>>> ILLINOIS IS NOW THE THIRD STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO REQUIRE PAID TIME OFF FOR EMPLOYEES.

WHAT IS THIS POLICY DUE?

>> ONCE IT TAKES EFFECT THE STATE ESTIMATES IT WILL COVER SOME 1.5 MILLION WORKERS.

WORKERS WHO CURRENTLY HAVE TO MAKE HARD CHOICES ACCORDING TO ADVOCATES.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE CANNOT TAKE A SICK DAY WITHOUT BEING PENALIZED FOR LOSING THEIR PAY?

NOW LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A SECOND.

IMAGINE YOU ARE CHALLENGED WITH THE FLU, OR EVEN .

YOU ARE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER, SHOULD I LEAVE MY CHILD HOME ALONE OR RISK LOSING MY JOB.

>> ILLINOIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID SHE SERVED AS HER MOM'S CARETAKER WHEN HER MOM WAS SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA.

THANKFULLY SHE SAID SHE HAD HER EMPLOYER'S SUPPORT.

>> THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY ILLINOISANS PUT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE WHEN LIFE HAPPENS IN LIFE HAPPENS TO ALL OF US.

TOO MANY WHO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR JOBS AND THEIR LOVED ONES AND HONESTLY THAT IS A FALSE CHOICE.

>> SHE SAYS IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEIR WORK IF WORKERS ARE SCARED TO TAKE OFF, CONTINUE TO WORK WHEN THEY ARE ILL, AS THAT CAN MAKE OTHERS SICK.

>> EMPLOYERS BENEFIT FROM ALLOWING EMPLOYEES TO TEND TO URGENT MATTERS OF THE PERSONAL LIVES.

WORKER PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES AND THEY OFTEN GAIN GREATER PASSION FOR THEIR JOB WHEN THEY CAN MANAGE THE STRESSES THAT THEY FACE OUTSIDE OF WORK MORE EASILY.

>> TO THAT END, MAJOR BUSINESS GROUPS LIKE THE STATE RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION BACK TO THE MEASURE BUT SMALL BUSINESSES DO NOT.

THE LAW MAKES AN EXEMPTION FOR FIRMS WITH LESS THAN 50 OR 20 EMPLOYEES IN MANY CASES BUT NOT WITH THIS POLICY.

THE FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, SAYING SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH GENERATIONAL INFLATION IN TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THIS PANDEMIC.

>> THEY ARE FACING SUPPLY-CHAIN ISSUES, THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS, THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN RIGHT NOW AND IN FACT WE SEE IT ACROSS THE STRAIT, MANY ARE RESTRICTING THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION.

FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS.

>> MOST SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CONSIDER THEIR EMPLOYEES FAMILY , AND WILL WORK WITH THEM WITH CIRCUMSTANCES.

NOW HE SAYS THEY WILL NOT ONLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH WORKERS BEING FORCED TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WORKERS HAVE ACCRUED THOSE HOURS.

SOMETHING HE SAID MANY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO DO.

>> MOST SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE BROAD RANGING POLICIES OR A HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

TO IMPLEMENT A BUNCH OF POLICIES.

SMALL BUSINESS WITH PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, NOW HAVE THE BURDEN OF TRACKING THE HOURS .

>> WHAT ELSE DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS?

>> THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE LAW TODAY BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL NEXT YEAR AND TECHNICALLY IT WOULDN'T COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE END OF MARCH BECAUSE WORKERS NEED TO ACCRUE ALL OF THE TIME OFF.

BY AND LARGE THOUGH IT DOES COVER MOST ILLINOIS WORKERS AND THEY WILL GET UP TO 40 HOURS AS I