Chicago Introduces Wage Theft And Paid Secure Leave Ordinances

On May 26, 2021, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced a series of ordinances (the "Ordinances") which seek to implement new wage theft protections and provide certain employees with the ability to take paid "secure leave." A copy of the Ordinances are available here.

First, the Ordinances would amend the Chicago Municipal Code to provide that any employer that fails to timely pay a "Covered Employee" in accordance with the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act will have committed "wage theft." A Covered Employee is any employee who performs at least two hours of work in any two-week period for an employer while physically present within the geographic boundaries of Chicago. Wage theft is defined to include the non-payment of: (i) any wages required for work performed; (ii) paid time off, whether legislatively or contractually required; and (iii) contractually required benefits to a Covered Employee.