IDOL Newsletter

News & Updates

As we head into the final months of 2026, the Illinois Department of Labor continues working to make it easier for workers and employers to understand their rights and responsibilities. From improving our online resources to strengthening enforcement and investing in our staff, here are some of the latest updates from IDOL.

New homepage

IDOL launched a new homepage on Oct. 6, the next step in a broader effort to redesign and improve the Department's website.

The ongoing project is focused on making IDOL's online resources easier to navigate, improving access to information and creating a better experience for workers, employers and other visitors.

The Department will continue reviewing and updating pages throughout the website as part of the redesign. See the page: Labor.Illinois.gov

Hearthside Claim Deadline Nears

Eligible former child workers at Hearthside Food Solutions have until Nov. 20 to submit claims for compensation under a $4.5 million settlement that IDOL and the Office of the Attorney General reached with Hearthside.

Individuals who worked at a Hearthside facility in Illinois while under the age of 16 between March 1, 2020, and Dec. 4, 2024, may be eligible to receive compensation.

Claims are being administered by a third-party settlement administrator, and assistance is available to individuals who need help completing a claim.

Claim website

DTLSA Public Hearing

IDOL held a public hearing on Oct. 21 regarding proposed amendments to rules implementing Sec. 42(b) of the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act (DTLSA).

The proposed rules address the benefits that certain day and temporary laborers are entitled to receive after meeting the statutory requirements. The proposed rules provide guidance on substantially similar benefits, including when an agency may provide benefits in-kind or provide a cash equivalent.

Written comments not provided at the hearing must be submitted to IDOL by Nov. 23, 2026.

Haunted House Safety

With Halloween right around the corner, IDOL’s Amusement Ride and Attractions Safety Inspectors are hard at work inspecting haunted houses and other spooky attractions.

Inspectors work to ensure that an experience at a haunted house is safe and fun by verifying that operators have taken the necessary precautions before an operating permit is issued.

For more information, or to report an accident or unsafe condition, visit: labor.illinois.gov/rides

New Assistant Director

IDOL is celebrating the ascension of Lydia Colunga-Merchant as the Department's new Assistant Director for Enforcement.

Colunga-Merchant most recently served as IDOL's Leave Rights Division Manager.

Jason Keller will continue to serve as Assistant Director for Budget and Policy.

Investing in Investigators

Several IDOL staff members recently participated in an Investigator Bootcamp focused on the core skills needed to effectively investigate and enforce labor standards laws.

The training covered:

• Collecting and analyzing evidence
• Conducting effective interviews
• Audits and back wage calculations
• Fundamentals of settlement negotiations
• Investigating retaliation claims
• Case studies and small-group exercises

The training was hosted by the Workplace Justice Lab out of Rutgers University and Northwestern University.

Rules

IDOL published rules implementing recent legislative changes to the Day & Temporary Labor Services Act (DTLSA) on May 15. In the coming months, IDOL anticipates filing separate but related rules to provide guidance on "equivalent benefits" required under the DTLSA .

IDOL’s Equal Pay Act (EPA) Rules were published in the July 6 edition of the Illinois Register. These rules implement recent legislative changes to the EPA, including the new pay transparency amendments, and make other updates to the procedures for Equal Pay claims.

Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act

The Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act (NICU Leave) took effect on June 1, 2026 and entitles employees primarily working in Illinois for an employer with 16 or more employees with up to 20 days of unpaid, but job-protected, leave while their child is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Learn more about NICU Leave by visiting the IDOL website.

Driver’s License in Job Postings

An amendment to the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act (also known as Ban the Box), HB4758, has been sent to Gov.

Pritzker for his signature. If signed, it would prohibit employers from posting jobs that require a valid driver’s license unless driving is an essential function or related to legitimate business purposes for a position. If it is essential, employers would need to include a short description explaining why a driver’s license is required.

Prevailing Wage Rates

IDOL has published the 2026 prevailing wage rates, effective July 15. These rates reflect the hourly cash wages plus benefits that must be paid to workers employed on public works construction projects. Each June, IDOL determines the prevailing wage rates by reviewing compensation commonly paid to workers performing similar jobs on public works in each locality. To view the 2026 rates by county and construction trade, visit the IDOL website.

