CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker today signed SB208 into law, making Illinois the third state in the nation, and the first in the Midwest, to mandate paid time off to be used for any reason. The historic legislation provides employees with up to 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period, meaning approximately 1.5 million workers will begin earning paid time off starting in 2024.
"Working families face so many challenges, and it's been my mission to alleviate those burdens in every way I can. Today, we will become the third state in the nation to require paid time off, and the first among the largest states," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Employers benefit from allowing employees to tend to the urgent personal matters of their lives. Workers' productivity increases, and they often gain greater passion for their job when they can manage the stresses they face outside work. I'm exceptionally proud that labor and business came together to recognize the value of this requirement to employees and employers alike."
"Life happens. When you don't have the space to be fully present to help with a family emergency or take care of something you need to attend to, it can be very stressful," said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. "With this Act, we are protecting wages and providing relief for residents and their families while taking another major step to make our state the best place to live and work."
Under existing law, workers are not guaranteed pay when taking time off for sick...
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