Illinois Just Changed the Leave Playbook: Illinois’s Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act (NICLA)

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Illinois just created a new category of protected leave, and it takes effect June 1. Illinois’s Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act (NICLA) requires employers with 16+ employees to provide unpaid, job-protected leave for parents with a child in the NICU, up to 10 days for smaller employers, up to 20 days for larger ones. Unlike FMLA, it covers part-time and newly hired employees regardless of tenure.

At ConnectBridge, the employers most at risk aren’t those who oppose the law, they’re the ones who haven’t updated their handbooks or trained their managers before the deadline hits. June 1 is closer than it looks. Now is the time to audit your leave processes, coordinate NICLA with existing FMLA administration, and make sure your team is ready to respond.

HUB International breaks down what employers need to know. To read more, click here.

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