As a reminder for Illinois employers that The Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) was amended to include a new category called “Family Responsibilities” on January 1, 2025.

• The law defines family responsibilities as an employee’s actual or perceived provision of personal care to a family member, referencing the Illinois Employee Sick Leave Act for definitions.

• Covered family members include children, stepchildren, spouses, domestic partners, siblings, parents, in-laws, grandchildren, grandparents, and stepparents. Personal care involves taking family members to doctor appointments, tending to their medical, hygiene, nutritional, or safety needs, and providing emotional support.

Employees with family responsibilities are protected from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation if they report such discrimination.

• Employers are not required to make accommodations or modifications to reasonable workplace rules based on family responsibilities as long as these rules comply with the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA).

Employers should review and update their policies, if they have not done so, to ensure they do not discriminate based on familial responsibilities.

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