Chicago’s 2025 Fair Workweek Updates

The Fair Workweek Ordinance, originally passed in July 2019, provided hourly workers with more predictable work schedules and compensation for schedule changes. Consistency in scheduling application and definitions have continued to be updated since its initial release, and the latest version went into effect on July 1st.  

The compensation ceilings for qualified Covered Employees was raised as of July 1st, 2025. Now, employees who earn $62,561.90 or less (salaried), or who make $32.60 or less hourly, will be covered by this ordinance. However, this is only one of the criteria to be considered a Covered Employee. 

Who counts as a Covered Employee? 

Employees are covered by this ordinance if they meet the following criteria: 

A: They work in one of seven ‘covered’ industries. 

• Building Services 

• Healthcare 

• Hotels 

• Manufacturing 

• Restaurants 

• Retail 
• Warehouse Services 

B: They earn less than or equal to $32.60/hour or $62,561.90/year for salaried employees. 

And C: Their employer has at least 100 employees globally (250 employees and 30 locations for a restaurant). 

What protections are Covered Employees given? 

Employers must provide Covered Employees with predictable work schedules. This includes: 

• A written estimate of days and hours of work prior to or upon employment 

• At least 14 days’ notice of work schedules 

• Right to decline previously unscheduled hours 

When changes are made to these work schedules, compensation must be. This may include: 

• 1 hour of Predictability Pay for any shift change within 14 days 

• Right to rest by declining work hours less than 10 hours after the end of the previous day’s shift OR 1.25 times regular pay 

What must employers do next? 

Chicago employers should make sure to review who previously might not have been a covered employee but now qualifies with this raised compensation ceiling. 

Employers must also post the updated Fair Workweek Notice for current employees in a conspicuous place at each facility located in the City of Chicago. They should also distribute this updated notice to newly hired Covered Employees with their first paycheck.