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Article 2 - Employment

      (775 ILCS 5/Art. 2 heading)ARTICLE 2. EMPLOYMENT

(775 ILCS 5/2‑101) (from Ch. 68, par. 2‑101)     Sec. 2‑101. Definitions. The following definitions are applicable strictly in the context of this Article.     (A) Employee.         (1) "Employee" includes:             (a) Any individual performing services for

remuneration within this State for an employer;

(b) An apprentice;             (c) An applicant for any apprenticeship.         (2) "Employee" does not include:             (a) Domestic servants in private homes;             (b) Individuals employed by persons who are not

"employers" as defined by this Act;

(c) Elected public officials or the members of

their immediate personal staffs;

(d) Principal administrative officers of the

State or of any political subdivision, municipal corporation or other governmental unit or agency;

(e) A person in a vocational rehabilitation

facility certified under federal law who has been designated an evaluee, trainee, or work activity client.

(B) Employer.         (1) "Employer" includes:             (a) Any person employing 15 or more employees

within Illinois during 20 or more calendar weeks within the calendar year of or preceding the alleged violation;

(b) Any person employing one or more employees

when a complainant alleges civil rights violation due to unlawful discrimination based upon his or her physical or mental handicap unrelated to ability or sexual harassment;

(c) The State and any political subdivision,

municipal corporation or other governmental unit or agency, without regard to the number of employees;

(d) Any party to a public contract without

regard to the number of employees;

(e) A joint apprenticeship or training committee

without regard to the number of employees.

(2) "Employer" does not include any religious

corporation, association, educational institution, society, or non‑profit nursing institution conducted by and for those who rely upon treatment by prayer through spiritual means in accordance with the tenets of a recognized church or religious denomination with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such corporation, association, educational institution, society or non‑profit nursing institution of its activities.

(C) Employment Agency. "Employment Agency" includes both public and private employment agencies and any person, labor organization, or labor union having a hiring hall or hiring office regularly undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure opportunities to work, or to procure, recruit, refer or place employees.     (D) Labor Organization. "Labor Organization" includes any organization, labor union, craft union, or any voluntary unincorporated association designed to further the cause of the rights of union labor which is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or apprenticeships or applications for apprenticeships, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, including apprenticeships or applications for apprenticeships.     (E) Sexual Harassment. "Sexual harassment" means any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual nature when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.     (F) Religion. "Religion" with respect to employers includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's business.     (G) Public Employer. "Public employer" means the State, an agency or department thereof, unit of local government, school district, instrumentality or political subdivision.     (H) Public Employee. "Public employee" means an employee of the State, agency or department thereof, unit of local government, school district, instrumentality or political subdivision. "Public employee" does not include public officers or employees of the General Assembly or agencies thereof.     (I) Public Officer. "Public officer" means a person who is elected to office pursuant to the Constitution or a statute or ordinance, or who is appointed to an office which is established, and the qualifications and duties of which are prescribed, by the Constitution or a statute or ordinance, to discharge a public duty for the State, agency or department thereof, unit of local government, school district, instrumentality or political subdivision.     (J) Eligible Bidder. "Eligible bidder" means a person who, prior to a bid opening, has filed with the Department a properly completed, sworn and currently valid employer report form, pursuant to the Department's regulations. The provisions of this Article relating to eligible bidders apply only to bids on contracts with the State and its departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, and the provisions do not apply to bids on contracts with units of local government or school districts.     (K) Citizenship Status. "Citizenship status" means the status of being:         (1) a born U.S. citizen;         (2) a naturalized U.S. citizen;         (3) a U.S. national; or         (4) a person born outside the United States and not

a U.S. citizen who is not an unauthorized alien and who is protected from discrimination under the provisions of Section 1324b of Title 8 of the United States Code, as now or hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 86‑1343; 87‑579; 87‑666; 87‑895.)

