HB2343 - Healthy Workplace Act

• Requires all Illinois employers to provide employees a minimum of 5 paid sick days per 12-month period, accruing at 1 hour per 40 hours worked, usable for employee or family member illness, medical appointments, school closures due to public health emergencies, or domestic/sexual violence situations.

• Paid sick days must be provided at the employee's regular rate of pay (or Illinois minimum wage for tipped employees), begin accruing at hire or the act's effective date, and become usable after 180 days of employment.

• Prohibits employers from interfering with, restraining, denying, or disciplining employees for using paid sick days, and prohibits considering sick day use as a negative factor in hiring, termination, promotion, or attendance policies.

• Establishes the Department of Labor as administrator with authority to investigate violations, impose civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation, and collect unpaid wages; allows employees to file complaints with the Department or bring civil actions for damages, attorney's fees, and other relief within 3 years.

• Exempts school districts, park districts, Chicago Sister Agencies, and railroad employees; exempts construction industry employees covered by collective bargaining agreements; creates the Healthy Workplace Fund to receive 20% of collected penalties for enforcement purposes.