SB1296 - Healthy Workplace Act

• Requires all Illinois employers to provide employees with a maximum of 7 paid sick days per 12-month period, accruing at 1 hour per 30 hours worked.

• Permits paid sick days to be used for employee's own illness or medical care, care for family members, medical appointments, school/business closures due to public health emergencies, and domestic or sexual violence situations.

• Employees may begin using accrued sick days 120 days after employment begins; unused days carry over annually but employers only need to allow use of 7 days per year unless they choose a higher limit.

• Makes it unlawful for employers to interfere with, restrain, deny, or discipline employees for exercising paid sick day rights; employers must maintain health insurance coverage during leave periods.

• Establishes Department of Labor enforcement authority with civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation; employees may file complaints with the Department or pursue civil actions within 3 years of violation, with liability for actual and compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees, and court costs.