Illinois Labor Opposes Federal Minimum Wage Rollback for Home Health Workers

IL Labor News

Published September 2nd, 2025

Detected February 27th, 2026

Summary

The Illinois Department of Labor has formally opposed a proposed federal rule by the U.S. Department of Labor that would roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home health care workers. Illinois argues this action would undermine worker protections and create national inconsistencies.

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What changed

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has joined a coalition of states in formally opposing the U.S. Department of Labor's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to domestic service. The proposed federal rule aims to remove minimum wage and overtime protections for home health care workers, a move IDOL argues would lead to lower pay, increased wage disparities, and hardship for millions of working families. Illinois highlights its own robust state-level protections, including a $15 per hour minimum wage and higher pay for workers in state programs, as a contrasting model.

This action represents a significant policy disagreement at the federal level regarding worker protections in the home health care sector. While Illinois has its own strong regulations, the potential federal rollback could create confusion and weaken safeguards nationwide. Regulated entities, particularly those operating across state lines or subject to federal oversight, should monitor the outcome of this proposed rulemaking. The U.S. Department of Labor's proposed rule is currently open for public comment, with the docket number WHD-2025-0001-0001 available on regulations.gov.

What to do next

Monitor the U.S. Department of Labor's proposed rulemaking regarding domestic service and the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Review current wage and hour compliance for home health workers against both federal and state regulations.
Stay informed about potential changes to federal minimum wage and overtime protections for domestic service workers.

Source document (simplified)

Release Date: 09/02/2025

Illinois Department of Labor Opposes Federal Rollback of Minimum Wage Protections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2, 2025
Contact: Paul Cicchini 217-785-1719 DOL.PIO@Illinois.gov Home healthcare workers are the latest target of administration’s proposed rule
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) strongly condemns actions by the Trump administration to roll back federal minimum wage and overtime protections for millions of home health care workers.
“These reckless rollbacks undermine the economic security of working families across the country,” said IDOL Director Jane Flanagan. “While Illinois has robust minimum wage and overtime protections for home health care workers, if the proposed rule is adopted, it will create inconsistency and confusion across the country. As the federal government weakens worker protections, IDOL is committed to protecting and promoting the wages of all workers in Illinois.”
On September 2, 2025, Illinois joined Pennsylvania and states across the country in formally opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Domestic Service.
The Trump administration’s efforts to change federal wage regulations would strip away safeguards that had guaranteed home health care workers would receive at least the federal minimum wage, in an industry where wage theft and exploitation are common. The administration’s actions could lead to lower pay, greater wage disparities, and increased hardship for millions of working families.
Illinois has taken a different path. In 2019, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a phased-in minimum wage increase that brought the state minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2025. The Illinois Minimum Wage Law provides minimum wage and overtime protections for most domestic workers, including those whose primary work duties are caregiving, companion services, personal care or home health services for elderly persons or persons with an illness, injury, or disability who require assistance in caring for themselves.
Through the Illinois Department on Aging’s Community Care Program in-home care workers are paid $18 an hour. In Illinois, many home care workers also are protected by union contracts that provide wages higher than minimum wage.
The Illinois Department of Labor enforces state minimum wage laws, investigates unpaid wage claims, and ensures that workers receive the pay they earned and are legally entitled to. Workers who believe their rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint at labor.illinois.gov.
- Illinois Department of Labor Opposes Federal Rollback of Minimum Wage Protections
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