Chicago paid sick leave
Local ordinance, in effect since July 1, 2024
1 hour of paid sick leave plus 1 hour of paid leave (any reason) for every 35 hours worked
All employers (employees who work 80+ hours in Chicago within any 120-day period) in Chicago must let employees accrue and use up to 40 hours a year. Employers with 1-50 covered employees need not pay out paid leave at separation. Illinois's state law also applies; employers follow whichever rule is more generous to the employee.
| Chicago | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual | 1 hour of paid sick leave plus 1 hour of paid leave (any reason) for every 35 hours worked | 1 hour for every 40 hours worked (or front-loaded) |
| Annual cap | 40 hours Up to 40 hours of paid sick leave plus 40 hours of paid leave in any 12-month period | 40 hours |
| Who must provide it | All employers (employees who work 80+ hours in Chicago within any 120-day period) | All employers (unless a Chicago or Cook County ordinance applies) |
| Carryover | Paid sick leave: up to 80 hours carry over (balance up to 120). Paid leave: up to 16 hours. | Unused accrued leave carries over. No carryover is required if the leave was front-loaded. |
Details and exceptions
- Replaced Chicago's earlier 40-hour paid sick leave ordinance on July 1, 2024.
- Employees under a collective bargaining agreement in force on July 1, 2024 are exempt until it expires.
Law: Chicago Municipal Code ch. 6-130 (Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance)
Running payroll in Chicago, Illinois?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Office of Labor Standards · 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.