HR Alert

Illinois: New Law Expands Victim Leave Coverage to Employers of Any Size

Law Effective January 1, 2017

A new law in Illinois expands state victim leave to cover employers of any size.

Background
The Illinois Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) provides an eligible employee who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, or who has a family or household member who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per any 12-month period if the employee or employee's family or household member is experiencing an incident of domestic or sexual violence or to address issues arising from domestic or sexual violence.

  • An eligible employee working for an employer with at least 15, but not more than 49, employees is entitled to a total of 8 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period.
  • An eligible employee working for an employer with at least 50 employees is entitled to a total of 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period.

The total number of workweeks to which an employee is entitled must not decrease during the relevant 12-month period.

Note: The law does not create a right for an employee to take unpaid leave that exceeds the unpaid leave time allowed under (or is in addition to the unpaid leave time permitted by) the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

The law contains additional details, including provisions related to notice and certification.

New Law
Under the new law, an eligible employee working for an employer with at least 1, but not more than 14, employees is entitled to a total of 4 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period.

The new law is effective January 1, 2017. Click here to read the text of the law.


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