Illinois lacks a specific “right to disconnect” law allowing employees to ignore work communications outside working hours, unlike some international jurisdictions or proposed bills in states like California. Instead, the state promotes work-life balance through related labor laws emphasizing rest, paid leave, and limits on excessive work.​
Key Labor Laws
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act (PLAWA), effective January 1, 2024, grants employees up to 40 hours of paid leave per year for any reason, accruing at one hour per 40 hours worked, to support flexibility and well-being. The One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA), amended in 2023, requires 24 consecutive hours of rest weekly, with voluntary waivers possible via permits and overtime pay.​
Recent Developments
No right-to-disconnect legislation passed in Illinois as of late 2025; 2025 updates focused on areas like neonatal leave, service member rights, and AI disclosure in hiring, without addressing off-hours contact. Employers must still comply with federal FLSA rules on off-the-clock work and overtime, indirectly protecting boundaries.​
Broader Context
Illinois’s approach prioritizes mandated rest and leave over explicit disconnection rights, aligning with trends in U.S. states amid rising remote work concerns. For enforcement, employees can contact the Illinois Department of Labor for violations of rest or leave provisions.
SOURCES
[1](https://ilcounty.org/file/380/2024%20Employment%20Law%20Update.pdf)
[2](https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/insights/publications/2025/03/the-right-to-disconnect-across-jurisdictions)
[3](https://www.nextep.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-illinois-one-day-rest-in-seven-act/)
[4](https://fentonkeller.com/fk-articles/work-life-balance-and-the-right-to-disconnect/)
[5](https://www.goco.io/blog/employee-leave-laws-illinois)