Wins for Workers - Prevailing Wage

In two prevailing wage cases, IDOL recovered underpaid wages and fringe benefits for workers and $25,000 in penalties:

In Winnebago County, Premise, Inc. paid nearly $92,000 in back wages to 27 laborers and electricians working on a solar project.

In Lake County, IDOL recovered more than $67,000 in unpaid wages for 8 workers employed by Absolute Home Improvements & Cleaning Service.

Language Access at IDOL

IDOL has recently published its Language Access Plan to our website. Language access is essential to ensuring that all individuals can understand their rights and have meaningful access to services and activities provided by the Department, regardless of the language they speak. IDOL offers free language services to any individual who may need them. You can read more about our Language Access Plan here.

Equal Pay Report Wrap Up

In the first quarter of the year, IDOL cohosted three events with the University of Illinois, Labor and Employment Relations program. During stops in Springfield, Champaign, and Chicago, panels discussed the Equal Pay Act and a report recently authored by the University that analyzed data collected by IDOL under an amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003. The amendment required private businesses with 100 or more employees in the State of Illinois to report certain payroll information. The full report, Illinois Equal Pay Act: Comprehensive Evaluation and Policy Recommendations (2021–2023), is available through the PMCR at go.illinois.edu/PMCR.

Updates from the Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit

Approximately one year ago, we highlighted the Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit (IRMU) pilot project, which launched in October 2024. The project’s goal was to speed up the resolution of low dollar claims, get money to workers faster, and help employers save the time and resources of litigation. We are excited to report continued success in meeting those goals, and have raised our threshold to accepting individual claims under $500. Here’s what IRMU has accomplished:

• Total Claims Closed/Resolved: 1,027
• Total Amount collected by workers: $215,081.09

Recent Enforcement Highlights

Gino and Marty’s

After widespread reporting that a popular Chicago restaurant was closing abruptly without paying its employees, IDOL initiated an investigation and filed a suit in Cook County Circuit Court against That’s Gino and Marty’s, LLC, its management company, and several individual owners and managers, alleging violations of the Wage Payment and Collection Act and the Minimum Wage Law. The complaint alleges that from Dec. 2023 - Aug. 2025, employees at the Chicago restaurant were not paid some earned wages, including tips and gratuities, and that some workers were paid below the state’s minimum wage and were not properly compensated for overtime hours worked.

Allied Universal Security Services

IDOL entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with Allied Universal Security Services to resolve wage claims and prevent future violations of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Under the agreement, IDOL and Allied resolved 25 claims totaling approximately $20,000. Allied Universal will pay a $37,000 penalty to the Wage Theft Enforcement Fund and will comply with enhanced monitoring and reporting requirements for a two-year period. 

Summer Amusement Rides and Attraction Safety

Summer carnival season is upon us! Inspectors are ensuring fixed park amusements and attractions are ready for use. They're also inspecting traveling carnival rides as early fair season is set to begin. During this time, inspectors undertake their largest endeavor of the year - the inspection of Six Flags in Gurnee.

Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) Webinar

On April 22, IDOL hosted a Know Your Rights webinar on VESSA. VESSA allows employees who are victims of violence—or who have family or household members who are victims—to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to obtain medical care, legal help, counseling, safety planning, and related assistance.

Read more about the law and view the recording here.

Outreach and Education

If you would like IDOL to join your next event, please email Elizabeth.Guerrero@Illinois.gov.

Equal Pay Report

A new report from the University of Illinois’ Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR), released in December, examines pay equity trends in Illinois using data collected under the 2021 amendments to the Equal Pay Act of 2003. The report finds that while Illinois has made meaningful progress toward gender pay equity in many sectors, significant disparities in pay persist—particularly for Black and Hispanic workers in low-wage sectors. The Department may use the recommendations and data to guide enforcement and to help employers build fairer, more equitable workplaces. The full report, Illinois Equal Pay Act: Comprehensive Evaluation and Policy Recommendations (2021–2023), is available through the PMCR at go.illinois.edu/PMCR. Join us for an upcoming Equal Pay Report Seminar on February 26 or March 26. More details here.

Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) Amendment

Effective January 1, an amendment to VESSA ensures employees are not penalized for using work-issued devices to document instances of violence committed against themselves or their family. Additionally, an employer must grant an employee access to any digital documents or communications stored on a work device relating to recorded instances of violence, and the employer cannot discriminate or retaliate against an employee for creating such a recording. These amendments add to VESSA’s goal of creating job protections for workers experiencing violence. More information on worker rights under VESSA can be found here.

