{"id":12662,"date":"2026-07-30T06:22:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=12662"},"modified":"2026-10-09T09:16:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T14:16:59","slug":"employee-discipline-in-illinois","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/","title":{"rendered":"Employee discipline: Illinois"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f85887e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-929090b5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a4641b2f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">by <strong>Stuart R. Buttrick, Taylor L. Lindauer, Lindsey M. Hogan, Alexander E. Preller, Stacey Smiricky and Aaron T. Vance<\/strong>, Faegre Drinker Biddle &amp; Reath LLP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-summary\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide provides an overview of laws relevant to employee discipline in Illinois, including specific requirements for investigations; employee privacy and confidentiality protections; and handling disciplinary situations involving protected leaves of absence and protected activities. It also covers potential claims such as defamation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-in-this-guide-learn-about\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this guide, learn about:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">The process of discipline\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Communicating expectations for workplace conduct<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">When to investigate employee behavior in advance of discipline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Privacy concerns in investigations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Polygraph or lie detector tests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Restrictions on recording conversations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Specific discipline situations\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Attendance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Breach of fiduciary duty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Misappropriation of trade secrets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Employee inventions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Discipline considerations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Treatment of employees who have engaged in protected activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Discipline regarding guns in the workplace<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Defamation avoidance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Confidentiality of disciplinary communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">False imprisonment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Freelance Worker Protection Act<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Health Care Right of Conscience Act<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Disciplining employees with drug and alcohol addictions\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Marijuana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Local requirements\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Chicago Hotel Worker Harassment Ordinance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Chicago Worker Protections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Evanston Fair Workweek Ordinance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Future developments\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-want-to-see-more\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to see more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For full access to <strong>Employee discipline: Illinois<\/strong>, sign up for an HR and Compliance Center subscription today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=hrcc-migrated-resource|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<p style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jurisdiction: Illinois<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1b31d3a2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:1rem;padding-top:15px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 id=\"h-latest-updates\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Latest updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Updated to reflect whistleblower protections for employees who disclose certain constitutional violations, effective December 9, 2025, and retaliation protections for employees who use employer-issued equipment to record certain domestic and sexual violence incidents, effective January 1, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-22a7c014 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get ahead of HR compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Navigating today\u2019s complex HR compliance landscape is challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get ahead with Brightmine. Access HR resources and automation tools managed by seasoned human HR experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/us\/products\/hr-compliance-center\/#lexisnexis\">Proudly partnered with LexisNexis<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6ee76cfc wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"166\" height=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/16090337\/LexisNexis-logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9646\" style=\"width:auto;height:35px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=cta|blog|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-64c039dc wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-secondary-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read more articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-a7dce961 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-18239 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-blogs topic-ai-in-hr topic-hr-future\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/hr-future\/the-great-disconnect-ai-and-transparency-in-the-workplace\/\" target=\"_self\" >AI and transparency in the workplace: Employees can challenge decisions faster<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-18257 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-hr-news topic-employment-law-updates topic-immigration\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/immigration\/fee-planned-for-f-1-students-applying-for-optional-practical-training\/\" target=\"_self\" >$70,000 fee planned for F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-18254 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-c-and-i topic-ai-in-hr topic-discrimination topic-labor-relations\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/discrimination\/thou-shalt-not-use-chatgpt-handling-religious-objections-to-ai-at-work\/\" target=\"_self\" >Thou shalt not use ChatGPT? Handling religious objections to AI at work<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f85887e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 id=\"h-you-may-also-be-interested-in\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-elements-52b6fe3587306dc2618dd319ed2d805e wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-black-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter   \">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_right\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"loader-container\">\n\t\t<span class=\"loader\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-filter-widget__container\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/hr-future\/the-great-disconnect-ai-and-transparency-in-the-workplace\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/07135053\/TGD-blog-5-image.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"sync\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/lnrs-resources-filter\/assets\/images\/category-flag.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Blogs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/hr-future\/the-great-disconnect-ai-and-transparency-in-the-workplace\/\">AI and transparency in the workplace: Employees can challenge decisions faster<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #202526\">AI and transparency are making it easier for employees and applicants to identify, document and challenge inconsistent workplace &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/immigration\/fee-planned-for-f-1-students-applying-for-optional-practical-training\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/22195516\/immigration-news-feature-image.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"sync\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/lnrs-resources-filter\/assets\/images\/category-flag.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">HR News<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/immigration\/fee-planned-for-f-1-students-applying-for-optional-practical-training\/\">$70,000 fee planned for F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #202526\">The Trump administration is proposing a $70,000 fee for foreign students entering the F-1 Optional Practical Training program, &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/discrimination\/thou-shalt-not-use-chatgpt-handling-religious-objections-to-ai-at-work\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/16013210\/Feature-manager-on-a-computer.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"sync\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/lnrs-resources-filter\/assets\/images\/category-flag.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Commentary and Insights<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/discrimination\/thou-shalt-not-use-chatgpt-handling-religious-objections-to-ai-at-work\/\">Thou shalt not use ChatGPT? Handling religious objections to AI at work<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #202526\">As AI becomes more common in the workplace, employers may encounter employees who object to its use on &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-46e34cbb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9f6a5453 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 id=\"h-topics-on-this-page\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Topics on this page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-topic has-link-color wp-elements-5ec59eb01c09ec2f1d84a6b36973ff83 wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/disciplinary\/\" rel=\"tag\">Disciplinary action &amp; investigations<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/\" rel=\"tag\">State-by-state compliance<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-about-the-author-0\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-primary-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5c3cd8cd46aea021b5432969705cd766 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-929090b5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/06\/29074307\/male-speaker-author-avatar.