Illinois (KWQC) - Illinois minimum wage is set to increase to $12 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2022.
Minimum wage workers are encouraged to keep a close eye on their paychecks in the new year, The State of Illinois said in a media release. Any time worked in 2022 must reflect the new $12 an hour minimum wage.
The increase comes as part of legislation Governor JB Pritzker signed in 2019 putting the state on the path to a $15 an hour minimum wage by 2025.
There have been three increases in the minimum wage since the governor signed the wage hike legislation, the State of Illinois said.
Prior to the increases in 2020, the last time Illinois raised its minimum wage was more than a decade ago in 2010 when it increased to $8.25.
In Chicago, the minimum wage is already $15 an hour for employers that have 21 or more employees, the State of Illinois said. It’s $14 an hour for smaller businesses.
The new law maintains provisions for employers to count gratuities to offset wages for workers, such as food servers, who regularly earn tips.
Tipped employees may be paid 60 percent of the hourly minimum wage, the State of Illinois said. However, these workers must still earn the minimum wage after receiving tips or the employer will make up the difference.
Workers under 18 years old and who work fewer than 650 hours in a year will earn a minimum wage of $9.25 per hour beginning January 1, the State of Illinois said. The youth minimum wage rate will gradually rise to $13 an hour by 2025.
All...
Quick Hit: On April 10, 2026, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the first False Claims Act (“FCA”) resolution secured under its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. The settlement resolves all...