U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu visited Chicago Thursday to talk paid leave policies with business owners, community leaders and local elected officials.

Lu participated in a roundtable discussion, held at Honey Butter Fried Chicken. The restaurant, located at 3361 N. Elston Ave., provides its workers with paid sick days, paid time off and other benefits.

Owners and employees of KOVAL Distillery, 5121 N. Ravenswood Ave., were also at the discussion. The distillery's workers get an unlimited number of paid sick days plus two weeks of paid family leave and other benefits. 

State Rep. Christian Mitchell (D-Chicago) and Chicago Alds. Joe Moreno (1st), Toni Foulkes (16th) and Ameya Pawar (47th) are among the elected officials expected to attend the event along with representatives from Arise Chicago, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, UFCW Local 881 and Women Employed.

"Despite mounting evidence showing that paid sick leave and paid family leave policies can reduce worker turnover and increase productivity, the U.S. remains one of few countries without a national paid leave law," reads a news release from the U.S. Labor Department. "More than 40 million American workers have zero paid sick days. A growing number of states, cities, and employers understand the positive impact of these policies and are expanding paid family leave or paid sick leave to their constituents and employees."