Illinois Extends Employment Protections to Unpaid Interns

On August 25, 2014, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation (House Bill 4157), amending the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA or Act) to extend the protections of the Act to unpaid interns. Beginning January 1, 2015, unpaid interns in Illinois, meeting the definition of “employee” as set forth in the Act, will be covered under the Act’s unlawful discrimination protections.