Illinois Implements Statewide Mandatory Paid Leave, Excludes Cook County and Chicago.

Illinois has become one of three US states to mandate paid time off for full-time employees for any reason, up to 40 hours per year, starting from January 1, 2024. Small business owners in Illinois view the paid leave requirement as a government-imposed burden, while proponents argue that the policy supports both business owners and workers, and that guaranteeing paid leave will foster a healthier, more productive workforce. The law will help low-wage workers, who are less likely to have paid time off and who are disproportionately Black, Latino, and women.