Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination in Illinois
Length
Employees: 1 Hour; Supervisors and Managers: 2 Hours
Course Type
Meets Workplace Transparency Act (formerly Illinois Human Rights Act) IHRA Public Act 101-0221; Mobile Friendly
Audience
All Employees
Empower Your
Workforce
Illinois Harassment & Discrimination Training - One Course, Compliant in All 50 States
Stay fully compliant with the Workplace Transparency Act (IHRA Public Act 101-0221) while building a culture of civility and accountability. SHIFT HR Compliance Training’s interactive Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination in course equips Illinois employees and supervisors with practical tools to prevent, identify, and address harassment and discrimination to turn mandatory compliance into a stronger, healthier workplace.
This interactive, Illinois-compliant course is tailored for both employees and supervisors. Through realistic scenarios and actionable tools, learners gain the skills to identify, prevent, address, and report harassment and discrimination to transform compliance into the foundation for a healthier, more engaged workplace culture.
For answers to common questions about Illinois harassment prevention training requirements, visit our FAQ in Illinois section.
One Program. Every Location. Total Compliance.
SHIFT HR Compliance Training’s streamlined course design replaces a patchwork of state and country courses with one comprehensive harassment prevention program, saving time, reducing administrative burden, and delivering learning that resonates across every location.
Comprehensive U.S. compliance, including federal, state and local mandates
Global coverage via core international course also available, plus country-specific versions for Canada, the UK, Australia, and India, and industry-specific versions for retail, healthcare, and manufacturing and trade
Role-based tracks and adaptive technology to deliver the right content to the right person in the right place
SHIFT HR Compliance Training’s legal experts confirm that this course complies with current applicable law, including global, federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws and any state or local mandatory training requirements. The course has also been reviewed for compliance with the government’s relevant Executive Orders.
Course content will continue to be reviewed and will be updated if necessary to ensure all materials accurately reflect current applicable law.
The Workplace Transparency Act (formerly Illinois Human Rights Act), enacted as Illinois Public Act 101-0221, aims to strengthen protections against workplace discrimination and harassment. Effective January 1, 2020, the WTA prohibits employers from including non-negotiable confidentiality, nondisparagement, or mandatory arbitration clauses in employment agreements or settlement contracts that would prevent employees from reporting unlawful conduct. It also mandates annual sexual harassment prevention training for all employees and requires employers to report harassment claims to the Illinois Department of Human Rights. The Act applies to all employers with employees in Illinois and is designed to foster transparency and accountability in the workplace.
This act is designed to create safer, more accountable workplaces in Illinois. For more details, visit our FAQ section.
SHIFT HR Compliance Training’s Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination course equips Illinois employees and supervisors with the tools they need to foster a respectful, inclusive environment. Through interactive, real-world scenarios and current workplace issues, learners gain practical strategies to recognize, prevent, respond to, and report inappropriate behavior—empowering them to be part of the solution.
- Identify unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, and develop effective strategies to prevent, address, and respond to them
- Recognize inappropriate behavior early and understand how to safely intervene and report concerns
- Clarify the difference between intent and impact to better assess workplace conduct before lines are crossed
- Empower employees with bystander intervention skills and proactive prevention techniques
- Reinforce learning through storytelling and real-life scenarios that drive sustainable behavior change, supported by positive feedback and coaching
Our streamlined course design allows learners in the US to take ONE course and self-select the location(s) they work and manage in, while also helping administrators easily track the training employees completed.
Intuitive design allows course to dynamically adjust to mandated time requirements.
Download our US State Mandate Guide.
Global coverage via core international course, plus country-specific versions for Canada, the UK, Australia, and India, and industry-specific versions for retail, healthcare, and manufacturing and trade.
