City of Chicago and Cook County: Playing by Our Own Rules
In my previous article, I talked about significant laws taking effect in this new year of 2024 for employees/employers doing business in Illinois, including the monumental Paid Leave for All Workers (PLAW) Act. You should be aware that (in classic Chicago fashion) both Cook County and the City of Chicago have their own paid leave ordinances that supersede PLAW. Again, I am not a lawyer, so please consult the legal counsel at your organization and do your own research to verify this information.
Dare to be Different
For the most part, the Cook County ordinance is identical to PLAW except that it includes an individual right of action. The City of Chicago ordinance seems to be more beneficial to employees in that it differentiates between Paid Leave and Paid Sick Leave. Additionally, the accrual rate is 1 hour per 35 hours worked vs. 1 hour per 40 hours worked under the other laws. The City of Chicago ordinance includes a cure period from July 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2026. Also, this ordinance mandates payout of unused leave for medium and large employers, which the other laws do not. Lastly, the City of Chicago ordinance raises fines for damages and underpayment.
For more information, you can check out the links below:
- Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance and Regulations
- Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance Officially in Effect
- Illinois Department of Labor
