Knowing if you’re eligible to receive that pay boost can be confusing. Regardless of what job you have, at the end of the day, you need to make sure you’ve received every dollar you’ve earned. And taking the time to understand state and federal wage laws will help prepare you for when that paycheck comes.
Below Is an Outline of Critical Illinois Overtime Law Components.
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| Methods For Overtime Calculation: |
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| Overtime Rules in Illinois |
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| Wage Complaint Filing Process |
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Note: New legislation, high court rulings (federal court decisions included), ballot initiatives, and other influences can change state laws. Please refer to a qualified attorney or complete your own research to verify the laws in your state to ensure accuracy.
While Illinois has its own labor code to ensure employees are adequately treated by employers, the federal government is responsible for establishing the minimum standard across the country. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) accomplishes this.
The FLSA lays out the framework for employee/employer relations regarding rights and benefits. It covers topics such as child labor standards, the national minimum wage, and overtime law. States can build on top of this framework, but they cannot take away employee benefits granted by the FLSA.
Employees who work more than 40 hours in a single workweek are entitled to compensation according to state law. The law dictates that the overtime rate be set to one and a half times the standard hourly rate of pay for the employee. Multiple weeks cannot be averaged out. Illinois calculates when employers must pay overtime rates:
Some employees are exempt from overtime pay under the FLSA. Administrators, executives, professional and outside sales employees fall under the exempt category. Additionally, the salary for an employee must be at least $455 in a single workweek to qualify for the exemption.
Individuals who make over $100,000 per year are not automatically exempt under Illinois law. This differs from many other states and the federal standard that has an exemption for those who receive high levels of compensation. The following jobs classify as exempt:
Employees are required by law to have a minimum of 24 hours provided every calendar week under the One Day Rest in Seven Act. Calendar weeks are divided as periods of seven consecutive days that begin Sunday morning at 12:01 a.m. and end the following Saturday at midnight. Employers can request for an exemption to this requirement from the IDOL. They must also illustrate that any employees who have not taken a break during a calendar week are doing so on their own will.
As state laws can change, you should always conduct independent research to verify local laws. Additionally, it is always in your best interest to seek out an experienced Illinois employment attorney.
If you feel that an employer has taken advantage of you or someone you care about, please get in touch with the Lemberg Law legal team. Complete our form for a FREE case evaluation, or call 475-277-2200 NOW. You may be entitled to compensation for damages, injuries, or lost wages for Federal and state wage law violations.
Sergei Lemberg is a lawyer whose practice focuses on consumer law, class actions and personal injury litigation. He has been repeatedly recognized as the “most active consumer attorney” in the country. In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid in the United States Supreme Court in the case entitled Duguid v. Facebook. He is the author of Defanging Debt Collectors, a book that teaches consumers how to battle debt collectors and win.
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