Illinois is set to join the growing list of US states further protecting the rights of workers who have experienced sexual harassment, with the recently passed Workplace Transparency Act (WTA), which is expected to be signed by Governor JB Pritzker and which will largely take effect on January 1, 2020.
The WTA addresses many aspects of workplace discrimination and harassment, such as limiting non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses, excluding certain claims from forced arbitration, mandating sexual harassment training and reporting, and broadening the scope of the worker protections against discrimination and harassment.
Many of the new limitations and obligations under the WTA mirror legislation recently passed in New York and California.
Illinois employers should be aware of these new requirements that should take effect in 2020.