Policy

The Chicago Paid Leave Ordinance, effective July 1, 2024, provides up to 40 hours of paid leave annually to employees who do not currently receive vacation time.  Employees who work at least 80 hours for an employer in Chicago within any 120-day period are covered by the ordinance and eligible for paid leave. Employees can use paid leave for any reason starting September 30, 2024. 

Applicability

This policy applies to employees of the university who do not currently receive vacation time, which includes part-time faculty and hourly paid staff employees who work less than 20 hours per week, including temporary, seasonal, active casual hourly paid staff, and hourly paid student workers. 

Information/Guidelines 

• Employees begin to accrue paid leave on the first calendar day after they begin their employment.
• Employees are eligible to use paid leave after they have completed their first ninety (90) days of employment.
• Will accrue at a rate of one (1) hour per thirty-five (35) hours worked of paid leave in a 12-month period.
• Employees can accrue up to forty (40) hours of paid leave per year.
• The maximum carry-over accrual of paid leave is 16 hours.
• Unused hours will be paid out upon termination.

Applicable Use of Paid Leave

Paid leave can be used for any reason.

Notification and Attendance

Employees should provide notice of time off as soon as it is foreseeable. Time off requests will be subject to supervisor approval.

Termination, Resignation or Retirement of Employment

Unused paid leave time, up to fifty-six (56) hours, will be paid out to the employee upon termination, resignation, or retirement of employment. Paid leave time cannot be used for the last day worked.

Responsibility 

• Employee: It is the responsibility of the employee to make all requests for paid leave to the supervisor in a timely manner as set by department procedure.
• Department: Every supervisor is responsible for scheduling and documenting paid leave time used by employees and authorizing the Payroll Department’s payment of paid leave time in accordance with this policy.
• Human Resources: Human Resources is responsible for administering the paid leave policy.

Revised: