Illinois Paid Leave Brings a Twist to Expanding Sick Time Laws

Providing paid time off would become mandatory for many Illinois employers under legislation awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature, creating an unusual alternative to the paid sick time laws enacted by 30-plus state and local governments.

The Illinois legislation (SB 208) would guarantee workers accrue paid time off, up to 40 hours or five workdays per year for full-time employees. Workers could use the time off for any reason, unlike the more common paid sick and safe leave laws that could be set for expansion in a handful more states in 2023. Pritzker (D) has said he supports the ...