What are the labor laws in Illinois regarding breaks and overtime pay for employees?

Under Illinois law, employees are entitled to certain breaks and overtime pay.

Breaks:

Illinois law requires employers to provide a 20-minute meal break to employees who work more than 7.5 hours in a day. Employers are not required to pay employees for meal breaks, but the breaks must be uninterrupted and the employee must be free to do whatever they wish during the break. Alternatively, an employer can agree with the employee to deduct the time spent on a meal break from the employee's working hours.

Illinois law also requires employers to provide nursing mothers with reasonable breaks to express milk. Employers must provide a private place, other than a bathroom, for the employee to express milk. These breaks do not have to be paid breaks, but if the employer provides paid breaks, the employee can use those breaks to express milk.

Overtime pay:

Illinois law requires that most employees be paid overtime at a rate of time and a half (1.5 times their regular rate of pay) for any hours worked over 40 hours in a workweek. Certain classes of employees may be exempt from the overtime requirement, such as employees who are classified as "exempt" under federal law. However, employers need to carefully examine whether their employees fall under these exemptions, since the state rules differ from the federal ones.

Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against employees who refuse to work overtime, even if the overtime is voluntary. Employers are required to pay the agreed-upon wages for hours worked, even if those hours exceed a standard workday or workweek.

Limitations and exceptions:

There are some exceptions to the overtime requirement in Illinois, such as certain agricultural and seasonal employees. Additionally, some small businesses with fewer than four employees may be exempt from the overtime pay requirement.

Further action:

If you believe that your employer has violated your rights under Illinois law, you may want to contact an attorney who can help you understand your legal options. Additionally, you can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor, which investigates claims of wage and hour violations.