Strengthening Firefighter Safety Training

IDOL’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA) and the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) have expanded their partnership to improve firefighter safety through on-demand, experience-based training. Their newest course, focused on the 2021 Ridge Incident that claimed the life of Lt. Garrett Ramos, uses real audio and video to teach lessons learned and strategies to prevent similar tragedies. Available through IFSI’s virtual campus, the training emphasizes practical tactics for enhancing operational safety, situational awareness, and command decision-making for firefighters at all levels.

Notice Posters

Ahead of the new year, IDOL updated two required workplace posters: Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws and the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) poster. These updates reflect the recently enacted amendment to VESSA. All Illinois employers are required to display both posters. They can be found here.

New Complaint Page

We’ve made changes to the “File a Complaint” page on our website to provide clearer navigation and instructions, making it easier for workers to locate the correct complaint form for their issue. The revised page includes detailed guidance on required information, such as employer details, dates of the incident, and supporting documentation, ensuring submissions are complete and accurate.

IDOL’s Chicago Office Relocation

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) relocated its Chicago office to the Jesse White State of Illinois Building at 115 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60603. All other Chicago phone numbers and contact information for the Illinois Department of Labor remain the same following the move.

Outreach and Education

If you would like us to join your next event, please email Elizabeth.Guerrero@Illinois.gov.

Click here for links to IDOL websites & social media

As summer comes to a close and we transition into fall, IDOL is grateful for your continued engagement and interest. We hope you find these updates informative. Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.

Child Labor Law and School

School is back in session and that means the working hours are limited for teenagers with a job. This means that teens under 16 are prohibited from work before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m.. Additionally, workers under 16-years-old are required to have an employment certificate before their first day of work. Questions about Child Labor Law? Give us a call at (312) 793-5570.

Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety

The Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division (ARAS) wrapped up a successful state fair season with events in Springfield and DuQuoin. Between the two fairs, more than 90 rides were inspected by six inspectors, the chief ride inspector, and the division manager. In addition to the initial inspection, the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety team also completed follow up inspections on all rides and attractions at the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair. Both state fairs had zero injury-causing incidents. ARAS inspectors are now inspecting and permitting haunted houses ahead of spooky season.

Labor Day Report

IDOL published its annual Labor Day Report. The fourth annual edition highlights the work IDOL does every day, including wage recovery, protecting child workers, and promoting workplace safety. One highlight from the 2025 report is with the Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit (IRMU). IRMU works to proactively resolve wage claims under $500. Since its inception in October 2024, the unit has resolved more than 460 cases and recovered more than $47,500.

Outreach and Education

This summer, IDOL has made significant progress in community engagement through an extensive outreach effort that delivered labor rights education directly to communities across Illinois. By participating in over 20 events statewide, we've connected with hundreds of community members, providing them with essential information about workplace rights and empowering them with knowledge they can use in their daily lives. From neighborhood events and community organization partnerships to tabling at consulates, we continue our dedicated outreach to ensure all Illinoisans have access to vital information about their rights in the workplace. If you would like us to join your next event, please email Elizabeth.Guerrero@Illinois.gov.

IDOL Publishes Prevailing Wage Rates

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has released the 2025 prevailing wage rates for construction trades for all counties in the State. The updated rates, which took effect Tuesday, July 15, are the result of IDOL’s annual statewide survey conducted under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. Each June, IDOL determines the prevailing wage rates by reviewing compensation—defined as hourly base pay plus annualized fringe benefits—commonly paid to workers performing similar jobs on public works in each locality.

Spring is here and summer will arrive before we know it. Thanks for checking in with IDOL and subscribing to our newsletter. Below is a look at what’s happening with the Department.

Child Labor Law and Summer Jobs

Summer is almost here and that means teenagers will be looking for a summer job. IDOL regulates employment of workers under 16-years-old, protecting children by: requiring an employment certificate; prohibiting work in hazardous occupations; prohibiting work in a place of business where alcohol is served or sold for consumption on site, and in places where alcohol is brewed, distilled and/or bottled; and limiting working hours: child workers are prohibited from working before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day. Child Labor Information: (312) 793-5570

Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety

Summer is also time for visiting carnivals, fairs and amusement parks. Under Illinois law, all rides must be insured, inspected, and meet applicable safety standards before they are allowed to operate. To be inspected, every owner must first submit a completed application packet to IDOL. Once a ride or attraction has been approved for operation by an inspector, a permit decal is affixed to each ride or attraction. You can see an example decal here.

