SB0778 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 06201 WGH 38470 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB0778

Introduced 2/18/2005, by Sen. Kathleen L. Wojcik

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

820 ILCS 112/40

Amends provisions of the Equal Pay Act of 2003 requiring employers covered by the Act to post a notice, prepared or approved by the Director, summarizing the requirements of the Act and information pertaining to the filing of a charge. Adds language providing that a notice with specified contents is in compliance with that requirement. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning employment.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Equal Pay Act of 2003 is amended by changing Section 40 as follows:

(820 ILCS 112/40)

Sec. 40. Notification.

(a) Every employer covered by this Act shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places on the premises of the employer where notices to employees are customarily posted, a notice, to be prepared or approved by the Director, or that is substantially similar to the notice in subsection (b), summarizing the requirements of this Act and information pertaining to the filing of a charge. The Director shall furnish copies of summaries and rules to employers upon request without charge.

(b) A notice that is substantially similar to the following text that does not contain any other text or graphics, other than the State seal, shall be deemed to be in compliance with subsection (a):

"ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

NOTICE TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES -

REQUIRED POSTING - Employers are required to post this notice

in a conspicuous place for all employees.

EQUAL PAY ACT of 2003

(P.A. 93-6) Effective Date: January 1, 2004

The Equal Pay Act prohibits employers with four or more employees from paying unequal wages to men and women for doing the same or substantially similar work, requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility, under similar working conditions for the same employer in the same county, except if the wage difference is based upon a seniority system, a merit system, a system measuring earnings by quantity or quality of production, or factors other than gender.

Employers are prohibited from remedying violations of this Act by reducing the wages of other employees. Employers are also prohibited from discharging or otherwise discriminating against any employee exercising his/her rights under this Act. Employers found to be in violation of this Act will be required to make up the wage difference to the employee, and may pay legal costs and be subject to civil fines of up to $2,500 per violation.

The Equal Pay Act covers wage discrimination based upon gender. If you feel you have been discriminated against based upon other factors, please contact the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

For more information, contact the Illinois Department of Labor (insert here the address and telephone number of the Illinois Department of Labor)".

(Source: P.A. 93-6, eff. 1-1-04.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.