As of January 1, 2020, Illinois employers are required to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. Compliance must be achieved by December 31 every year.

Restaurants and bars are also required to provide supplemental sexual harassment prevention training to all employees, regardless of employment classification.

What Restaurants and Bars Need to Know

• Businesses may use their own internal program if it meets mandated minimum training standards.

• Approved online training is also available at ServSafe.com .

• Free online training for restaurants and bars is also available in English and Spanish on the  Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) website.

• Proof of training must be provided upon request from IDHR.

• Records should include the names of employees trained, the training date, sign-in sheets, copies of certificates of participation, and a copy of all written or recorded materials that comprise the training, as well as the name of the training provider, if applicable.

• Records may be paper-based, or electronic.

• In addition to the training requirement, employers must also establish a written sexual harassment prevention policy available in English and Spanish, and provide a copy to all employees within the first calendar week of employment.

• The policy may be included in the company handbook, or distributed as a separate document.

• Employees should acknowledge receipt of the policy with their signature.

• The IRA has developed a policy template which has been vetted by our attorneys, and is available to download in English and Spanish on our website.

Enforcement

Enforcement of the new law is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Human Rights, and compliance inspections will be triggered by complaints filed with the Department. Proof of sexual harassment prevention training must be provided upon request from the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Businesses out of compliance will be given 30 days to comply, or face civil penalties ranging from $500-$1,000 for the first offense.

FAQ

Click here to review the FAQ on the law from the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).

Additional Questions

Contact Mary Wilkie, IRA Director of Education, at (312) 380-4121 or mwilkie@illinoisrestaurants.org with any questions.