New Unpaid Leave Requirement Goes into Effect for Illinois Employers

June 1, 2026

Law mandates employers provide unpaid neonatal intensive care leave

A new law went into effect on June 1, requiring Illinois employers to grant unpaid leave to employees with children in neonatal intensive care units.

The law applies to employers with 16 or more employees.

The amount of unpaid leave the employee is eligible for is based on the number of employees the employer has.

– Employers with 16-50 employees must grant up to 10 days of unpaid leave to employees with children in a neonatal intensive care unit.

– Employers with 51 or more employees must grant up to 20 days of unpaid leave to employees with children in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Employees are eligible to take unpaid leave, as specified above, or for the duration a child is in neonatal intensive care, whichever is less.

Leave can be taken either continually or intermittently. Employers may require leave to be taken in increments of two hours or more.

Learn more about the requirement here.

Topics:

Regulations

State:

Illinois

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