Illinois Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance Update

The Illinois Cook County Board of Commissioners passed significant amendments to the former Cook County Earned Sick Leave Ordinance, shifting to the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance.

Effective December 31, 2023, the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance will ensure employees in Cook County:
 
Earn at least one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked for your employer in Cook County; and Can use paid leave for any reason of the employee’s choosing.
 
This represents a significant shift, as the Earned Sick Leave Ordinance previously outlined conditions during which earned sick leave could be used (e.g., when you or a family member are ill, receiving medical care, etc.). Paid leave, by contrast, can be used for any reason, providing more flexibility to employees in Cook County to take time off. This change also aligns with the State of Illinois’ Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which will be enforced by the Illinois Department of Labor starting January 1, 2024.
 
Employees are covered by the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance if:

• You work for an employer in Cook County.
• Your employer has a place of business in Cook County.

 
Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance (e.g., using paid time off, submitting a request for paid time off, and requiring employees to search for or find a replacement to cover work hours while on leave).
 
The Cook County Commission on Human Rights is the enforcement agency for the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance.
 
Ordinance No. 24-0583 Paid Leave Ordinance (PLO) was passed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners on December 14, 2023. Enforcement of the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance will begin on February 1, 2024.
 
PLEASE NOTE: The City of Chicago has separate laws/policies surrounding paid leave. Please see the 'New Sick Leave/PTO Laws Delayed in Chicago' article.