Enter the hours you have worked into the paid sick time calculator below
for an estimate of how much paid sick time you have earned.
With new paid sick time laws in Chicago and Cook County*, you might be wondering how to ask your employer about these benefits. Here are 4 tips on how to talk to your boss about paid sick time.
If your company has a Human Resources manager, you can ask them about how the company will implement the new paid sick time policy. If not, ask your direct supervisor who you should talk to. If possible, ask before you are sick, so you can plan ahead.
Some questions to ask:
Ask about how the company will implement the paid sick time law, even if they already have a Paid Time Off policy. For example, you can ask how they will track your sick time.
Notify your employer as soon as possible. If possible, tell them how long you think you need off and when you expect you will return.
In many cases, talking to your manager in a respectful way will be the most effective first step. You might say: “I think this is a case where I qualify for paid sick time based on local laws. Can you check?”
If your employer is still refusing, you can file a complaint with the City of Chicago or Cook County*, depending on where you work.
Visit Women Employed's website for additional
information and resources about worker rights.
Some Cook County suburbs have voted to opt-out of the Paid Sick Time laws, denying working people this important right.
To see if the suburb where you work requires Paid Sick Time, click here. You can also call the Town Hall of the suburb where you work.
If you think your employer has illegally denied your right to paid sick time, you can file a complaint within 3 years with the City of Chicago or Cook County*, depending on where you work.
To get more information about the City of Chicago Paid Sick Time law, click here.
To get more information about the Cook County Paid Sick Time law, click here.
Some Cook County suburbs have voted to opt-out of the Paid Sick Time laws, denying working people this important right.
To see if the suburb where you work requires Paid Sick Time, click here. You can also call the Town Hall of the suburb where you work.