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15353\" style=\"border-radius:25px;object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Faegre Drinker Biddle &amp; Reath LLP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.faegredrinker.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Faegre Drinker Biddle &amp; Reath<\/a>&nbsp;is an international law firm headquartered in the United States with locations from coast to coast and in the United Kingdom and China. They have a broad range of practice areas and support various industries such as financial services, technology and health and life sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faegre Drinker has an extensive&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.faegredrinker.com\/en\/services\/services\/labor--employment#!#tab-Overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">labor and employment practice<\/a>&nbsp;that helps employers manage the employment relationship and comply with labor and employment laws and regulations. Their areas of expertise include HR and compliance, litigation, immigration and global mobility, labor relations and workforce safety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide provides an overview of Illinois laws relevant to employee discipline, including investigation requirements, employee privacy and confidentiality protections, and discipline issues involving protected leaves of absence and protected activities, as well as potential employer liability risks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":12665,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[118],"tags":[],"topic":[80,77],"class_list":["post-12662","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-law-guides","topic-disciplinary","topic-state-compliance"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Employee discipline: Illinois | Brightmine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about Illinois employee discipline laws, including investigation requirements, privacy protections, handling protected activities and leave, defamation risks, and local compliance obligations\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Employee discipline: Illinois\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about Illinois employee discipline laws, including investigation requirements, privacy protections, handling protected activities and leave, defamation risks, and local compliance obligations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Brightmine US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-09T14:16:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/29061504\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"627\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@WeAreBrightmine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jake Orlando\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/370a5c75c190f8bca0f95327513bba8d\"},\"headline\":\"Employee discipline: Illinois\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-30T11:22:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-09T14:16:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":279,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cjp-rbi-brightmine.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/29061504\\\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"HR law guides\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/\",\"name\":\"Employee discipline: Illinois | Brightmine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cjp-rbi-brightmine.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/29061504\\\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-30T11:22:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-09T14:16:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn about Illinois employee discipline laws, including investigation requirements, privacy protections, handling protected activities and leave, defamation risks, and local compliance obligations\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cjp-rbi-brightmine.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/29061504\\\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cjp-rbi-brightmine.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/29061504\\\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":627,\"caption\":\"New workspace\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"HR compliance\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"State-by-state compliance\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/resources\\\/hr-compliance\\\/state-compliance\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Employee discipline: Illinois\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/\",\"name\":\"Brightmine\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Brightmine\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cjp-rbi-brightmine.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/07042311\\\/Brightmine-logo_Full-color_Primary.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cjp-rbi-brightmine.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/07042311\\\/Brightmine-logo_Full-color_Primary.webp\",\"width\":1941,\"height\":508,\"caption\":\"Brightmine\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/WeAreBrightmine\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/brightmine\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@WeAreBrightmine\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/370a5c75c190f8bca0f95327513bba8d\",\"name\":\"Jake Orlando\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6cad3b0b0caf6c78c79c48f8191378fb16f1acafc3db8530fdaaa25c9fabd4d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6cad3b0b0caf6c78c79c48f8191378fb16f1acafc3db8530fdaaa25c9fabd4d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6cad3b0b0caf6c78c79c48f8191378fb16f1acafc3db8530fdaaa25c9fabd4d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jake Orlando\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.brightmine.com\\\/us\\\/author\\\/jake-orlando\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Employee discipline: Illinois | Brightmine","description":"Learn about Illinois employee discipline laws, including investigation requirements, privacy protections, handling protected activities and leave, defamation risks, and local compliance obligations","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Employee discipline: Illinois","og_description":"Learn about Illinois employee discipline laws, including investigation requirements, privacy protections, handling protected activities and leave, defamation risks, and local compliance obligations","og_url":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/","og_site_name":"Brightmine US","article_modified_time":"2026-10-09T14:16:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":627,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/29061504\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@WeAreBrightmine","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/"},"author":{"name":"Jake Orlando","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/370a5c75c190f8bca0f95327513bba8d"},"headline":"Employee discipline: Illinois","datePublished":"2026-07-30T11:22:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-09T14:16:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/"},"wordCount":279,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/29061504\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp","articleSection":["HR law guides"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/","url":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/","name":"Employee discipline: Illinois | Brightmine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/29061504\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp","datePublished":"2026-07-30T11:22:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-09T14:16:59+00:00","description":"Learn about Illinois employee discipline laws, including investigation requirements, privacy protections, handling protected activities and leave, defamation risks, and local compliance obligations","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/29061504\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/29061504\/New-workspace-1200x627-1.webp","width":1200,"height":627,"caption":"New workspace"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/employee-discipline-in-illinois\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"HR compliance","item":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"State-by-state compliance","item":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Employee discipline: Illinois"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/","name":"Brightmine","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#organization","name":"Brightmine","url":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/07042311\/Brightmine-logo_Full-color_Primary.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/07042311\/Brightmine-logo_Full-color_Primary.webp","width":1941,"height":508,"caption":"Brightmine"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/WeAreBrightmine","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/brightmine\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@WeAreBrightmine"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/370a5c75c190f8bca0f95327513bba8d","name":"Jake Orlando","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6cad3b0b0caf6c78c79c48f8191378fb16f1acafc3db8530fdaaa25c9fabd4d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6cad3b0b0caf6c78c79c48f8191378fb16f1acafc3db8530fdaaa25c9fabd4d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6cad3b0b0caf6c78c79c48f8191378fb16f1acafc3db8530fdaaa25c9fabd4d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jake Orlando"},"url":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/author\/jake-orlando\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/12662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12662"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/12662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18622,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/12662\/revisions\/18622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12662"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=12662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}