now.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:33 pm
And Maxwell for the win
Goodwill Industries (national org) is gonna be on
this like a rat on a cheetah.
wait..wait…
my popcorn is almost done.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:37 pm
I was obviously too slow in my earlier post. Now for the next step: when will Durbin be recruited by ILGOP to run for office? She seems very on-brand.
Comment by Not a Superstar Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:37 pm
A few of these people I know have to be furious as I know why they are on this board. I’m looking at you Michelle, Corey, Shannon and John.
Comment by I Miss Betohs Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 2:47 pm
Durbin had better cut and run. Maxwell is destroying whatever credibility remained.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:18 pm
=She explained that disabled workers are not always as efficient or as productive as a traditional employee, and the extra time and labor it takes to train and correct the mistakes of the disabled workers costs more money.=
But, as Honeybear pointed out above, “training disabled workers” is what Goodwill is (theoretically, anyway) all about.
This woman is a real piece of work.
to Update#3 - why am I not surprised? Perhaps she should wander over to the Boycott Du Quoin State Fair Facebook page. I’m sure she’d feel right at home.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:21 pm
All of this-hiring her son, her statements, the decisions being made-ultimately rests with the board.
Boards supervise, vote, have the final say.
Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:22 pm
To all the updates,
The only goodwill now would be both Durbins resign from their positions at this Goodwill. Nothing less will suffice.
It’s that bad.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:24 pm
Even if she resigns it’s not going to fix the upcoming issues with 14c, min wage, and drs programs. Expect this to be widespread soon.
Comment by Tortilla Chips Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:30 pm
Here’s hoping Ms. Durbin suffers the same fate as those she stopped paying.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:32 pm
If things don’t work out for her, revelations of her actions and views would seem to indicate that she qualifies for Conductor on the eastern bloc crazy train, or possibly “workers’ rights advocate” at the IPI.
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:33 pm
$165k + $96k - dozens of disabled workers + Facebook postings = -2 Employed Durbins (by the end of the week)
Comment by Tommydanger Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:38 pm
I had a snarky comment regarding Members of the General Assembly complaining about nepotism but decided I didn’t want to get banned, so I’ll just say that this is the type of minimum wage increase “sad story” that the proponents of the increase have been waiting for.
Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:40 pm
Rich, I imagine some days must be so satisfying for you.
Some days you bring the heat. Like today
and cause change.
Some days you bring relief. Like the gofundme pages.
and cause change.
Some days you shine a light on the cockroaches.
And they get squished.
Thanks Rich
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:43 pm
Tortilla — two points.
a) are you sure all of those folks are full-time?
b) It’s a $26.5 million operation. $700k ain’t hay, but it’s not crushing either
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:48 pm
Her, her son, and the Board must go if anyone is to ever trust this organization again.
Comment by JT Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:51 pm
Perhaps she is too busy deleting her social media accounts or at least some of her posts.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:53 pm
This is sickening. May I humbly suggest that the clothing items people may be giving to GW be passed along instead to the local St.Vincent DePaul Societies in many local churches? There are no salaries there and their work is generally hyper-local.
And other worthy places of course. Find one.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:59 pm
So I went to the land of Lincoln Goodwill website. There’s a pic of a worker with Downs Syndrome. It reminded me of when I worked with a great guy with Downs during college. I worked for the food service at NU all 4 years. For a few months Bill worked in the dishroom. He was a hard worker and very proud of his job. I used to take my break and grab a quick meal at the same time that the wash crew had their meal break. So I had the privilege of getting to know him. He was sweetness personified. Always positive, never complained.
I can’t imagine the callousness necessary
to deny a loving soul like Bill
his hard earned paycheck.
The thought of it fills me
with rage
Think for a second about an alternately abled person you know.
Now imagine saying to them.
Business profit is more important to me than you.
Try it
I dare you
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 3:59 pm
Again, what do area GOP pols think? Rep. Davidsmeyer? Rep. Murphy? Sen. McCLure? Sen. Brady? Rep. Bourne? Tick-tock…
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:01 pm
===Rep. Davidsmeyer? Rep. Murphy? Sen. McCLure? Sen. Brady? Rep. Bourne?===
I’m sure if they want to be heard, we’d hear them.
