Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced a settlement with Quality Leaders, Inc., also known as Wilmette Maids, a residential cleaning company in Wilmette, Illinois. The agreement addresses allegations that the company failed to pay overtime wages by compensating employees at their regular rate for all hours worked, including those exceeding 40 per week. Wilmette Maids will pay $350,000 to 62 current and former employees and will be monitored by the Attorney General’s office to ensure compliance with labor laws.
Raoul stated, “Any company doing business in the state of Illinois must follow laws that require employees to be fairly paid for the time they work.” He emphasized his commitment to holding businesses accountable for violating worker protection laws.
The investigation found that from December 2019 to December 2023, Wilmette Maids did not pay overtime wages at 150% of the regular hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Instead, they paid at the regular rate and concealed this by not displaying actual hours on paystubs. The Illinois Minimum Wage Law mandates an overtime premium of 150% for each hour over 40 in a workweek.
Once court-approved, Raoul's settlement will enable affected employees to recover over 250% of their owed wages. The consent decree requires Wilmette Maids to revise its practices by maintaining accurate records and providing itemized wage statements showing hours worked and correct pay rates.
Assistant Attorney General Javier Castro managed the case within Raoul’s Workplace Rights Bureau. This bureau protects employment rights in Illinois, focusing on vulnerable residents and immigrant populations. It investigates serious wage law violations and proposes related legislation.
Raoul encourages workers with concerns about wage violations to contact his Workplace Rights Hotline or visit the office’s website for complaints in English or Spanish.