Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is set to sign a bill on Monday which will mandate paid leave for nearly all workers in the state.
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act requires employers to give their employees time off based on the hours they have worked, and unlike before, this time can be used for any reason.
Most employees will receive a minimum of 40 hours or what equates to 5 days of paid leave per year, and employers have the option to offer more if they wish.
This paid leave will be available for use after 90 days of employment.
While the time off can be used for any reason, employers can still require prior notice before employees take the time off.
Up to 40 hours of unused paid leave can be carried over annually, but employers are not required to pay out the balance of a person’s leave if they leave the workplace.
Employers that violate the act could be subject to penalties and fines.
However, seasonal workers such as lifeguards, federal employees, and college students who work non full-time temporary jobs for their campus are exempt from these changes.
The bill is a game changer for workers as it gives them 5 days off that they can take for any reason.
Governor Pritzker is expected to sign the bill into law at 1:30 PM this afternoon, and it will go into effect in January.
