The state of Illinois has recently enacted a new law that enhances the provisions of the Family Bereavement Leave Act by providing extended child bereavement leave. This legislation, referred to as the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act (CEBLA), is intended to provide relief to employees experiencing child loss due to horrific circumstances such as homicide or suicide. The law was signed into effect by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 4th, 2023 and is anticipated to begin operating from January 1, 2024.
CEBLA has been tailored to require employers in the state, with a workforce of 50 or more, to accommodate additional unpaid leave for employees dealing with such tragedies. This presents a significant development in employment law, particularly considering the emotional toll that such incidents inflict on affected individuals. It also demonstrates the state’s commitment to providing adequate support and relief to grieving parents within the workplace.
While detailed provisions of the legislation have not been publicly disclosed, legal practitioners and especially corporate legal teams should closely follow this development to ensure compliance with this law. Employment policies, contractual terms, and various other corporate policies, may require review and potential amendment to align with this Act.
A deeper look into this new legislation can be found via this article on JD Supra, authored by Jackson Lewis P.C.
As a regular issuer of legal news, it is always our aim to keep you abreast of legal developments that matter. We will continue to follow this story and present further updates that may impact how corporate entities operate and adapt to this new child bereavement law.