Illinois Extends Protection coming in January
Illinois Extends Employment Discrimination Protection.
Effective January 1, 2010, the protections offered to individuals under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), 775 ILCS 5/1-101, et seq., will be extended to protect individuals from unlawful discrimination based on their “order of protection status,” in addition to the current protected classification of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, and unfavorable discharge from military service. The amendment to the IHRA defines the term “order of protection status” to mean “a person's status as being a person protected under an order of protection issued pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 or an order of protection issued by a court of another state.” 775 ILCS 5/1-103 (K-5) (as amended). Therefore, beginning January 1, 2010, it will be unlawful for any Illinois employer with 15 or more employees to take an adverse employment action against an individual possessing an order of protection based solely upon the fact that the employee possesses an order of protection.