    (775 ILCS 5/2‑102)(from Ch. 68, par. 2‑102)
    Sec. 2‑102. Civil Rights Violations ‑ Employment. It is a civil rights violation:
    (A) Employers. For any employer to refuse to hire, to segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of unlawful discrimination or citizenship status.
    (A‑5) Language. For an employer to impose a restriction that has the effect of prohibiting a language from being spoken by an employee in communications that are unrelated to the employee's duties.
    For the purposes of this subdivision (A‑5), "language" means a person's native tongue, such as Polish, Spanish, or Chinese. "Language" does not include such things as slang, jargon, profanity, or vulgarity.
    (B) Employment Agency. For any employment agency to fail or refuse to classify properly, accept applications and register for employment referral or apprenticeship referral, refer for employment, or refer for apprenticeship on the basis of unlawful discrimination or citizenship status or to accept from any person any job order, requisition or request for referral of applicants for employment or apprenticeship which makes or has the effect of making unlawful discrimination or discrimination on the basis of citizenship status a condition of referral.
    (C) Labor Organization. For any labor organization to limit, segregate or classify its membership, or to limit employment opportunities, selection and training for apprenticeship in any trade or craft, or otherwise to take, or fail to take, any action which affects adversely any person's status as an employee or as an applicant for employment or as an apprentice, or as an applicant for apprenticeships, or wages, tenure, hours of employment or apprenticeship conditions on the basis of unlawful discrimination or citizenship status.
    (D) Sexual Harassment. For any employer, employee, agent of any employer, employment agency or labor organization to engage in sexual harassment; provided, that an employer shall be responsible for sexual harassment of the employer's employees by nonemployees or nonmanagerial and nonsupervisory employees only if the employer becomes aware of the conduct and fails to take reasonable corrective measures.
    (E) Public Employers. For any public employer to refuse to permit a public employee under its jurisdiction who takes time off from work in order to practice his or her religious beliefs to engage in work, during hours other than such employee's regular working hours, consistent with the operational needs of the employer and in order to compensate for work time lost for such religious reasons. Any employee who elects such deferred work shall be compensated at the wage rate which he or she would have earned during the originally scheduled work period. The employer may require that an employee who plans to take time off from work in order to practice his or her religious beliefs provide the employer with a notice of his or her intention to be absent from work not exceeding 5 days prior to the date of absence.
    (F) Training and Apprenticeship Programs. For any employer, employment agency or labor organization to discriminate against a person on the basis of age in the selection, referral for or conduct of apprenticeship or training programs.
    (G) Immigration‑Related Practices.
        (1) for an employer to request for purposes of

satisfying the requirements of Section 1324a(b) of Title 8 of the United States Code, as now or hereafter amended, more or different documents than are required under such Section or to refuse to honor documents tendered that on their face reasonably appear to be genuine; or

(2) for an employer participating in the Basic Pilot

Program, as authorized by 8 U.S.C. 1324a, Notes, Pilot Programs for Employment Eligibility Confirmation (enacted by PL 104‑208, div. C title IV, subtitle A) to refuse to hire, to segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or conditions of employment without following the procedures under the Basic Pilot Program.

(H) Pregnancy; peace officers and fire fighters. For a public employer to refuse to temporarily transfer a pregnant female peace officer or pregnant female fire fighter to a less strenuous or hazardous position for the duration of her pregnancy if she so requests, with the advice of her physician, where that transfer can be reasonably accommodated. For the purposes of this subdivision (H), "peace officer" and "fire fighter" have the meanings ascribed to those terms in Section 3 of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.     It is not a civil rights violation for an employer to take any action that is required by Section 1324a of Title 8 of the United States Code, as now or hereafter amended. (Source: P.A. 95‑25, eff. 1‑1‑08; 95‑137, eff. 1‑1‑08; 95‑876, eff. 8‑21‑08.)

    (775 ILCS 5/2‑103)(from Ch. 68, par. 2‑103)
    Sec. 2‑103. Arrest Record.
    (A) Unless otherwise authorized by law, it is a civil rights violation for any employer, employment agency or labor organization to inquire into or to use the fact of an arrest or criminal history record information ordered expunged, sealed or impounded under Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act as a basis to refuse to hire, to segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or conditions of employment. This Section does not prohibit a State agency, unit of local government or school district, or private organization from requesting or utilizing sealed felony conviction information obtained from the Department of State Police under the provisions of Section 3 of the Criminal Identification Act or under other State or federal laws or regulations that require criminal background checks in evaluating the qualifications and character of an employee or a prospective employee.
    (B) The prohibition against the use of the fact of an arrest contained in this Section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer, employment agency, or labor organization from obtaining or using other information which indicates that a person actually engaged in the conduct for which he or she was arrested.
(Source: P.A. 96‑409, eff. 1‑1‑10.)

