All employers in the State of Illinois should be aware of the updated Illinois Freedom to Work Act (“Act”) that took effect January 1, 2022. The amendments to the Act (which were made during the summer 2021 legislative session) have major consequences for employers who require employees to sign restrictive covenants. (The amendments can be read here.)
The Act’s Amendments
When the Act was originally signed into law in 2016 by former Governor Rauner, the Act prohibited employers from requiring “low-wage employees” to sign restrictive covenants. (In 2016, a “low-wage employee” was defined as any