Illinois One Day Rest in Seven Act and Meal Break Law: How Employers can Protect Themselves
Real World Impact: A recent increase in complaints under the Illinois One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA) highlights the necessity for Illinois employers to be familiar with the requirements of this law. Introduction: The ODRISA has been in existence since the 1970s. Buried within the ODRISA is also a meal break law. In recent years, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has seemingly processed more and more cases under this law, and we have found that many employers are still either unaware of the law, or unaware of its full scope . The potential for fines and penalties could be high enough to put some companies out of business. Nothing about ODRISA is particularly tricky, and employers should theoretically be able to understand and comply with it – if they are aware of it. This article will provide further information on the law and best practices for compliance. The Law ODRISA has two main components, allowing one day of rest (24 hours) after six days...