Illinois (Like California) Bans Captive Audience Meetings

On July 31, 2024, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker signed into law Senate Bill 3649 the “Illinois Worker Freedom of Speech Act” or the “Act”), which prohibits employers in Illinois from discharging, disciplining, or otherwise penalizing employees who refuse to participate in employer-sponsored meetings if the meeting is designed to communicate the employer’s position on religious or political matters (including labor union issues).  The law went into effect on January 1, 2025, and also prohibits employers from punishing employees for declining to receive or listen to communications from the employer if the communication is intended to communicate the employer’s opinion on religious matters or political matters (including labor union issues), as well as for making a good faith report of a violation of this law.  

It is important to note that labor unions pushed the passing of the Act in order to prevent employers from holding “captive audience meetings” intended to discourage organizing efforts.  Illinois employers should consult their labor counsel to ascertain whether and how they are impacted by the Act.