It’s important for businesses in “The Prairie State” to be aware of all Illinois state holidays in 2025 so that they can manage their annual leave and operational schedules accordingly. Without the right planning, you could face scheduling conflicts, employee dissatisfaction, and potential legal compliance issues. But this can sometimes be a daunting task, given the complexities of holiday laws and regulations in the state.
For example, should you pay your employees for all Illinois state holidays in 2025? Is Juneteenth a paid holiday in Illinois? How do you keep track of time off and employee pay requirements to maintain compliance?
Fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
This article will highlight all IL state holidays in 2025 and how they impact private and public employers. We will also explore Illinois leave and holiday laws that you need to keep in mind when you create your employee time off policies. Finally, we will explain how using the right technology can help you automate and streamline your leave management process.
- Federal holidays 2025: Illinois
- Illinois state holidays 2025
- Leave and holiday laws in the state of Illinois
- Is holiday pay mandatory for Illinois state holidays in 2025?
- Your all-in-one solution to time off management
- Find out more about tracking PTO for your company 🚀
Federal holidays 2025: Illinois
Let’s start by exploring all federal holidays 2025 in Illinois.
Illinois observes the following federal holidays:
- New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2025)
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday (Monday, January 20, 2025)
- Washington’s Birthday or President’s Day (Monday, February 17, 2025)
- Memorial Day (Monday, May 26, 2025)
- Juneteenth (Thursday, June 19, 2025)
- Independence Day (Friday, July 4, 2025)
- Labor Day (Monday, September 1, 2025)
- Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 13, 2025)
- General Election Day (Tuesday, November 4, 2025)
- Veterans’ Day (Tuesday, November 11, 2025)
- Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27, 2025)
- Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25, 2025)
General Election Day 2025
Illinois also celebrates General Election Day as a holiday. The next General Election Day will be on Tuesday, November 5, 2028.
Is Juneteenth a holiday in Illinois?
Yes, as with all other US states including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Florida, Juneteenth is now observed as a federal holiday. This is the most recent holiday that the federal government has nationalized in the US. The holiday came into force after President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2021.
Illinois state holidays 2025
Most state of Illinois holidays in 2025 are federal holidays. However, there is one exception. Illinois also includes the day after Thanksgiving (November 28) in its list of Illinois state holidays in 2025. This date is also observed in other states including Texas, California, and Pennsylvania. On this day, many businesses and government offices remain closed, allowing employees to enjoy an extended weekend and kickstart the holiday season. The inclusion of the day after Thanksgiving as an IL state holiday in 2025 showcases the state’s commitment to recognizing this significant cultural event and acknowledges the tradition of giving thanks that resonates across the nation.
Local holidays in Illinois
Although not included in the list of federal holidays in 2025 in Chicago, the city does observe Pulaski Day on March 6. This day honors the birthday of Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born soldier who contributed to US independence. It is particularly significant in Chicago compared to the rest of Illinois. This is due to the large population of Polish immigrants in the city. As a result, many schools, libraries, banks, and courts are closed on this day.
Chicago also observes Roberto Clemente Day on September 15. This day marks the anniversary of the death of Clemente, a Puerto Rican baseball player who was considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. Clemente died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972, while on a humanitarian mission to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. On this day, all players, managers, and coaches in Major League Baseball wear Clemente’s number 21 on their uniforms. There are also often parades and festivals held to celebrate Clemente’s life and legacy.
Finally, the state capital, Springfield, observes Springfield Founder’s Day on February 2. This day honors the rich history of the city of Springfield and commemorates the date on which the city was officially established in 1935. It serves as a reminder of the vision, dedication, and hard work of the early settlers and pioneers who played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s identity and progress.
Leave and holiday laws in the state of Illinois
We are now going to explore the leave and holiday laws in the state of Illinois. Make sure you keep these laws in mind when you create your employee time off policies.
Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA)
The PFMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons. These reasons include the birth or adoption of a child, the care of a sick family member, or the employee’s own serious health condition. The PFMLA applies to employers with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius.
