The Chicago City Council enacted amendments to the City’s Human Rights Ordinance that take effect July 1, 2022. The amendments:

  • Expand the definitions of the sexual harassment and sexual orientation;
  • Require new written policy and notice content;
  • Require more extensive harassment training;
  • Establish a longer statute of limitations for employees to file complaints under the City’s Human Rights Ordinance and a longer period for the Commission to notify employers of such complaints; and
  • Impose new penalties for failing to comply with notice, posting, and training requirements and steeper penalties for remaining provisions of violating the Human Rights Ordinance.

The City’s Ordinance applies to companies employing at least one employee within the city. Therefore, the amendments apply to virtually every Chicago employer.

Continue reading the full GT Alert.

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Photo of Lily M. McNulty‡ Lily M. McNulty‡

Lily is a trusted advisor to companies of all sizes in the areas of employment law and labor relations. She takes great pride in building relationships with clients and providing practical, strategic advice. Clients value her knowledge of employment laws and commitment to

Lily is a trusted advisor to companies of all sizes in the areas of employment law and labor relations. She takes great pride in building relationships with clients and providing practical, strategic advice. Clients value her knowledge of employment laws and commitment to their business goals, improving employee relations, and minimizing legal risk.

Lily provides compliance-related and strategic advice on virtually all employment related matters such as managing employee relations and performance, complying with wage and hour laws, conducting background checks, complying with pre-employment laws relating to requesting criminal history and salary information, drug and alcohol tests, assessing reasonable accommodations, complying with pregnancy and disability discrimination laws, administering leaves of absences and sick leave, FMLA usage, proper employee classification, severance packages and separation agreements, employment agreements, reductions in force, non-competition agreements, complying with a myriad of discrimination and harassment laws, and a variety of other employment-related topics. Lily also works closely with clients to draft and implement human resources systems, audits, and handbooks designed to foster positive employee relations and comply with employment laws.

When allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or unfair treatment arise, clients often call upon Lily to conduct investigations and resolve employee complaints. Lily also regularly provides trainings to workforces on a range of employment-related topics such as maintaining discrimination and harassment-free workplaces, effective documentation and discipline, positive employee relations, background check best practices, and avoiding wage and hour pitfalls.

When a union is involved, Lily advises employers on a wide spectrum of labor relations matters, including handling employee grievances, managing employee performance, and responding to union organizing campaigns. She also negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of employers, represents employers in arbitrations arising under such agreements, and she defends employers in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

When clients are involved in litigation, Lily represents clients against charges of discrimination filed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state agencies, and against wage claims filed at the Department of Labor (DOL). She has obtained many dismissals on behalf of her clients. In addition, Lily has experience representing employers in state and federal lawsuits involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) violations. She calls on this experience when counseling clients.

Photo of Howard L. Mocerf Howard L. Mocerf

Howard L. Mocerf focuses his practice on labor law and management employment matters, including collective bargaining, representation and unfair labor practice matters under The National Labor Relations Act, labor arbitration, OSHA matters, wage and hour disputes, trade secrets and non-compete agreements, and employment…

Howard L. Mocerf focuses his practice on labor law and management employment matters, including collective bargaining, representation and unfair labor practice matters under The National Labor Relations Act, labor arbitration, OSHA matters, wage and hour disputes, trade secrets and non-compete agreements, and employment discrimination matters. He is experienced in developing and writing employee handbooks, affirmative action plans and employment policies, including harassment, substance abuse, social media, e-mail and Internet use, family and medical leave, and others.