Illinois 7th Day Rest and Meal Break Laws Strengthened Starting January 1, 2023

Illinois 7th Day Rest and Meal Break Laws Strengthened Starting January 1, 2023

Illinois already has its own wage-hour laws, but certain aspects will grow more restrictive for employers beginning January 1, 2023. First, instead of one day’s rest in a week, which could be staggered where the span between breaks could exceed seven days (example, day off Sunday, 12-day shift from Monday through next Friday with day off Saturday), now there must be one day’s rest for every consecutive seven-day period. Second, meal breaks currently only have to be available every 7.5 hours. But, starting in January the second and subsequent meal breaks must be available every 4.5 hours. Third, a posting requirement of these and other basic Illinois wage-hour minimums takes effect in January as well, and penalties to the State apply for failure to post. Finally, and most importantly, employees will have a separate right to seek penalties for 7th day rest and meal break violations.