Effective January 1, 2025, the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) has been amended to expand employee protections. Key changes include:
- Extended Filing Period: The statute of limitations for filing a discrimination charge with the Illinois Department of Human Rights has been extended from 300 days to 730 days.
- New Protected Classes:
- Family Responsibilities: Discrimination or harassment based on “family responsibilities” is now prohibited. This term refers to an employee’s actual or perceived discrimination based on the employee’s provision of personal care to a family member.
- Reproductive Health Decisions: Discrimination based on “reproductive health decisions” is now prohibited. This includes decisions regarding contraception, fertility or sterilization care, assisted reproductive technologies, miscarriage management, and healthcare related to pregnancy continuation or termination.
Employers should review and update their policies to ensure compliance with these amendments.