By: Emily Shupe
On July 31, 2019, Governor Pritzker signed a bill amending the Equal Pay Act. Under the amended law, employers and employment agencies are prohibited from: (1) screening applicants based on current or prior pay and benefit history by requiring that the applicant satisfy minimum or maximum criteria; (2) requesting or requiring applicants to disclose prior pay and benefit history as a condition of being considered for employment; and (3) seeking pay and benefit history from applicants’ current or former employers. However, employers are free to provide applicants with information regarding pay and benefits and engage in discussions with applicants regarding expectations with respect to pay and benefits. Workers may seek up to $10,000 in damages from employers who violate these new provisions of the Act.
The amendment becomes effective on September 29, 2019.
Rathje Woodward advises clients on a broad range of employment and labor matters, including compliance, policies and procedures, internal investigations, administrative proceedings, collective bargaining negotiations and disputes, union avoidance policies and litigation defense. If you have questions about how these new laws may impact your business, contact Emily A. Shupe, Raymond J. Sanguinetti, Mark J. McAndrew, or John R. Zemenak at 630-668-8500.
For more information regarding Rathje Woodward’s employment practice and its attorneys, please visit www.rathjelaw.com.