New Illinois Ban the Box Law: Employment Law Manual and Chart Updated

Authors: David B. Weisenfeld, Melissa A. Silver and Beth P. Zoller, XpertHR Legal Editors

Illinois has enacted the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, which will ban private employers with 15 or more employees as well as employment agencies from asking criminal history questions on job applications. Employers may not be able to make a criminal history inquiry until after a candidate has been selected for an interview or, if there is not an interview, after a conditional employment offer has been made. This new law will take effect January 1, 2015.

The following state sections of the Employment Law Manual have been updated to reflect this development:

The Quick Reference chart Ban the Box Laws by State and Municipality and Legal Timetable have also been updated.