The New Illinois Pregnancy Discrimination Law

Guide to the new Illinois Pregnancy Discrimination Law that becomes effective on January 1, 2015.

1. New Illinois Pregnancy Discrimination Law: Coverage

   The new Illinois pregnancy discrimination law is an amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act. The new law establishes pregnancy as an independent legally protected classification. It protects pregnant employees from discrimination and extends to pregnancy-related conditions and childbirth.

2. New Illinois Pregnancy Discrimination Law: Prohibitions

   The new Illinois pregnancy discrimination law prohibits employment discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions. Illinois employers may not terminate the employment of or take other adverse job action against employees because of their pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions.

3. New Illinois Pregnancy Discrimination Law: Requirements

   The new Illinois pregnancy discrimination law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees for pregnancy or conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth. These reasonable accommodation requirements are independent from and in addition to disability-related accommodation requirements under disability discrimination law. The reasonable accommodations required by the new Illinois pregnancy discrimination law are broad and include a wide range of accommodations. Examples include, but are not limited to, leave of absence with reinstatement, job modification, schedule changes, assistance with physical work, reduced hours, flexible time-off, and private breast-feeding space.

4. New Illinois Pregnancy Discrimination Law: Retaliation

   The new Illinois pregnancy discrimination law contains its own independent anti-retaliation provision. Illinois employers may not terminate the employment of or take other adverse job action against employees in retaliation for requesting reasonable accommodation, otherwise exercising their rights, or complaining about the violation of their rights, under the new Illinois pregnancy discrimination law.

5. New Illinois Pregnancy Discrimination Law: Remedies

   The new Illinois pregnancy discrimination law provides the legal and equitable remedies available under the Illinois Human Rights Act. These include, but are not limited to, back pay, lost wages, compensatory damages for emotional distress, reasonable attorneys' fees, litigation costs, and reinstatement of employment.