Cook County passes Paid Leave Ordinance, replaces Earned Sick Leave

 Cook County passes Paid Leave Ordinance, replaces Earned Sick Leave

On December 14, 2023, the 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.

The Cook County Commission on Human Rights is the enforcement agency for the Paid Leave Ordinance. Employees who believe their employer is not providing the required hours of paid leave, failing to allow use of paid leave as required by the Ordinance, or is otherwise violating the Ordinance, should contact the Cook County Commission on Human Rights with any questions or to file a complaint.

The Paid Leave complaint form and additional information can be accessed on the Commission’s website.

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.

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