Paid Leave for All Workers Act

Farmers: Do You Have Employees?

5 things Illinois farmers should know about the new paid leave requirement for all Illinois workers

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, employees in Illinois will be entitled to five days of paid time off per an employer-designated 12 month period. If you're a farmer with employees, here are five things you should know about the new requirements:

  • After 90 days of employment, employers must permit employees the ability to use earned paid leave time.

  • Paid leave time can be credited to the employee in full (40 hours) at the time of hiring or accrued at a rate of 1 hour per every 40 hours worked, starting the first day of employment.

  • Employees can use paid leave time without reason or proof. Employers cannot require employees to find a replacement.

  • If employment is interrupted and the employer rehires the same employee within the same 12 month period, the employee is still entitled to any unused paid leave time earned at the initial time of employment. However, no employer is required to grant the use of more than 40 hours of paid leave time per the 12 month period.

  • Employers must keep records documenting hours worked, paid leave accrued and taken, and remaining leave balance for at least three years and allow the Illinois Department of Labor to access them to monitor compliance.

For more information on this new law: