The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois have recently amended a number of employment laws. These amendments include: adjustments to Chicago’s Human Rights Ordinance addressing sexual harassment; increased penalties under the One Day Rest in Seven Act (“ODRISA”); and expanded leave rights under the Family Bereavement Leave Act. A brief summary of these changes and their practical implications follows.

Amendments to the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance

On April 27, 2022, the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance imposing significant compliance obligations on employers in the city effective on July 1, 2022. The ordinance amends definitions under the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance and requires employers to engage in training and other outreach to employees regarding sexual harassment.

Altered Definitions

The ordinance redefines various terms throughout the Human Rights Ordinance. The changes include:

• Expanding the definition of “Sexual Harassment” to include “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature” and “sexual misconduct,” which is further defined as “any behavior of a sexual nature which also involves coercion, abuse of authority, or misuse of any individual’s employment position;” and
• Altering the definition of “Sexual Orientation” from “the actual or perceived state of heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality,” to “a person’s actual or perceived sexual and emotional attraction, or lack thereof, to another person.”

New Compliance Obligations

The ordinance...

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