IDOL Produces 2024 Apprenticeship Report

Warmer months also mean busy season for public works construction and infrastructure projects. Did you know that pursuant to the Construction Minority and Female Building Trades Act (30 ILCS 577), IDOL collects data regarding the race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin of apprentices in the construction industry throughout Illinois? The findings from this year’s survey show a small but significant increase in the number of female and African-American apprentices, both of which ticked up by 1% from 2023 to 2024. A link to the full report can be found here.

Leave Rights Division

The Leave Rights Division enforces four laws that give Illinois workers rights to paid and unpaid time away from work: the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act, Employee Sick Leave Act, Family Bereavement Leave Act, and the Paid Leave for All Workers Act (PLAWA). There’s new and updated information in the FAQ for each law enforced, and a new recording of the PLAWA “What Employers Should Know” webinar has been uploaded to our website. If you would like a presentation for your organization, contact Lydia Colunga-Merchant at lydia.colungamerchant@illinois.gov.

Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit Proactive Resolution Project

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit’s (IRMU) proactive resolution project attempts to resolve wage claims for amounts under $250. Eligible complaints were identified during wage claim process and referred to the IRMU for proactive resolution. The project’s goal was to speed up the resolution of low dollar claims, get money to workers faster, and help employers save the time and resources of litigation. In the last three months of 2024, the team collected nearly $20,000 on over 275 claims where the complainant alleged that he or she was owed $250 or less.

Happy New Year! Thank you for reading IDOL’s first newsletter of 2025 featuring important updates to labor laws that you should know about. We are committed to keeping you informed as we navigate the year ahead together.

Equal Pay Act Pay Transparency

The Pay Transparency amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 requires an employer to include pay scale and benefit information in job postings if the employer has more than 15 employees. When an employer makes an external job posting, the employer must also announce, post, or otherwise make known to all current employees all opportunities for promotion within 14 days. The Department has received over 250 complaints since the amendments took effect on January 1, 2025. For more information visit our website: Pay Transparency.

Child Labor Law of 2024

Governor Pritzker signed into law the Child Labor Law of 2024 with the goal of protecting minors from labor exploitation. The legislation modernized the child labor law and provided a structure for youth workers to engage in safe, age-appropriate work, while protecting their health and access to education. The bill sets standards for working conditions for children aged 15 and younger, including limiting hours of work and updating the list of jobs that minors cannot hold.

Minimum Wage

The Minimum Wage is now $15 per hour, $9 for tipped employees, and $13 for workers under 18.

Pay Stubs

Under PA 103-0953, employers are required to provide pay stubs to employees each pay period. The pay stubs must include hours worked, pay rates, overtime pay, and deductions from wages.

E-Verify

Employers in Illinois may choose to use the federal E-Verify system to check employment eligibility. However, employers using E-Verify should be aware that they must comply with certain training, posting, and verification requirements. Illinois law prohibits employers from using E-Verify to prescreen job applicants that have not been offered a position with the company. An employee or applicant for employment who believes that their rights have been violated may file a complaint with the Department under the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act and employers are prohibited from taking any adverse action against an individual for filing such a complaint.

One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA)

The One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA) provides employees with the right to a day of rest per week, as well as meal and rest breaks. The Illinois General Assembly recently amended ODRISA by adding anti-retaliation protections for employees who exercise a right provided by the Act, with an associated penalty provision consistent with the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act and the Paid Leave for All Workers Act; and codified that penalties assessed by the Department under the Act may be recovered in a civil action, during which the Department is represented by the Attorney General.

Outreach and Engagement

IDOL prioritizes community outreach to promote compliance and foster meaningful connections with workers and employers across the state. Last year, IDOL hosted or partnered on over 100 events, workshops and webinars aimed at educating workers on their labor rights and employers on compliance, reaching more than 8,000 people. These efforts could not have been achieved without your partnership, and we are looking forward to our collaboration this year. If you are interested in collaborating or hosting an event with IDOL please reach out to Elizabeth.Guerrero@Illinois.Gov.

