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Employers and Businesses
This hub is for employers and businesses looking to comply with Illinois civil rights laws. If you're an employee who has experienced discrimination, learn more about your rights here.
Have you been named in a filing with the Illinois Department of Human Rights? Learn more about your responsibilities and the overall process here.
Specialized requirements based on Company Type
Sexual harassment prevention
This page covers everything you need to know as far as required trainings, postings, and policies pertaining to Sexual Harassment Prevention requirements
Employment discrimination overiew
Who is protected under Illinois Law?
You cannot discriminate based on:
- Race
- Color
- Sex (including sexual harassment)
- Religion
- National origin
Ancestry
Age (40 and over),
Marital status,
Physical or mental disability,
Military status or unfavorable military discharge
Familial status (families with children under 18),
Sexual orientation (including gender identity),
Pregnancy, and order of protection status (for victims of domestic violence)
What's prohibited?
You cannot:
- Treat someone unfairly in hiring, firing, pay, promotions, or work assignments because of a protected characteristic (like race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age 40+, disability, pregnancy, military status, etc.).
- Harass employees or applicants based on any protected characteristic, including sexual harassment or creating a hostile work environment.
- Retaliate against someone for reporting discrimination or harassment, filing a complaint, or helping someone else with theirs.
- Refuse reasonable accommodations for disability, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical needs when accommodations are possible.
- Ask inappropriate or discriminatory questions during hiring (for example, about disability, age, pregnancy plans, immigration status beyond work eligibility, or other protected traits).
Reporting requirements
Who needs to report:
If your business has received a judgment or administrative ruling related to discrimination or sexual harassment, Illinois law requires you to report it to IDHR annually by July 1st each year thereafter.
Report any:
Court judgments related to discrimination or harassment
Administrative rulings from IDHR or other agencies
Settlements involving discrimination claims
How to report
Submit your report through [specific process/form]. Include:
Case information and outcome
Nature of the allegation
Any corrective actions taken
File an adverse judgement report →
2023 Form IDHR 2-108 Report of Final Non-Appealable Adverse Judgments/Administrative Rulings
Pregnancy rights
What Illinois law requires:
All employers must:
Post English and Spanish notices about pregnancy rights where employees can see it.
Include information in employee handbooks
Provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions
Notices
What are reasonable accommodations?
Accommodations might include:
Time off for prenatal appointments
Modified work schedules or tasks
Breaks to express breast milk
Temporary transfer to less strenuous work
Reject unsolicited offers from your employer for your pregnancy
Each request should be handled individually through an interactive process with the employee.
The IDHR Training Institute
Access free courses on topics like:
Sexual harassment prevention, Implicit bias training, Diversity and inclusion, Workplace skills development