Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance covers fast food and other large employers within Chicago city limits only. Cook County has not extended predictable scheduling rules to suburban municipalities. Suburban fast-food workers default to Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act protections.
Chicago Municipal Code 1-25 Fair Workweek Ordinance requires covered fast food, retail, hospitality, and warehouse employers to post schedules 14 days in advance, pay predictability premiums for changes, and offer extra hours to existing staff. The ordinance applies only within Chicago city limits. Cook County Board of Commissioners has not adopted a parallel ordinance for suburban Cook. Illinois has no statewide predictable-scheduling law as of 2026. Suburban fast-food workers in Evanston, Oak Park, Cicero, and other home-rule suburbs have only the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act 820 ILCS 115 and standard FLSA protections, which do not require advance schedule notice.
Because suburban Cook is not covered, no predictability penalties apply outside Chicago city limits. Within Chicago, violations bring $300 to $500 per occurrence plus liquidated damages, restitution to workers, and Department of Business Affairs investigations.
See how Evanston's fast-food predictable scheduling rules stack up against other locations.
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