Chicago Enacts Ordinance to Limit Wage Theft, Expand Paid Sick Leave

Chicago workers are to receive greater protection from wage theft and are to have expanded access to paid sick leave under a measure (Ordinance No. O2021-2182) that the city council passed on June 25.

The measure’s wage-theft elements took effect July 5, and the measure’s paid sick leave elements take effect on Aug. 1, 2021.

Employers that fail to timely pay covered employees wages that they are owed are liable of wage theft, under the measure. Failure to pay wages includes failure to pay time off and contractually required benefits, the measure said.

Employees may either file a ...