    (775 ILCS 5/2‑104)(from Ch. 68, par. 2‑104)
    Sec. 2‑104. Exemptions.
    (A) Nothing contained in this Act shall prohibit an employer, employment agency or labor organization from:
        (1) Bona Fide Qualification. Hiring or selecting

between persons for bona fide occupational qualifications or any reason except those civil‑rights violations specifically identified in this Article.

(2) Veterans. Giving preferential treatment to

veterans and their relatives as required by the laws or regulations of the United States or this State or a unit of local government.

(3) Unfavorable Discharge From Military Service.

Using unfavorable discharge from military service as a valid employment criterion when authorized by federal law or regulation or when a position of employment involves the exercise of fiduciary responsibilities as defined by rules and regulations which the Department shall adopt.

(4) Ability Tests. Giving or acting upon the

results of any professionally developed ability test provided that such test, its administration, or action upon the results, is not used as a subterfuge for or does not have the effect of unlawful discrimination.

(5) Merit and Retirement Systems.             (a) Applying different standards of

compensation, or different terms, conditions or privileges of employment pursuant to a merit or retirement system provided that such system or its administration is not used as a subterfuge for or does not have the effect of unlawful discrimination.

(b) Effecting compulsory retirement of any

employee who has attained 65 years of age and who, for the 2‑year period immediately preceding retirement, is employed in a bona fide executive or a high policymaking position, if such employee is entitled to an immediate nonforfeitable annual retirement benefit from a pension, profit‑sharing, savings, or deferred compensation plan, or any combination of such plans of the employer of such employee, which equals, in the aggregate, at least $44,000. If any such retirement benefit is in a form other than a straight life annuity (with no ancillary benefits) or if the employees contribute to any such plan or make rollover contributions, the retirement benefit shall be adjusted in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Department, so that the benefit is the equivalent of a straight life annuity (with no ancillary benefits) under a plan to which employees do not contribute and under which no rollover contributions are made.

(c) Until January 1, 1994, effecting compulsory

retirement of any employee who has attained 70 years of age, and who is serving under a contract of unlimited tenure (or similar arrangement providing for unlimited tenure) at an institution of higher education as defined by Section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

(6) Training and Apprenticeship programs.

Establishing an educational requirement as a prerequisite to selection for a training or apprenticeship program, provided such requirement does not operate to discriminate on the basis of any prohibited classification except age.

(7) Police and Firefighter/Paramedic Retirement.

Imposing a mandatory retirement age for firefighters/paramedics or law enforcement officers and discharging or retiring such individuals pursuant to the mandatory retirement age if such action is taken pursuant to a bona fide retirement plan provided that the law enforcement officer or firefighter/paramedic has attained:

(a) the age of retirement in effect under

applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983; or

(b) if the applicable State or local law was

enacted after the date of enactment of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104‑208), the age of retirement in effect on the date of such discharge under such law.

This paragraph (7) shall not apply with respect to

any cause of action arising under the Illinois Human Rights Act as in effect prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997.

(8) Police and Firefighter/Paramedic Appointment.

Failing or refusing to hire any individual because of such individual's age if such action is taken with respect to the employment of an individual as a firefighter/paramedic or as a law enforcement officer and the individual has attained:

(a) the age of hiring or appointment in effect

under applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983; or

(b) the age of hiring in effect on the date of

such failure or refusal to hire under applicable State or local law enacted after the date of enactment of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104‑208).

As used in paragraph (7) or (8):          "Firefighter/paramedic" means an employee, the

duties of whose position are primarily to perform work directly connected with the control and extinguishment of fires or the maintenance and use of firefighting apparatus and equipment, or to provide emergency medical services, including an employee engaged in this activity who is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position.