I’ll wait.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:02 pm
Rep. Davidsmeyer? Rep. Murphy? Sen. McCLure? Sen. Brady? Rep. Bourne
Profit Supremacists
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:08 pm
Durbin said the effect of the law will add over $2 million in cost over the next five years. let’s assume that is an accurate work-up and let’s just say it is $2M. That is $400K a year. Cutting her son doesn’t take care of the problem. Cutting her salary in half doesn’t take care of the problem. How many people criticizing her and pointing out her salary would take that job for half the pay (and be qualified for the job)?
Comment by Nanker Phelge Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:10 pm
Goodwill Industries’ media relations team today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M9cgP2cIZk
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:13 pm
- Honeybear -
With respect,
Call them out, sure, give them a moment to respond.
Social media can be slow, no snark.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:17 pm
===I’m sure if they want to be heard, we’d hear them.
I’ll wait.===
I’m sure they’re crafting a carefully worded statement. /s
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:19 pm
===I’m sure they’re crafting a carefully worded statement. /s===
We’ll all see. My hope is that they aren’t.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:20 pm
OW, you know me.
I get ralled up
and I come in swingin wild
Thanks for pullin me off em
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:22 pm
- Honeybear -
Wouldn’t want ya any other way, time is a teacher, not me.
Be well.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:39 pm
Did I miss CEO Durbin’s outrage during the budget impasse?
And Nanker, maybe she could raise the price of a shirt. I mean she’s been raking in record profits over the years so one would think she’d be able to handle this without slashing disabled workers. I’d be willing to pay a little more pocket change (and we really are talking about pocket change) at Goodwill if it were going for a good cause, which the CEO has now confirmed it is not.
(Yes, I shop often at goodwill)
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:41 pm
There is a phrase we save for times like these:
“There’s been a misunderstanding….”
- CEO and Board President
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:45 pm
“How much does a CEO of a company with 450 employees usually get paid? Do you think they could find someone qualified for under 100k?”
I absolutely think they could. If they can’t, they’re not trying.
Comment by Odysseus Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 4:54 pm
- Michelle Flaherty -
===Did I miss CEO Durbin’s outrage during the budget impasse?===
Yeah, I was holding my powder on that until the GA members on the Raunerite side.
Not that it’s not relevant to Ms. Durbin, or for that matter, her son, I figured I’d wrap up the whole package in one swoop.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 5:11 pm
Land of Lincoln Goodwill covers a pretty large area in Illinois. Seldom can a camera come on that Chapin Rose and Rodney Davis won’t sniff it out and go to it like a moth to a porch light. Where are they? Congrats to WCIA for covering this story. Decatur WAND TV and their “I” Team wouldn’t have touched it.
Comment by Crickets Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 5:38 pm
File this under you can’t make this up on your best day. Sharon Durbin was in a religious mood on April 23rd and felt moved to do some Facebook preaching. She shared the following inspiration……God is preparing you for the next level. It’s going to happen SUDDENLY. 🤔🤣
Comment by Crickets Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 5:50 pm
To contact Goodwill Industries International, call (800) GOODWILL or email contactus@goodwill.org.
Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 6:10 pm
My daughter worked for Goodwill some years ago. After Xmas, they’d make up reasons to get rid of workers that were due for a wage increase. I thought it was just that store, then I heard a man saying it happened in FL on Ed Schulz. There were a couple of other reports in Huffpost and I think Daily Kos. I quit donating and shopping there THEN. AmVets for me.
Comment by Union Thug Gramma Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 7:21 pm
==How much does a CEO of a company with 450 employees usually get paid? Do you think they could find someone qualified for under 100k?==
Fair enough…if they can manage the company well…and if the mission is: “Providing people the skills and resources to become self-sufficient through the power of work.” Then the CEO is paid to figure out how to make that happen.
If the CEO has managed a 7% annual raise for at least 3 years running and the CFO got a 28% annual raise for at least 3 years running, it seems to me that this crack leadership team should be able to figure out how to retain the workers who are part of their mission. If not, they aren’t worth those nice, “competitive” salaries.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 7:52 pm
WAND TV has an “I” team? Ha
Comment by Da Lobsta Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 8:34 pm
It even caught Bernie’s attention: https://twitter.com/berniesanders/status/1151280862861942785?s=12
Comment by Return to Sender Tuesday, Jul 16, 19 @ 10:14 pm