HB 8, which would add pregnancy as a protected class under the Illinois Human Rights Act, passed the Illinois House 65-36-1.
NFIB/Illinois opposes the bill because it leaves business owners open to increased litigation if they fail to provide a “reasonable accommodation” to an employee based on conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth. This would include part-time, full-time, or probationary employees.
Under current law, a pregnant worker who has a difficult pregnancy is already afforded rights and “reasonable accommodations” if the employer has afforded those same accommodations to another employee under the American with Disabilities Act.
NFIB is concerned this new right will drag small employers into providing more time off than required right now. The federal Family & Medical Leave Act requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.
HB 8 provides leave rights to all employees beyond FMLA and this could be devastating to small employers. Under HB 8 the definition of “reasonable accommodation” includes “time off to recover from childbirth; and leave.”
The bill now moves to the Senate. Please call your State Senator and tell them you OPPOSE HB 8.