Governor Pritzker has signed the Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act. In doing so, Illinois has followed Rhode Island and Philadelphia, in including menopause-related conditions as a protected status under the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
The law will become effective on January 1, 2027, amending the state anti-discrimination law to prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of “menopause-related conditions” and requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with such conditions.
Employers must inform employees of their rights relating to accommodations through workplace postings and employee policies. This Act comes on the heels of increased protection in various states for employees from discrimination based on personal reproductive health choices, mandated paid leave for prenatal care, and other areas of women’s health.
