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June 24.2025

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Crucial Updates on Leave Legislation You Must Know About

Graphic on pending leave legislation with books and documents.

New Developments in Leave Legislation: What You Need to Know

This month, significant legislative initiatives in Illinois, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania herald crucial changes for employers and employees alike. As businesses strive to maintain compliance with evolving labor laws, understanding these changes is vital for HR compliance officers, legal counsel, and employment attorneys.

Illinois Family Neonatal Intensive Care Act

Illinois is advancing the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Act (HB2978), which mandates unpaid leave for parents of children undergoing treatment in neonatal intensive care units. This legislation requires employers with 16-50 employees to offer up to 10 days and those with 51 or more employees up to 20 days of unpaid leave. The bill notably expands the definition of 'child' to include biological, adopted, and foster children, reflecting a broad understanding of family structures in modern society.

Employers can require verification of the child's length of stay, ensuring a level of accountability, while employees are protected against retaliation when exercising their rights under this law. The Department of Labor will play a pivotal role in enforcement, imposing penalties for violations to ensure compliance.

Kentucky's Earned Paid Sick Leave Proposal

Kentucky’s pending HB 138 is another step towards broader employee rights. This bill proposes a structure for earned paid sick leave, allowing employees to accumulate 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Importantly, this leave can be accessed only after 90 days of employment. Smaller businesses may face limits on annual accrual and carryover, which is critical for maintaining operational sustainability while supporting employee well-being.

Implications for HR Compliance

As these legislative measures progress, they add a layer of complexity for HR compliance and labor management. Understanding the nuances of each state’s laws is essential for creating effective remote work policies, ensuring pay transparency, and maintaining adherence to workplace regulations. Employers must prepare to adapt their policies to meet these new requirements, particularly in light of ongoing discussions surrounding equality in labor laws and anti-discrimination measures relevant to the EEOC guidelines.

The implications for businesses are profound, as compliance not only fosters a supportive workplace culture but also mitigates risks associated with litigation and penalties. As Kentucky and Illinois pave the way with these legislative updates, it will be crucial for professionals in policy writing and regulatory affairs to stay informed and proactive in adjusting corporate practices.

Policy & Workforce Law

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