What the law requires
The overview shows who is covered.
| Requirement | What it means | Section |
|---|---|---|
| No bias | No refusing to hire, segregating, harassing or deciding hiring, promotion, discharge, discipline, pay or terms on a protected basis; no ban on a native language in talk unrelated to duties | 2-102(A), (A-5) |
| Harassment by others | The employer answers for harassment by non-managerial staff, and sexual harassment by non-employees, if it knows and fails to act reasonably; contractors and consultants are protected too | 2-102(A), (A-10), (D), (D-5) |
| Accommodation | Sincerely held religious practice and pregnancy-related conditions, unless the employer shows undue hardship | 2-102(E-5), (J) |
| Arrests and convictions | No asking about or using arrest records unless the law allows it; a conviction counts only if related to the job or an unreasonable risk, after written notice and at least 5 business days to respond | 2-103, 2-103.1 |
| Notice | Post the IDHR notice; put rights information in any handbook | 2-102(K) |
| Training | All employees, at least once a year; restaurants and bars also need a written policy | 2-109, 2-110 |
| Adverse judgments | Report counts by category to IDHR by July 1 after a final ruling last year finding discrimination or harassment | 2-108 |
| Artificial intelligence | AI used in hiring, discipline, discharge or work terms must not discriminate; zip codes may not proxy for protected classes; employees must be told | 2-102(L) |
| No retaliation | Not for opposing practices, filing a charge, taking part or requesting accommodation | 6-101(A) |
Key numbers and dates
| Item | Amount or date | Year in force | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDHR charge deadline | 2 years after the violation; was 300 days | Since Jan. 1, 2025 | 7A-102(A) |
| EEOC dual filing | An EEOC charge filed within 300 days counts for IDHR | 2026 | 7A-102(A-1) |
| IDHR report clock | 365 days from the charge, extendable in writing; then 90 days to go to the Commission or court | 2026 | 7A-102(G) |
| Adverse-judgment report | July 1 for the prior year (next due July 1, 2027) | 2026 and 2027 | 2-108 |
| Appeal of a Commission order | 35 days from service | 2026 | 8-111(B) |
Source: 775 ILCS 5/7A-102
Recent and pending changes
- January 1, 2025 (in force): 2-year charge deadline; family responsibilities added.
- January 1, 2026 (in force): AI provisions; new Commission penalty tiers; fact-finding conferences now optional.
- July 1, 2026 (in force): Commission administrative work moves to IDHR; no new employer duty.
- January 1, 2027 (enacted, not yet in force): P.A. 104-793 treats menopause-related conditions like pregnancy for accommodation.
- June 1, 2027 (enacted, not yet in force): P.A. 104-744 bars criteria or methods with a discriminatory effect unless job related, consistent with business necessity and with no less discriminatory alternative.
Penalties and enforcement
A worker files with IDHR, which investigates; the Commission adjudicates, and circuit court is open after the IDHR stage. Next: the checklist, the Wage Payment Act, payroll tax basics and Illinois pages.
| Tier | What applies |
|---|---|
| Relief | Cease and desist, actual damages, back pay, reinstatement, fees and interest; courts may award the same |
| Commission civil penalty (from 2026) | Per violation and aggrieved party: up to $16,000; $42,500 with one prior violation in 5 years; $70,000 with two or more in 7 years |
| Missed training or report after 30 days' notice, 4 or more employees | Up to $1,000, $3,000, then $5,000 (first, second, third) |
| Same, fewer than 4 employees | Up to $500, $1,000, then $3,000 |
Official sources
- Illinois General Assembly: 775 ILCS 5, Illinois Human Rights Act
- Illinois Department of Human Rights: Legislative updates
- Illinois Department of Human Rights: Extension of the filing deadline
- Illinois Department of Human Rights: Report adverse judgments
- Illinois Secretary of State: Illinois Register, Volume 50, Issue 20 (May 15, 2026)
This page is a plain-language summary. The official source controls if there is any difference.