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The Act defines sexual harassment in employment or education as any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual nature when: Submission to such conduct is either overtly expressed or subtly suggested; Submission or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for decisions in employment or education-related decisions or activities; or Such conduct interferes with the employee's job performance or student's educational or extracurricular performance; or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment.
Sexual Harassment
You have a right to be free from sexual harassment in the workplace, housing, educational settings, and public places. Illinois law protects you from unwanted sexual behavior that creates a hostile environment or impacts important aspects of your life.
What you'll find here:
Examples of sexual harassment, your legal protections, guidance on filing a charge, and resources for support.
⏱ Reading time: 10 minutes
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Looking for support now? Contact our helpline
The Illinois Sexual Harassment & Discrimination Helpline is intended to help you find appropriate ways to report sexual harassment and discrimination and obtain referrals to legal and counseling assistance resources. For immediate assistance with sexual harassment and discrimination in Illinois Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., you may call the Helpline at 877-236-7703.
We also offer contact information for counseling and legal assistance resources.
Table of contents
What is Sexual Harassment?
Understand what the law covers.
Where Sexual Harassment is Prohibited
See how protections apply in different scenarios.
Do You Want to File a Charge?
Learn how to file and what happens next.
What to Know About Your Rights
Important facts about sexual harassment and your protections.
How the Law Applies
Responsibilities for educational institutions.
What IDHR Cannot Do
Understand when to contact law enforcement.
Sexual Harassment FAQs
Find answers to common questions.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is unwanted, deliberate, or repeated sexual behavior. Here are a few examples of how it can look:
- Putting sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or jokes on display
- Sexual or suggestive actions based on sex or gender identity
- Making a sexual or social relationship part of your job, housing, or educational performance (or implying this)
Where Sexual Harassment is Prohibited
Under Illinois law, you’re protected from sexual harassment in 4 main areas:
Employment
At the workplace
Your supervisor or a co-worker makes unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors.
These actions become
A term or condition of employment or are used to make employment decisions
As a result
You have a hard time completing your job, or the workplace becomes intimidating, hostile, or offensive
Housing
Where you live
A landlord, property owner, housing provider, manager, or staff makes sexual advances or requests for sexual favors
These actions become
An issue with your housing (such as your rent, security deposit, or lease renewal)
As a result
Your housing environment turns intimidating, hostile, offensive, or significantly less desirable
Education
At your school or college
A student, executive, administrative staff member, faculty member, or teaching assistant makes unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors
These actions interfere
With your job performance or your ability to participate educationally or in extracurriculars
As a result
Your working or educational environment becomes intimidating, hostile, or offensive
Public Accommodations
In public places like stores, restaurants, gyms, or transportation
Employees, managers, or staff make unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors
These actions create
An environment that is intimidating, hostile, offensive, or significantly less desirable
Do You Want to File a Charge?
If you believe you've experienced sexual harassment in one of these areas, you have options. Filing a charge with IDHR starts an investigation into your complaint. Here's what you need to know.
Before you file:
- You must file within a specific timeframe
- You can usually file against both the individual harasser and the employer or institution
- Filing is free
- You do not need a lawyer
What happens when you file:
We review your claim to see if it falls under the Illinois Human Rights Act
If accepted, we investigate by gathering information from all parties
We may attempt to resolve the matter through mediation or settlement
If not resolved, your case may proceed to a hearing
We will draft a charge for your signature if:
- Your allegations are covered under the Act
- We have jurisdiction over the employer
- You file within the required timeframe
What to Know About Your Rights
Anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment
Persons of any gender can be victims of sexual harassment.
Harassment does not have to be about sexual attraction
A person can harass someone with the same or different sexual orientation or gender identity as theirs.
Harassment can happen at any level
Sexual harassment in the workplace can be perpetrated by a supervisor, coworker, or someone at the workplace at the invitation of the employer, such as a vendor or contractor.
Employer requirements
In Illinois, it is a civil rights violation for an employer to fail to include in a posting in each workspace, break room, or location where notices to employees are customarily posted, information about employee rights.
How the Law Applies
Educational institutions have specific responsibilities
Sexual harassment in educational institutions can be perpetrated by any representative of the institution, such as an executive, faculty or administrative staff member, or teaching assistant.
Both parties can be held liable
You can file a charge with IDHR against the individual harasser as well as the employer or educational institution.
What IDHR Cannot Do
We want to be clear about what is outside our jurisdiction so you know where to turn for help.
We investigate civil rights violations under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Contact law enforcement for criminal conduct or immediate safety threats.
If the sexual harassment conduct is criminal in nature (such as sexual assault, rape, or physical threats), report the incident to law enforcement authorities immediately by calling 911.
We cannot provide:
Emergency crisis intervention. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911. For non-emergency referral to counseling resources, call or visit 211illinois.org.
Legal representation (though you may hire your own attorney)
Immediate protective orders (contact your local court for orders of protection)
For federal employees: Federal government workers should contact the appropriate federal agency rather than IDHR.
If you need crisis support: Please contact one of the crisis resources available 24/7.
Sexual Harassment - FAQs
The law prohibits unwelcome advances of a sexual nature or requests for sexual favors of students by an executive, faculty member, administrative staff member, or teaching assistant in an educational institution when such behavior interferes with the student's performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Yes, IDHR treats racial harassment as discrimination based on race. If a person is subjected to name-calling or negative comments based on a protected class, this may be unlawful discrimination.
Guidance & Publications
- Sexual Harassment Legal Protections - What the law covers and what to do if you are harassed
- Notice to Employees Poster - Required workplace posting about employee rights (downloadable)
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Learn more and sign up for training oppportunities
Related Topics
Employment
Protections against unfair treatment in hiring, firing, harassment, accommodations, retaliation, and other workplace decisions.
Gender & Sexual Orientation
Protections for transgender, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ people across employment, housing, public spaces, and services.