Last Tuesday, the Village of Northbrook, Illinois, became the most recent Cook County municipality to opt back in to the Cook County Earned Sick Leave Ordinance, joining Western Springs, which — as we previously reported — did an about-face in April and reversed its prior decision to opt-out of the Ordinance.  Beginning January 1, 2019, covered employers with employees in Northbrook will be required to comply with the Ordinance and provide eligible employees with one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked.

Although the Village of Wilmette also recently reconsidered its prior decision to opt-out of the Ordinance, it ultimately reaffirmed its original decision. However, the issue will be presented to Cook County voters in the upcoming election on November 6.  It is unclear whether the will of the voters and/or the recent decisions of Northbrook and Western Springs to opt back in to the Ordinance will spur similar action by other Cook County municipalities.

Be on the lookout for further updates after the election.