ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Workers in Illinois who provide care for their relatives are now protected against employment discrimination, beginning Jan. 1.

Illinois is now one of the few states in the country that provides employment protections for family caregivers.

“Being a caregiver is one of the most important roles a person can take on, and in Illinois, we’re making sure no one is penalized for stepping up for their loved ones,” Governor JB Pritzker said. “With this law, we’re strengthening protections for workers and ensuring caregivers can balance their responsibilities at work and at home.”

Public Act 103-0797 prohibits employers from discriminating against their employees for their family responsibilities. This means that making recruiting, hiring, promotion, training, discipline, or other decisions are prohibited, regarding an employee’s care for a family member.

“Workplace policies should reflect the realities of caregiving and the responsibilities today’s families face,” Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton said. “This law not only provides protections but also recognizes the complex lives of working people and helps create more supportive and compassionate workplaces.”

Covered family members include the employee’s child, stepchild, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, or stepparent.

The personal care covers (but is not limited to):

• Taking a family member to a doctor’s appointment.
• Tending to a family member’s basic medical, hygiene, nutritional, or safety needs.
• Providing emotional support to a family member with a serious health condition who is receiving inpatient or home care.

“At one point or another, almost every worker will need to provide personal care to a family member in need,” Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Director Jim Bennett said. “This law protects employees with family responsibilities from workplace discrimination, ensuring that employment decisions are made on their job performance instead of bias.”