Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA)
We’re now turning from federal laws to state law, and to one very important Illinois law in particular.
The Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) prohibits discrimination in Illinois with respect to employment, financial credit, public accommodations, housing and sexual harassment, as well as sexual harassment in education.
The Act prohibits discrimination in employment as well as harassment across a very broad range of protected categories. Generally speaking, the standards set forth by the State of Illinois are more stringent than the federal standards regarding sexual harassment.
Harassment claims brought under the IHRA are investigated by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).