Illinois Family and Medical Leave Act (IFMLA)
The IFMLA is similar to the PFMLA, but it provides more generous leave benefits to employees. The IFMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons. These reasons include the birth or adoption of a child, the care of a sick family member, the employee’s own serious health condition, or to bond with a new child. However, unlike the PFMLA, the IFMLA applies to all employers in Illinois, regardless of size.
Family Military Leave Act (FMLA)
The FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 15 days of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to care for a covered military service member. This leave can be used for reasons such as attending military events, making travel arrangements, or providing care for a family member who is the service member’s dependent.
Employee Sick Leave Act
The Illinois Employee Sick Leave Act requires most employers with 50 or more employees to provide their employees with up to 6 paid sick days per year. These sick days can be used for any reason, including the employee’s own illness, the illness of a family member, or the care of a family member with a serious health condition.
Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act
The Wage Payment and Collection Act establishes when, where, and how often wages must be paid and prohibits deductions from wages or final compensation without the employee’s consent. It also provides assistance to workers in the collection of wages and final compensation. This includes unused vacation pay, commissions, bonuses, or other fringe benefits. State and federal government employees are exempt and cannot file claims under the Act.
Paid Leave for All Workers Act
Finally, Governor JB Pritzker has recently signed a new law regulating paid leave which is due to come into force in 2024, known as the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act. This will make Illinois the third state in the nation, and the first in the Midwest, to mandate paid time off for any reason.
The Act will provide employees with up to 40 hours of paid leave for any reason during a 12-month period. Employees must be paid their full wage while on leave. Moreover, an employer cannot require an employee to find their replacement for the leave.
Is holiday pay mandatory for Illinois state holidays in 2025?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise). There are also currently no state laws regulating holiday pay. Nonetheless, state and federal employees often receive paid time off for state holidays in Illinois. However, specific holiday pay policies may vary depending on the agency and the terms of employment.
As the law stands right now, private employers in Illinois can decide whether to close on Illinois state holidays in 2025. Federal and state law does not require them to give their employees time off on these holidays, and they don’t have to pay extra money to employees who work on state of Illinois holidays 2025. Instead, private employers can currently create their own rules about holiday time off and pay. For example, some employers offer a set number of days of paid leave, while other employers offer unpaid time off, unlimited PTO, personal time off, VTO, floating holidays, or flexible time off. There are also currently no state laws in New York that regulate how employees accrue vacation leave. As a result, employers are free to set their own vacation payout and PTO carry over policies.
However, both public and private employers need to be aware of the changes that will come into force with the new Paid Leave for All Workers Act next year, as we saw above, and adapt their policies accordingly.
Your all-in-one solution to time off management
Many employers report that managing time off can be a daunting task, especially given the complexity of the leave and labor laws in Illinois. It’s therefore essential that you have an efficient time-off management system in place to keep your business running smoothly. Thankfully, Factorial’s comprehensive HR software offers a suite of powerful features designed to streamline time-off management.
Factorial’s time off management features include:
- A centralized calendar. Factorial’s centralized calendar allows employers to see all of their leave requests in one place. Managers can also approve or deny all types of time off requests straight from an intuitive leave management system, simplifying the process.
- Customizable time off policies. Factorial allows employers to create customized time off policies that meet the needs of their business. This includes the ability to set different accrual rates for different types of leave. You can also define blackout dates when leave is not available.
- Mobile app. Factorial has a mobile app that allows employees to submit time off requests, check their leave balance, and view the company’s time off policy from anywhere.
- Reporting. Factorial offers a variety of reports that can help employers track employee leave usage and identify trends. This helps them make informed decisions about their time off policy.
Moreover, Factorial’s automated notifications and alerts help employers stay on top of legal changes. That way, you can be sure that your policies remain up-to-date with the latest labor laws.
Ultimately, by simplifying the process of requesting and approving time off requests, automating compliance, and providing valuable insights into leave data in this way, Factorial revolutionizes the way employers manage time off for all Illinois state holidays in 2025. That way, they can focus on what truly matters – building a successful and compliant organization.
