Understanding Chicago’s New Fair Workweek Ordinance

The Chicago City Council recently approved what is likely the most expansive predictive scheduling law in the country. Business and labor groups came together with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s staff and the city council to negotiate, draft, and approve the Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance. The new law will soon mandate certain employers to give many lower-income employees advance notice of their schedules and face financial penalties for unexpectedly changing an employee’s shift.

In a contributed article for Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Lauren Bever and Jessica Causgrove provide an overview of the requirements and share tips to keep employers away from violations and fines. Under the new law, employers are required to give covered employees a good faith estimate of their protected days and hours of work for the first 90 days at the time of hire. The Ordinance creates yet another hoop for employers conducting business in Chicago to jump through.

To read the full article, visit Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (subscription required).