Starting March 2022, Illinois companies must submit Equal Pay Certificates to IDOL.
Recent amendments to the Illinois Equal Pay Act (EPA) take effect this month. Beginning in March, private employers that file EEO-1 reports with the EEOC and that have more than 100 employees in Illinois, must apply for and obtain an equal pay registration certificate from the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL).
The application requires compiling wage and demographic information and certifying in writing there are no pay disparities for minority and female employees.
Companies will receive notices from IDOL setting a deadline for filing their first certificate between March 2022 and March 2024 and will need to re-certify every two years thereafter. Failure to comply can bring fines of up to $10,000.00 per employee.
Illinois employers should consult promptly with their employment lawyers on how best to prepare their applications. In most cases, employers will be well served to conduct confidential, attorney-led audits of their pay practices to analyze and possibly correct for pay disparities ahead of submitting their equal pay certification application to the IDOL. Savine Employment Law, Ltd. can help. Schedule a time to discuss your EPA compliance needs with us.
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Gary Savine is an Illinois employment lawyer and founder of Savine Employment Law, Ltd. in Chicago. Gary regularly advises human resources professionals on recently enacted employment laws.
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