To: Deans, Directors, and Department Heads
From: Jami Painter, Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, a new law in Illinois requires that employers provide up to 40 hours of paid time off annually for all employees. This communication is intended to provide you with general information. Please share this communication with those in your area with human resource responsibilities. Your university or system office will follow up with specific university/system office guidelines and standards.
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act provides up to 40 hours of paid leave per year to employees who do not currently receive vacation leave. Employees in the following employment categories at the University of Illinois System that do not already receive vacation leave are eligible for Paid Leave for All Workers leave:
- Faculty with a 9-month or 10-month appointment
- Academic Professionals with a 9-month or a 10-month appointment
- Civil Service Extra Help
- Civil Service Seasonal Extra Help
- Academic Hourly
- 9-month Post Doctoral Research Associates
Student employees, including graduate students, are not eligible. Per the Act, eligible employees are entitled to begin using this paid leave 90 days following the effective date of January 1, 2024. Eligible University of Illinois employees will be able to request/use this beginning March 31, 2024, or earlier. Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement may not be eligible. Please consult with your university Labor and Employee Relations department for more information.
Updated information will be shared with you by your university HR office as it becomes available. An all-employee communication will be deployed soon. Colleges and units should track these leaves manually until further notice.
Questions regarding these changes may be directed to: