The relationship between Illinois employers and employees has grown increasingly complicated in recent years. Employers need to be prepared to adhere to laws that give employees more protections against harassment, regarding family obligations and personal decisions.
Employees must be aware of how they can pursue employers for allegations of legal violations. State lawmakers are trying to clarify how employers and employees can address these concerns with new proposals. If they pass, it will impact both sides significantly.
Proposed laws would alter workplace standards
The three house bills would dramatically affect employer-employee relations. One bill would give employees who are responsible for caring for a family member more leeway. “Family responsibilities” would be a new category that is intentionally opaque.
It would let people care for a person’s basic needs as well as taking them to medical appointments. It would even include emotional care. Workers could not face retaliation or harassment for this. On the other side of the coin, employers do not need to provide special accommodations to employees in this situation.
A second bill would address harassment and how employers could be found liable for it. If the alleged victim is a person who is not a manager nor a supervisor, a person who is not employed at the job or a third party, the employer would be liable for it if they are aware of it and do not take steps to address it.
Finally, the third bill would add to the ways in which employees are protected from being discriminated against to include decisions they have made regarding reproductive health. This includes contraception, fertility treatments and other complex issues that are currently being debated across the nation.
People should know how about possible employment law changes
These new proposals will significantly alter the workplace and how employers and employees address challenges as they arise. To ensure that everyone is treated fairly, it is wise to understand how the current and possible new employment laws will impact workers. If there are legal disputes or violations, knowing how to proceed with a case is also crucial to ensure fair treatment and hold those who have committed wrongdoing accountable.
