News & Stories
News
New Illinois laws 2024: Full list of laws taking effect Jan. 1
Illinois bill mandating paid leave for nearly all workers in state takes effect Jan. 1
Women Employed Leads Passage Of Paid Leave Law
Cook County, Chicago Not Included in Illinois' New Mandatory Paid Leave Act. Here's Why
Workers rights groups hail passage of Paid Leave bill
Women Employed Leads Passage of Paid Leave Law
Illinois can continue as a leader on workplace rights. Let’s not miss our moment
What Illinois' Mandatory Paid Leave Act Says, And How It Differs From Laws in Other States
Gov. Pritzker signs Illinois paid leave act into law
Gov. Pritzker Signs Historic Legislation Guaranteeing 40 Hours of Paid Leave
Stories
The 1.5 million Illinoisans who were without paid days off represent workers in nearly every low-paid job, many now considered “essential” due to COVID-19. We work in grocery stores and restaurants, preparing and serving food for our communities. We work in nursing homes and hospitals, caring for you and your loved ones. We work in offices and in private homes, commuting alongside you and cleaning up after you.
Our stories are unique, but they all share a common theme: We lacked paid time off to care for ourselves and our families, to spend time with loved ones, and to address other essentials.
Real people need paid time off.
I would try and call off and tell a manager “I don’t feel good” but they still made me come in to work. I was sneezing in the food, sweating, coughing, and feeling faint, and I’m sure I was spreading germs to all my customers. I was less productive, it took more time to get the food out, it was an awful situation to be in. I would stay sick for several days, and even up to a week, and all I really needed was a full day or two to rest and recover.
- Luis
I'm always on duty and my son got sick with the flu so for three days I was home with him with no healthcare, no sick days, no vacation days, because that doesn't come with the job when you're working.
So we were at home for three days and it was three days of pay that I lost.
- Tina
We are not asking for a free benefit package – just being able to stay home a day or two and not worry about not being paid or losing our job.
- Karen
When I’m sick and I call my supervisor to say I can’t come to work, if I’m lucky he will say I can stay home but then I lose a day’s pay.
Going without pay means a janitor might not be able to pay her rent, or might have to cut back on things her kid needs. If I miss one day of work, I have nothing left after I pay my bills.
-Milagros
I did my best to keep a sanitary kitchen, but when you're sick with a viral or bacterial infection it is almost impossible not to infect others, as well as the food you're preparing or serving. I recall one evening; I had to go into work sick with a really bad case of the flu. I called in to see if I could stay home, but the owner told me I had two choices; come in or not come back. I had to choose between living in a house or on the streets.
- Felipe
When my son was born, he had a respiratory infection. I had to take unpaid time off work to take care of him. Not only was I not able to make money during this time, but the management said I was taking too much time off. They said I was short staffing them, so they had to let me go. In a short period of time, I was taking care of a sick newborn and had lost my job because of it.
- Tammi
“My husband got sick so I had to take unpaid days off. I took 3 days to take care of him off and on the 4th day my job told me I had to come back in or be fired.”
