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Illinois Employment Offer Letter Template

Illinois treats vacation as earned pay, which changes how you write PTO terms. Earned, unused vacation generally must be paid out at separation, so use-it-or-lose-it language does not belong in an Illinois offer letter. Employers with 15 or more employees must also post pay scales and benefits, salary-history questions are banned, and most employees accrue paid leave usable for any reason.

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Illinois rules to know

  • Include pay scale and benefits in postings

    Since January 1, 2025, employers with 15 or more employees must include the pay scale and a general description of benefits in job postings, including for remote roles reporting to Illinois, and must announce promotion opportunities to current employees within 14 days of posting externally.

    Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, 820 ILCS 112/10(b-25)

  • Salary-history questions are banned

    Employers may not ask applicants or their former employers about wage or salary history or use it to screen candidates or set pay. You may ask about the candidate's pay and benefit expectations.

    Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, 820 ILCS 112/10(b-5)

  • Final pay includes earned vacation

    Final compensation is due at separation if possible, and no later than the next regularly scheduled payday. Earned, unused vacation generally must be paid out, so offer-letter PTO terms cannot include use-it-or-lose-it forfeiture. Tell new hires their pay rate and payday in writing at hire.

    Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, 820 ILCS 115/5 and 115/10

  • Paid leave is required

    Since January 1, 2024, most employees accrue at least one hour of paid leave per 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year, usable for any reason. Chicago and Cook County have their own paid leave rules that apply instead within their borders.

    Paid Leave for All Workers Act, 820 ILCS 192; Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance

Last updated 2026-10-05

Download the free template

Our Illinois Employment Offer Letter template as a Word document — a general starting point you fill in yourself. Sign in free to download it.

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What a employment offer letter covers

  • Position, duties and reporting line
  • Salary or hourly rate and pay schedule
  • Exempt or non-exempt classification
  • Benefits and paid leave
  • At-will employment statement
  • Contingencies (background check, I-9)
  • Confidentiality and invention assignment

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Frequently asked questions

Can an Illinois offer letter include a use-it-or-lose-it vacation policy?
Generally no. Earned, unused vacation in Illinois generally must be paid out at separation, so PTO terms in an offer letter cannot include use-it-or-lose-it forfeiture. Final compensation is due at separation if possible, and no later than the next regularly scheduled payday.
How does the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act affect offer terms?
Since January 1, 2024, most employees accrue at least one hour of paid leave per 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year, usable for any reason. If the job is in Chicago or Cook County, their own paid leave rules apply instead, so check the work location before drafting.
What must an Illinois job posting include before I make an offer?
Since January 1, 2025, employers with 15 or more employees must include the pay scale and a general description of benefits in job postings, including remote roles reporting to Illinois. You must also announce promotion opportunities to current employees within 14 days of posting externally. Keep the offer consistent with the posted scale.
Is an offer letter a binding contract?
It can be. Promises about pay, bonuses or job security in an offer letter can be enforced, so wording matters — especially the at-will statement.
What does at-will employment mean?
Either side can end the employment at any time for any lawful reason. Most states default to at-will, but an offer letter that promises a fixed term or termination only for cause can change that.
Does the offer letter need to state the pay range?
A growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings or on request. Check your state's pay-transparency law before you post or extend an offer.

Employment Offer Letter in other states

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