When you have a full time working job and many other responsibilities to tend to, it can be expected you may feel under the weather at times. Although some employees were not allowed to have sick leave with pay in the past, they now can in the state of Illinois. The Employee Sick Leave Act establishes that an employee may use a portion of their sick leave time to care for relatives. This means an employee can take time off to care for their child or other closely related relatives. Now that you understand the general basis of the Employee Sick Leave Act, Maduff & Maduff is going to explore it more in depth for your full understanding.
What are the benefits for the employee? The employee has the ability to use this for not just themselves, but their relatives as well. The act is defined specifically as “personal sick leave benefits” as “time accrued and available to an employee to be used as a result of absence from work due to personal illness, injury, or medical appointment,” but specifies that that term “does not include absences from work for which compensation is provided through an employer’s plan.”
How much time does an employee have off to care for a relative? The ultimate time allowed as a requirement by the state is 6 months. However, an employer may allow more time by their own choosing.
Can a employer retaliate against an employee for using sick leave to care for a relative? The employer cannot retaliate against an employee for utilizing the sick leave act to care for a relative. The act directly prohibits the use of retaliation, as well as discrimination against the employee in the workplace. Additionally, an employee may report a complaint to the Department of Labor against the employer, who discriminates against the employee for taking leave to care for a relative.
If you feel that you have been violated concerning this law, it is time to consult with your attorney. Maduff & Maduff has highly skilled attorneys that have been practicing employment law for over 20 years. For more information or questions the Sick Leave Act of 2017 or any other employment issues, contact Maduff & Maduff today.