The state of Illinois has quietly loaded up an arsenal of employment statutes effective from January 1, 2027. There are three colossal shifts taking place that will affect employers and employees.
Starting January 1, 2027, Illinois employers will face significant challenges under three news state statutes. The Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act expects employers to finally accommodate hot flashes instead of firing women. Then comes House Bill 4844 is a new legal mandate that mid- and large-sized employers must follow when their employee is on jury duty service. Lastly, House Bill 4758 puts a ban on driver’s license requirements in job postings unless driving is an essential part of the job function. Here’s all employers in Illinois need to know about the new mandates.
Employers shouldn’t wait until January 1, 2027 to deal with the upcoming changes.
Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act
The Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act, which will be officially amended under Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) comes as a relief for thousands of workers. The state of Illinois has formally defined “menopause-related conditions” to cover perimenopause, menopause as well as associated medical or symptomatic conditions that include sleep disruption, cognitive or mood changes, and osteoporosis-related changes.
The Act’s definition of pregnancy has also been expanded to include pregnancy, childbirth, or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, including menopause-related conditions.
In addition, the Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act’s list of reasonable accommodations will include menopause-related accommodations such as flexible scheduling or modified work hours, temperature or climate-adjusted workspace.
Paid Jury Duty Leave
Under House Bill 4844, the Illinois Jury Act and Jury Commission, employers with 25 or more employees are now required to pay employee their regular rate of pay for time spent serving jury duty. Small companies i.e., employers will 25 or fewer workers can still provide unpaid leave.
House Bill 4758 and Job Postings
For the longest time, hiring managers have slapped the phrase “Must possess a driver’s license” onto job descriptions even if the role doesn’t require the employee to drive on the job. Under House Bill 4758, employers are barred from including a driver’s license requirement in job postings unless driving is an essential function of the role.
If an employer requires it, the job listing must explicitly explain why.
What’s our verdict?
Employers shouldn’t wait until January 1, 2027 to deal with the upcoming changes. HR professionals are advised to update their employee handbooks, workplace job postings, accommodation policies, and even the hiring templates in advance. All the upcoming bills will take real effort, a bit of money and some serious operation changes. It’s best to be prepared before the new Year rolls over.
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