Orland Park, IL (December 20, 2023) - The Village of Orland Park is pleased to announce the introduction of a new ordinance aimed at providing a uniform paid leave requirement for employers within the community. This initiative comes in response to the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, a new state law that establishes a minimum paid leave standard for all workers in Illinois, effective January 1, 2024.

Recognizing the importance of supporting local businesses while ensuring the well-being of employees, the Village has prepared an ordinance to address the needs of employers within its jurisdiction.

The Act also applies to private sector employers who are not covered by a municipal or county ordinance that requires some form of paid leave. For the benefit of all Orland Park employers other than the Village itself, an ordinance has been prepared to amend Section 7‑20‑2 of the Village Code to provide a uniform paid leave requirement for employers within the Village. By requiring employers to provide some form of paid leave to their employees, this ordinance is intended to satisfy the necessary requirement for rendering the Act inapplicable to employers within the Village. 

Mayor Keith Pekau expressed his support for this initiative, stating, "In order to support our local businesses and provide a uniform paid leave requirement, we passed an ordinance to more adequately address the needs of employers and employees within the Village of Orland Park than the overreaching and poorly thought out State of Illinois law."

The proposed ordinance mandates that employers within the Village provide a minimum of five days of paid leave to their full time employees during a 12-month period, as specified by the employer. A full time employee is defined as an employee who has worked for a minimum period of one year and who is regularly scheduled to work a minimum of 1,600 hours per year.

It is important to note that this requirement does not hinder any employer from providing a greater amount of paid leave or from complying with the Act if they choose to do so.

Additionally, there is no requirement to provide paid leave to part-time or seasonal employees.

"The proposed ordinance strikes a balance between providing necessary benefits to employees and allowing employers the flexibility to manage their workforce effectively," explained Mayor Pekau. "We aim to create a framework that supports both the needs of our local businesses and the well-being of employees."

It is important to clarify that this new ordinance does not apply to any unit of government within the corporate boundaries of Orland Park, ensuring that government entities can continue to operate under their existing policies and regulations.

The Village of Orland Park remains committed to fostering a fair and supportive work environment for all employees and employers within our community. By introducing this ordinance, the Village aims to provide clarity and consistency for employers while upholding the principles of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. To read the ordinance in its entirety and to view the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, visit orlandpark.org/paidleave.

###