"Law enforcement officer" means an employee, the

duties of whose position are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of criminal offenses, including an employee engaged in this activity who is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position.

(9) Citizenship Status. Making legitimate

distinctions based on citizenship status if specifically authorized or required by State or federal law.

(B) With respect to any employee who is subject to a collective bargaining agreement:         (a) which is in effect on June 30, 1986,         (b) which terminates after January 1, 1987,         (c) any provision of which was entered into by a

labor organization as defined by Section 6(d)(4) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(4)), and

(d) which contains any provision that would be

superseded by this amendatory Act of 1987 (Public Act 85‑748),

such amendatory Act of 1987 shall not apply until the termination of such collective bargaining agreement or January 1, 1990, whichever occurs first.     (C)(1) For purposes of this Act, the term "handicap" shall not include any employee or applicant who is currently engaging in the illegal use of drugs, when an employer acts on the basis of such use.     (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where an employee or applicant for employment:         (a) has successfully completed a supervised drug

rehabilitation program and is no longer engaging in the illegal use of drugs, or has otherwise been rehabilitated successfully and is no longer engaging in such use;

(b) is participating in a supervised rehabilitation

program and is no longer engaging in such use; or

(c) is erroneously regarded as engaging in such use,

but is not engaging in such use.

It shall not be a violation of this Act for an employer to adopt or administer reasonable policies or procedures, including but not limited to drug testing, designed to ensure that an individual described in subparagraph (a) or (b) is no longer engaging in the illegal use of drugs.     (3) An employer:         (a) may prohibit the illegal use of drugs and the

use of alcohol at the workplace by all employees;

(b) may require that employees shall not be under

the influence of alcohol or be engaging in the illegal use of drugs at the workplace;

(c) may require that employees behave in conformance

with the requirements established under the federal Drug‑Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and the Drug Free Workplace Act;

(d) may hold an employee who engages in the illegal

use of drugs or who is an alcoholic to the same qualification standards for employment or job performance and behavior that such employer holds other employees, even if any unsatisfactory performance or behavior is related to the drug use or alcoholism of such employee; and

(e) may, with respect to federal regulations

regarding alcohol and the illegal use of drugs, require that:

(i) employees comply with the standards

established in such regulations of the United States Department of Defense, if the employees of the employer are employed in an industry subject to such regulations, including complying with regulations (if any) that apply to employment in sensitive positions in such an industry, in the case of employees of the employer who are employed in such positions (as defined in the regulations of the Department of Defense);

(ii) employees comply with the standards

established in such regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, if the employees of the employer are employed in an industry subject to such regulations, including complying with regulations (if any) that apply to employment in sensitive positions in such an industry, in the case of employees of the employer who are employed in such positions (as defined in the regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission); and

(iii) employees comply with the standards

established in such regulations of the United States Department of Transportation, if the employees of the employer are employed in a transportation industry subject to such regulations, including complying with such regulations (if any) that apply to employment in sensitive positions in such an industry, in the case of employees of the employer who are employed in such positions (as defined in the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation).

(4) For purposes of this Act, a test to determine the illegal use of drugs shall not be considered a medical examination. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to encourage, prohibit, or authorize the conducting of drug testing for the illegal use of drugs by job applicants or employees or making employment decisions based on such test results.     (5) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to encourage, prohibit, restrict, or authorize the otherwise lawful exercise by an employer subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Transportation of authority to:         (a) test employees of such employer in, and

applicants for, positions involving safety‑sensitive duties for the illegal use of drugs and for on‑duty impairment by alcohol; and

(b) remove such persons who test positive for

illegal use of drugs and on‑duty impairment by alcohol pursuant to subparagraph (a) from safety‑sensitive duties in implementing paragraph (3).

(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07.)

    (775 ILCS 5/2‑105)(from Ch. 68, par. 2‑105)
    Sec. 2‑105. Equal Employment Opportunities; Affirmative Action.
    (A) Public Contracts. Every party to a public contract and every eligible bidder shall:
        (1) Refrain from unlawful discrimination and

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