Illinois paid sick leave
In effect since January 1, 2024
1 hour for every 40 hours worked (or front-loaded)
All employers (unless a Chicago or Cook County ordinance applies) must let employees accrue and use up to 40 hours of paid sick leave a year.
| Accrual | 1 hour for every 40 hours worked (or front-loaded) |
|---|---|
| Annual cap | 40 hours Up to 40 hours in a 12-month period |
| Who must provide it | All employers (unless a Chicago or Cook County ordinance applies) |
| Waiting period | Leave can be used after 90 days of employment. |
| Carryover | Unused accrued leave carries over. No carryover is required if the leave was front-loaded. |
| Front-loading | Allowed |
| Payout when employment ends | Not required (but leave labeled "vacation" may be subject to payout under the Wage Payment and Collection Act) |
| Covered uses | Any reason (paid leave for any reason, not only sickness) |
Local sick leave laws in Illinois
These places have their own ordinance. Employers there follow whichever rule is more generous.
- Chicago: 1 hour of paid sick leave plus 1 hour of paid leave (any reason) for every 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours
- Cook County: 1 hour for every 40 hours worked (paid leave for any reason)
Details and exceptions
- This is a paid-leave-for-any-reason law, not a sick-only law.
- Employers covered by a Chicago or Cook County paid leave ordinance follow that ordinance instead.
Law: 820 ILCS 192 (Paid Leave for All Workers Act)
Running payroll in Illinois?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Illinois Department of Labor · data as of October 8, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.