Chicago Implements 10-Day Paid Leave Policy for All Workers

The Chicago City Council has approved a new ordinance mandating that businesses in the city provide 10 days of paid leave per year to their employees, starting from January 1. This policy goes beyond the statewide requirement of five days of paid leave and makes Chicago's ordinance one of the most expansive in the nation. The measure, which includes five sick days and five vacation days, also requires larger companies to pay out unused time when employees leave their jobs. While the ordinance has faced opposition from the business community, Mayor Brandon Johnson sees it as a step towards workplace equity and a values statement.