New Paid Leave Laws in Illinois

 Posted on July 19, 2024 in Corporate Law

Every state has its own set of rules regarding employee rights and workplace benefits. Illinois recently implemented new legislation requiring mandated paid leave for workers in a wide variety of sectors. Business owners should make it a priority to be kept aware of all the implications of the new laws so that they can be sure of their own compliance. If you are an employer or employee in Illinois who might be affected by this new legislation, contact a knowledgeable Naperville, IL business law attorney who can review your situation and offer professional guidance for moving forward.

Illinois Paid Leave Law

Effective as of January 1, 2023, this new law requires employers to provide their employees with paid leave for several reasons, including:

• Illness
• Caregiving responsibilities
• Domestic violence situations

One of the objectives behind this law is to promote a healthier and more sustainable work-life balance, recognizing that employees can have family or personal needs that require their attention even if they still need a job for financial stability.

According to the new law, eligible employees can accrue up to 40 hours of paid leave every year that they work. The leave is applicable in several scenarios, including:

• Personal illness: When an employee needs to address their own health concerns, including medical appointments or recovery from injury or illness.
• Family care: Employees can use their paid leave to care for family members who might need medical assistance.
• Victim services: Employees who have been affected by sexual assault, domestic violence, or stalking can use this paid leave to seek medical care, legal services, or any other type of assistance necessary.

Implementation and Compliance

Employees in Illinois need to implement a paid leave policy in compliance with the provisions of the new law. As such, they need to ensure that their employees are aware of their legal rights and that there are clear, effective procedures for paid leave to be effectively requested and approved.

How Can Employers Ensure Compliance?

To make sure they are acting in keeping with the new paid leave law, Illinois employers should update their policies to reflect the new requirements. These updates can include:

• Establishing accrual rates
• Defining eligible uses of paid leave
• Developing procedures for requesting and documenting any paid leave.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Employee Benefit Lawyer

If you believe you might be personally affected by these new paid leave laws, speak with a skilled Oak Brook, IL business attorney to understand more. At Lindell & Tessitore, P.C., our client’s rights are our main priority, and we will fight hard to ensure they are protected. Call us at 630-778-3818 so we can review your case and advise you further.