Do I have a right to vacation time?

It depends. In Illinois, there is no automatic right to vacation time. However, if you have an employment contract or your employer has a vacation policy, either written or verbal, then you should be paid all the vacation time that you have earned up until the point that you are fired or leave your job.

Am I entitled to paid sick leave?

Note: The law in this area is changing quickly. See our blog for up-to-date info.

If you work in the City of Chicago, as of July 1, 2017, employers are required to give employees paid sick leave. Learn more about Chicago's Paid Sick Leave Ordinance.
To be eligible for paid sick leave, employees must work:

• for their employer for 6 months, 
• at least 2 hours within the City in any 2-week period, and 
• at least 80 hours during any 120-day period. 

Employers are required to give 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours in each 1 year period. Employees can carry over 2.5 hours of paid sick days for the following 1 year period, but employers are not required to pay employees for unpaid sick days. Paid sick leave also extends to employees’ covered family members. 

For information about sick leave in other areas of Illinois, see Taking time off work for illness. 

There are also rules that apply specifically to Illinois teachers. Learn more about sick leave for full-time teachers.

Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act

There may be other ways to take time off from work. Beginning January 1, 2024, the Illinois "Paid Leave for All Workers" Act becomes effective. Find out more about the law here.

If I quit or am fired, am I entitled to severance pay, sick pay, or holiday pay?

No. You are not entitled to severance pay, sick pay, or holiday pay unless your employer promised the pay in a contract or other agreement. You are entitled, however, to pay for any vacation days you did not use if your employer has a paid vacation policy.