New Illinois statute protects pregnant women and new mothers form workplace discrimination.

Effective January 1, 2015, pregnant women and new mothers have sweeping news protections from discrimination in hiring and in the workplace. In a major shift, the Pregnancy Fairness Law (“Act”), 775 ILCS 5/1-103(L-5), amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to now include pregnancy as a protected class for purposes of workplace discrimination based upon a medical condition or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth. Notably, all employers are covered, and the Act specifically covers both pregnancy and post-childbirth discrimination. In order to be compliant, employers to now must provide a range of accommodations to pregnant employees where those accommodations do not pose an undue hardship to the employer. And employers must obtain and post certain notices regarding the new Act and employees’ rights.

Call us today to verify whether your employment practices comply with this new statute and other Illinois and federal employment regulations.

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Charles Wentworth

Shareholder at Lofgren & Wentworth, P.C.

Charles is an attorney in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.After graduating from the University of Utah, he clerked for Chief Justice John T. Broderick of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. He then became a litigation associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP before opening his own office and partnering with Rick Lofgren. He lives just outside of Chicago, where he participates in community activities, including Boy Scouts and little-league baseball.

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Charles Wentworth

Charles is an attorney in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After graduating from the University of Utah, he clerked for Chief Justice John T. Broderick of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. He then became a litigation associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP before opening his own office and partnering with Rick Lofgren. He lives just outside of Chicago, where he participates in community activities, including Boy Scouts and little-league baseball.