Effective January 1, 2025, Illinois employers are prohibited from discriminating against an employee or a prospective employee based on the employee’s “family responsibilities.” Employers cannot make recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, training, discharge, discipline, or other employment decisions based on an employees’ actual or perceived personal care responsibilities for a family member. The law references the Employee Sick Leave Act to define “family members” and “personal care.” Family members covered by the Act include: children, stepchildren, spouses, domestic partners, siblings, parents, in-laws, grandchildren, grandparent, or stepparents. Personal care includes but is not strictly limited to: taking a family member to a doctor’s appointment, providing support to a family member with a serious health condition who is receiving in patient or home care, and providing assistance with a family member’s basic medical, hygiene, nutritional or safety needs. Complainants will have two years after the date of the violation to file a charge with the Illinois Department of Human Rights. If you believe your employer may have discriminated against you on the basis of your family responsibilities, please feel free to fill out a confidential intake form.

By Whitney L. Barr, Caffarelli & Associates Ltd.