Short answer. At least 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked. Accrual may be limited to 40 hours in a 12-month period. Use may begin: employees may begin using paid leave 90 days after their employment starts.
At a glance
- Law
- Paid Leave for All Workers Act (820 ILCS 192)
- In effect
- January 1, 2024.
- Accrual
- At least 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked.
- Yearly limit
- Accrual may be limited to 40 hours in a 12-month period.
- Use may begin
- Employees may begin using paid leave 90 days after their employment starts.
- Agency
- Illinois Department of Labor
Example with dates
Suppose someone at an employer in the "any number of employees" group starts on Monday, February 1, 2027 and works 32 hours every week. At 1 hour per 40 hours worked, that's 0.80 hours a week, and the first year comes to 40 hours, with the accrual cap of 40 hours reached on Monday, January 17, 2028. The latest an employer could hold off use is Sunday, May 2, 2027.
- By Saturday, May 1, 2027: 9.60 hours
- By Sunday, August 1, 2027: 20 hours
- By Tuesday, February 1, 2028: 40 hours
Your own figures: open the calculator set to Illinois.
What the time covers
Any reason, or no reason at all.
Unused hours at year end
Unused accrued leave carries over each year, except where the employer front-loads the minimum, in which case it need not carry over.
Front-loading instead of accrual
Allowed: the full minimum may be given at the start of employment or of the 12-month period; frontloaded leave need not carry over.
Smaller employers and who is covered
Applies to employers of all sizes, including non-profits and religious organizations. School districts and park districts are excluded from the definition of employer.
Notices, posters and statements
Employers must post the Department's notice in a conspicuous place and include it in any written handbook; first audit violations carry a $500 civil penalty and later ones $1,000.
City and county rules
Yes, local paid sick leave ordinances apply in parts of the state; an employer there follows whichever rule gives employees more. The official page: Paid Leave for All Workers Act FAQ (Chicago and Cook County).
Worth knowing
The Act doesn't apply to employers already covered by a municipal or county paid leave ordinance, such as Chicago's and Cook County's. Employers may adopt a reasonable notice policy for unforeseen absences.
Official sources
- Paid Leave for All Workers Act FAQ (Illinois Department of Labor) (checked November 2026)
- 820 ILCS 192, Paid Leave for All Workers Act (Illinois General Assembly) (checked November 2026)
Rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. A city ordinance, union contract or written policy can give employees more.
Questions employers ask
How much paid sick leave do employees earn in Illinois?
At least 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked. Accrual may be limited to 40 hours in a 12-month period.
When can a new employee start using sick leave in Illinois?
Employees may begin using paid leave 90 days after their employment starts.
Does unused sick time carry over to the next year in Illinois?
Unused accrued leave carries over each year, except where the employer front-loads the minimum, in which case it need not carry over.
Can a Illinois employer front-load sick leave instead of tracking accrual?
Allowed: the full minimum may be given at the start of employment or of the 12-month period; frontloaded leave need not carry over.
Do small employers in Illinois have to provide it?
Applies to employers of all sizes, including non-profits and religious organizations. School districts and park districts are excluded from the definition of employer.
What can Illinois sick leave be used for?
Any reason, or no reason at all.
All states: paid sick leave laws by state · Connecticut · Maine