What are my responsibilities as an employer?

Unemployment Insurance 

Typically a business is required to make unemployment insurance contributions to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) if they have:

1) employed one or more workers in each of 20 or more calendar weeks; or

2) paid at least $1,500 in total wages during the calendar quarter.

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

IDFPR is the main licensing agency for the State of Illinois.  IDFPR provides an on-line database listing every individual licensed with their agency.

Anti-Discrimination Laws

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for the enforcement of all anti-discrimination laws. These laws include: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Equal Pay Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991.

Business owners should acquaint themselves with these laws because they affect the company’s hiring practices.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Under the Workers’ Compensation and Workers’ Occupational Diseases Acts, an employer is required to provide insurance for accidental deaths, injuries and occupational diseases of employees arising in the course of employment.

Temporary workers who normally do not receive company benefits are still provided workers’ compensation.

Insurance generally is purchased through private companies. Companies can apply to the Workers’ Compensation Commission to become self-insured.

Wage Withholding for Child Support

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is the Child Support Enforcement Agency for the State of Illinois.

If you (as an employer) are served a Notice of Withholding, you are required by law to withhold a portion of an employee’s income for payment of child support.

Immigration Reform and Control

The Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires every employer to keep on file a form for every employee certifying that employee’s identity and work eligibility. Form 1-9

Required Posters for Illinois Employers

The Illinois Department of Labor’s website has a listing of State and Federal posters employers are required to display in the workplace. Visit their website at for details on how to obtain each poster.