Equal Pay Act Salary Transparency

An amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003, which requires employers with 15 or more employees to include a pay scale and benefits for a position in any job posting, takes effect January 1, 2025. The goal of the legislation is to provide greater transparency to workers in the hiring process by providing them with more information about wages, salary and benefits. When violations of the law are reported to IDOL, the Department will contact the employer and provide a date by which the job posting, if still active, must be fixed. Failure to correct a posting will result in penalties.

Annual Prevailing Wage Rates Survey

Each year in June, IDOL surveys the wage rates for each craft and trade in every county. IDOL then establishes and posts the updated prevailing wage rates, by construction trade, for each county in July. The new prevailing rate schedule is available here. By requiring that local prevailing wages are paid on public works construction and infrastructure projects, the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act helps ensure that Illinois' tax dollars are re-invested back into Illinois' workforce and spent in Illinois' economy.

Labor Day Report 2024

The annual Labor Day Report is a glimpse of the work performed by IDOL staff for workers in Illinois. From recovering unpaid wages to advocating for workers who have lost their jobs, the report highlights many of the laws enforced by the agency, as well as the Department’s outreach and education initiatives to reach the communities where the Department's resources are needed most. Read it here.

New Mediation Unit at IDOL

The Department is proud to be unveiling a new unit that will be used to mediate and informally resolve disputes, which has been a long-term goal. Initially the new mediation unit will handle claims under the Freelance Worker Protection Act, but the Department plans to begin referring other types of claims for voluntary mediation as the unit gets up and running. 

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Welcome to the Illinois Department of Labor’s inaugural newsletter!

The mission of the Department is to protect and promote the wages, welfare, working conditions, and safety of Illinois workers by enforcing State labor and employment laws, providing compliance assistance to employers, and increasing public awareness of workplace protections.

Whether you are an employer, HR professional, government partner, policymaker, advocate, or just someone who wants to know more about their rights at work, this newsletter is intended to be a resource for information about the Department and the more than two dozen workplace laws we enforce.

New Laws & Regulations

• Paid Leave for All Workers Act took effect January 1st
• Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act took effect January 1st
• Amendments to the Victims’ Economic Security & Safety Act took effect January 1st
• Freelance Worker Protection Act takes effect July 1st
• Salary Transparency amendments to the Equal Pay Act of 2003 take effect January 1, 2025

New Leave Rights Division

• The Leave Rights Division was established in January 2024 to implement and enforce the new Paid Leave for All Workers Act and several other laws that give employees the right to take unpaid job-protected leave for the illness or loss of a family member. You can find more information about these laws under the “Laws and Rules” tab of the Department’s website.
• If you have questions about the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, you can email us at DOL.PaidLeave@illinois.gov. For questions about the Family Bereavement Leave Act, the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act, and the Employee Sick Leave Act, you can email us at DOL.LeaveRights@illinois.gov.
• To learn more about the new Paid Leave Law please register for a paid leave webinar.

Equal Pay Reporting

The State's Equal Pay Act was amended a few years ago to require private businesses with over 100 employees to file payroll data with the Department every two years in order to obtain an Equal Pay Registration certificate. Thousands of businesses have completedfe their reporting and submission in the initial two-year reporting cycle. 

Illinois On-Site Consultation Program

The Illinois On-Site Safety and Consultation Program offers free and confidential safety and health consultations to small- and medium-sized businesses. This Spring, On-Site joined federal OSHA to conduct workplace safety trainings to the construction workers at the future site of the Obama Presidential Library. The Obama Library site is being built under a private-state-and federal partnership program to ensure top-tier worker health and safety. For more information or to request a consultation, visit our IL On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program website or check out our Small Business Safety and Health Handbook, available in English and Spanish, featuring self-inspection checklists to help employers identify and address workplace hazards.

Summer Carnival Safety

The Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division has been busy inspecting everything from Six Flags to ropes courses to traveling amusement shows for the season. All rides must pass inspection and meet applicable operation standards before they are allowed to operate in Illinois. Look for the IDOL inspection sticker when you are out enjoying amusement attractions with friends and family!

Updated Mobile-Friendly Wage Claim Forms

The Department's largest volume of complaints is for unpaid wages. Wage claimns filed year over year (2022 vs 2023) increased by 25% and nearly 1,100 wage claims were received in the first two months of 2024. In response, the Department has worked to update and streamline wage claims processes and recently engaged with DocuSign to create online, mobile-friendly wage claim complaint forms. Access complaint forms here.