With the start of a new year, a number of new laws went into effect. One of those laws requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, or medical or common conditions associated with pregnancy. To be sure that employees know of these requirements, the amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act also requires employers to add a “Pregnancy and Your Rights in the Workplace” poster to their posting of workplace rules and regulations. The amendments also require employers to include information in their employee handbooks about an employee’s right to request a reasonable accommodation for pregnancy or childbirth. Importantly, these requirements apply broadly, as every employer of one or more employees is covered by the new requirements.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights has created a webpage that summarizes the new law, including the posting requirements and links to the poster and a fact sheet, each of which is available in both English and Spanish.