On December 1, Cook County issued a notice to employees regarding the Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO).
Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum wage for non-tipped workers increases to $15.00 and the minimum wage for tipped workers increases to $9.00. These increases are required in alignment with the Illinois State minimum wage.
The updated “Notice to Employees” and “Frequently Asked Questions” documents are available here.
Employees who believe their employer is not paying the required minimum wage should first check to ensure the municipality where they work does not have a different minimum wage. If the municipality has not opted out, employees can file a complaint with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights. Complaint forms and additional information can be found online. More info here.
