On January 1, 2025, the new requirements under the Illinois Equal Pay Act came into effect. Under this Act, employers with 15 or more employees are now mandated to include the pay scale and benefits for job positions that are performed in Illinois or for positions performed outside of Illinois if the employee reports to an office or supervisor located in Illinois.

The definition of pay scale and benefits encompasses the wage or wage range along with a general description of all benefits and other compensation associated with the position. This includes bonuses, stock options and any other incentives that the employer anticipates offering.

Employers are also required to post or announce all opportunities for promotion to current employees within 14 calendar days of making an external job posting for the position.

If an employer uses a third party, such as a recruiter, to post or publish its job positions, the employer must provide the pay scale and benefit information to the third party to ensure it is displayed. Both the employer and the third party are held liable for any failure to include the necessary pay scale and benefits information.

Penalties for failing to include the pay scale and benefits in job postings range from $500 to $10,000, depending on the offense. These new requirements apply to all job postings published or announced after January 1, 2025.