Illinois paid sick leave law
The short answer
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act took effect January 1, 2024; accrual begins at the start of employment or January 1, 2024, whichever is later, and employees may start using leave after 90 days. (Illinois DOL, Paid Leave for All Workers Act FAQ)
Last verified Sep 24, 2026 · How we verify every rule
General information, not legal advice. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Every rule on this page links to its official source.
Paid sick leave
Do you have to give paid sick leave?Yes, statewideVerified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act took effect January 1, 2024; accrual begins at the start of employment or January 1, 2024, whichever is later, and employees may start using leave after 90 days. (Illinois DOL, Paid Leave for All Workers Act FAQ)
“PLAWA went into effect on January 1, 2024. Accrual of paid leave begins upon the start of employment or January 1, 2024, whichever is later. Employees are entitled to begin using the accrued paid leave after 90 days.”
“SPRINGFIELD - Workers in Illinois will begin earning paid time off on January 1, 2024.”
labor.illinois.gov · gov.illinois.gov
2 more cases for this topic are not verified yet. Check the official source.
What it means for an employer
- Put your sick leave policy in writing: accrual rate, yearly cap, carryover and how to request leave.
- Track accrued and used hours for each employee in payroll.
- Check the verified rules above for the employer size and employees covered.
The federal default
“There is currently no federal law guaranteeing access to paid sick leave, although many states and localities have passed paid sick leave laws.”
State rules can add to the federal default. The Illinois rules above are the ones we verified; for anything not covered, ask the state labor office.
Paid sick leave: Illinois and its neighbors
| State | Paid sick leave |
|---|---|
| Illinois | Yes, statewide |
| Wisconsin | No statewide law |
| Iowa | No statewide law |
| Missouri | No statewide law |
| Kentucky | Not verified |
| Indiana | Not verified |
Only verified rules are shown. "Not verified" means we have not checked that state's rule yet; open its rulebook for the official source.
Related
Questions about Illinois paid sick leave law
Do you have to give paid sick leave in Illinois?
Effective date: The Paid Leave for All Workers Act took effect January 1, 2024; accrual begins at the start of employment or January 1, 2024, whichever is later, and employees may start using leave after 90 days. (Illinois DOL, Paid Leave for All Workers Act FAQ)
Sources (3)
Checked Sep 24, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error