The State of Illinois recently updated its mandatory labor law posting and introduced a new notice requirement for most state employers. The Illinois Department of Labor revised the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) notice, and a 2025 law adds a separate notice on employer-sponsored meetings. Both are now included in the updated State of Illinois labor law poster.
What Changed on the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act Poster?
The revised Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) poster now emphasizes that employers must maintain the confidentiality of all information related to an employee’s use of VESSA leave. The confidentiality requirements on the poster appear in section 820 ILCS 180/30(d) of the Illinois Combined Statutes.
VESSA provides several rights and protections to employees who experience domestic violence or other types of criminal violence and those employees who have a family or household member who has experienced such violence. Rights and benefits for eligible employees under VESSA include unpaid job-protected leave, reasonable accommodation, and protection from discrimination or retaliation. Based on the employer's size, affected employees can take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for medical treatment, legal assistance, counseling, or safety planning.
What is the New Employer Sponsored Meetings Notice Requirement?
On January 1st, 2025, the Illinois Worker Freedom of Speech Act took effect. This new law, also known as SB 3649 or 820 ILCS 57, prohibits employers from requiring employees to attend employer-sponsored "captive audience" meetings about religious or political topics. The law specifically prohibits retaliation against employees who refuse to participate in such meetings or report a violation of the Act. It also prohibits employer from providing rewards or incentives for attendance or using potential disciplinary action to encourage employee attendance. Lastly, the Act's requirements protect employee rights to refuse to listen to or receive digital or audio communications from the employer regarding political or religious matters.
Under the Act, as of February 1st, employers must post an employee notice about the law's provisions where notices to employees are commonly displayed. Since the state of Illinois has not yet published a model template or official notice, employers must obtain or create a notice that meets the law's requirements. Violations of the Illinois Worker Freedom of Speech Act can result in private lawsuits and/or penalties of $1,000 per violation imposed by the Illinois Department of Labor.
Employer Takeaways
Illinois employers must post the revised VESSA notice in an area frequented by employees during the typical workday. Meanwhile, employers in the state must also post a written notice of employee rights regarding employer-sponsored “captive audience” meetings. While there has been no formal announcement regarding the Illinois Worker Freedom of Speech Act, Labor Law Posters Online has created Illinois labor law posters to support compliance with the anticipated posting requirements.
Our revised 2025 Illinois State & Federal Labor Law Poster now includes both notices. This up-to-date compliance poster solution is guaranteed to include all recent revisions to required Illinois and federal posters. Existing subscribers who purchased our Illinois Poster Update Program will automatically receive the revised postings as part of their annual subscription.
