Illinois Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Extends Protections Against Sexual Harassment to Domestic Workers

On August 12, 2016, Governor Rauner signed the Illinois Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights into law, which becomes effective on January 1, 2017. This new Illinois employment law amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to extend its protections against sexual harassment and other forms of employment discrimination to domestic workers in Illinois who work more than 8 hours per week in the aggregate, including nannies, housekeepers, private caregivers, and other domestic workers. Before the amendment, domestic workers were excluded from coverage under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

The new law also amends three other Illinois employment laws to extend the scope of their coverage to domestic workers: the Illinois Minimum Wage Law, the Illinois One Day Rest in Seven Act, and the Illinois Wages of Women and Minors Act.