Chicago Construction News staff writer
The annual scheduled increase in Chicago’s minimum wage and a scheduled enhancement of the Fair Workweek are set to for July 1, bringing rates to:
- $15.40 for employers with 21 or more employees (including all domestic workers, regardless of the number employed)
- $14.50 for employers with 4-20 employees
- Minimum wage for tipped employees will be $9.24 for employers with 21 or more employees, and $8.70 for employers with 4-20 employees (employers must make up the difference between any tips received and the applicable minimum wage for non-tipped workers.)
Scheduled enhancements to the Fair Workweek Ordinance will require employers in covered industries to post work schedules with at least 14 days’ notice, an increase from the previous 10 days’ notice. In another change, employees will need to earn less than $29.35 per hour or $56,381.85 per year to gain protection under the Fair Workweek Ordinance. Covered industries include building services, healthcare, hotel, manufacturing, restaurant, retail, or warehouse services.
“Chicago has a long, proud history of being allied with workers, both promoting and protecting their rights,” said Mayor Laurie Lightfoot. “Raising the minimum wage to $15.40 and requiring employers to post schedules 14 days in advance not only protects the rights of workers but creates better economic opportunity for all residents.
“With these new measures, the city is reaffirming its commitment to our talented workers and demonstrating why we are one of the nation’s leaders in protecting workers’ rights.”
Officials say Chicago’s new minimum wage and fair workweek changes will have a significant impact on workers and families.
“Faced with the challenges of providing for families, paying rent, buying groceries and fighting the rising costs of gasoline, low wage workers are able to earn a living wage with the increases to the Chicago minimum wage and the lengthening of the Fair Workweek notice requirement this year,” said Andy Fox, director of the Office of Labor Standards.