The Reality of Harassment and Discrimination
SHIFT HR Compliance Training can help you protect your employees, your customers, and your bottom line
Paid annually by employers in EEOC settlements
Lost over five years due to turnover caused by toxic workplace cultures
Average spent to defend a single harassment or discrimination lawsuit
Course Details
| Format | Self-paced eLearning with interactive scenarios and reflection points; compliant with Workplace Transparency Act (formerly Illinois Human Rights Act) IHRA Public Act 101-0221 |
| Duration | Employees: At least 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training annually; Supervisors and Managers: At least 2 hours of sexual harassment prevention training annually |
| Languages | English and Spanish (others available upon request) |
| Certification | Instant certificate download |
| Accessibility | WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, screen-reader compatible, closed captions included |
| Flexible Delivery Options | SCORM-ready training, hosted by SHIFT or on your LMS |
| Customization | Turnkey branding options |
| White Glove Implementation | Dedicated Project Manager
|
SHIFT Your Expectations of Compliance Training
Stop settling for boring training that’s in one ear and out the other – discover innovative training solutions that drive lasting behavior change and business growth.
Why SHIFT HR Compliance Training
Minimize your risk exposure with training built by top-rate employment law attorneys with deep expertise in state, federal, and global mandates.
Boost course completion and knowledge retention with engaging and interactive training designed by subject matter experts.
Achieve lasting change with empathy-based training that shifts mindsets and behavior, with additional learning resources for reinforcement.
Stay protected against emerging risks with courses that evolve alongside shifting workplace challenges, new regulations, and timely issues.
The industry's most advanced customization makes it easy to tailor content to your brand, your people, and your policy, driving greater employee buy-in and organizational impact.
Save valuable time and resources with our dedicated support team, ensuring a smooth and seamless implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to consider when choosing the right Harassment & Discrimination Training in Illinois
The Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (WTA), enacted as Public Act 101-0221, significantly amends the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) to enhance protections against workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Signed into law on August 9, 2019, the WTA became effective on January 1, 2020.
Key Requirements:
1. Restrictions on Employment Agreements
The WTA prohibits employers from including certain provisions in employment-related agreements that restrict employees’ rights to report unlawful conduct:
Non-Disclosure and Non-Disparagement Clauses: Employers cannot require employees to agree to confidentiality or non-disparagement clauses that prevent them from reporting allegations of unlawful conduct. Such clauses are void unless they are mutual, negotiated in good faith, and documented in writing.
Arbitration and Waiver Clauses: Employers cannot require employees to waive their rights to pursue claims related to unlawful employment practices through arbitration or other means as a condition of employment.
2. Reporting of Allegations
The Act ensures that no contract or agreement can prohibit or restrict an employee, prospective employee, or former employee from reporting allegations of unlawful conduct to federal, state, or local officials for investigation.
3. Settlement and Termination Agreements
While settlement and termination agreements may include confidentiality provisions, these are only enforceable if they are mutually agreed upon, in writing, and acknowledge the employee’s right to:
Report unlawful conduct to appropriate authorities.
Participate in legal proceedings.
Make truthful statements required by law.
Seek legal advice.
4. Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
The WTA mandates that all Illinois employers provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to their employees. Employers must either develop their own training programs that meet the minimum standards outlined in the IHRA or use the model training provided by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR). Restaurants and bars are required to provide supplemental training that complies with additional standards specified in the IHRA.
5. Reporting Requirements
Employers are required to report certain information regarding harassment claims to the IDHR, which will compile and present this data to the Illinois General Assembly annually.
6. Applicability
The WTA applies to all employers with employees working in Illinois. Initially, it applied to employers with 15 or more employees, but as of July 1, 2020, it applies to all employers regardless of size.
For more detailed information, you can access the full text of Public Act 101-0221 here: Illinois General Assembly.
Training Duration Requirements
Employees: At least 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training annually.
Supervisors and Managers: At least 2 hours of sexual harassment prevention training annually.
Additionally, all employees are required to complete 1 hour of bystander intervention training annually.
It’s important to note that the City of Chicago has additional requirements. In addition to the state-mandated training, Chicago employers must provide:
1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training for all employees.
1 hour of bystander intervention training for all employees.
1 additional hour of sexual harassment prevention training specifically for supervisors and managers.
Employers are required to maintain records of training completion for at least five years. Failure to comply with these training requirements can result in penalties.
Effective training gives people the knowledge and confidence to handle real workplace situations, not just pass a requirement. The strongest programs use realistic scenarios, clear explanations of expectations, and opportunities to practice good decision-making. By offering guidance that reflects different roles and work environments — and updating content as norms and laws evolve — the training stays relevant and helps employees build lasting, respectful habits.
