Chicago City Wire

A Chicago City Council committee has decided to slow down on a proposal that would require businesses to provide workers with more paid time off. The decision came after objections were raised by business leaders. The proposed ordinance would have mandated employers to offer workers up to 12 paid days off, six sick days, and six days of paid time off.

Earlier this year, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law that requires employers to allow full-time workers to accrue up to 40 hours of paid leave per year. However, this law did not include Chicago and suburban Cook County, where existing laws already require employers to provide paid time off to full-time workers. The pending City Council proposal would have gone beyond the state law by requiring employers to provide even more paid time off.

Labor leaders aligned with Mayor Brandon Johnson supported the proposed increase in paid leave requirements. However, business leaders who testified at the hearing expressed concerns that the proposal did not take into account the input of Black-owned businesses.

The pending City Council proposal would require employers to provide more paid time off than the state law provides. Labor leaders aligned with Mayor Brandon Johnson support the proposed hike in paid leave requirements. City business leaders who testified at the hearing raised concerns that the pending proposal did not include input from Black-owned businesses. At the Monday City Council Workforce Development Committee meeting, Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said he doesn't think Chicago should require businesses to provide more time off than is required in the rest of the state. He joined a chorus of aldermen who said the "rush job" ordinance needs more scrutiny.

Downtown Alderman Brian Hopkins of the 2nd Ward expressed his belief that doubling paid time off would put a strain on struggling businesses, potentially leading to job cuts or even closures. The proposal is set to be reconsidered on Thursday.