Significant Changes to Illinois Law Affect Employers’ Restrictive Covenant Agreements
January 6, 2022
As of January 1, 2022, Illinois employers must abide by significant new amendments to the Illinois Freedom to Work Act (the “Act”). Specifically, these amendments pertain to non-competition and non-solicitation agreements between employers and their employees that are entered into after January 1, 2022. The expanded law now prohibits employers from entering into non-competition and non-solicitation agreements for workers earning under a certain amount, adds a disclosure requirement, and allows the Illinois Attorney General to enforce such requirements. Employers not in compliance could be hit with civil penalties.
1. The New Wage Limits
First, the amendments prohibit employers from entering into non-competition agreements with employees who earn less than $75,000 annually. As defined by the Act, “earnings” includes salary, bonuses, commissions, “or any other form of taxable compensation.” The $75,000 threshold will also increase by $5,000 every five years through 2037, at which point the threshold will be $90,000.
Employers are also prohibited from entering into non-solicitation agreements with employees who earn less than $45,000 per year. Non-solicitation agreements are those that typically restrict employees and former employees from either soliciting for hire other employees or seeking to obtain business from clients, vendors, suppliers, and other business relationships, other than on behalf of the employer. The compensation threshold will increase by $2,500 every five years until 2037, at which point the threshold will be $55,000.
2. Adequate Consideration
The Act also requires the employer to provide adequate consideration in order to enter into a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement. Typically, continued employment provides adequate consideration, but the Act specifically defines what employers must provide. “Adequate consideration” under the Act, means (1) the employee worked for the employer for at least 2 years after the employee signed the non-competition or non-solicitation agreement or (2) the employer provides consideration that is adequate to support a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement, including a period of employment plus additional professional or financial benefits or simply professional or financial benefits that are by themselves adequate.1 Accordingly, continued employment, alone, is not adequate consideration under the amendments to the Act.
3. Disclosure Requirements
Additionally, the Act requires employers to advise employees in writing to consult with counsel prior to signing a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement and must allow the employee at least 14 calendar days to review a copy of the agreement. Employees can choose to waive these rights and sign without the advice of counsel or before the end of the 14-calendar day deadline.
4. COVID-19 Provision
Under the Act, employers are prohibited from entering into non-competition and non-solicitation agreements with any employee whom an employer terminates, furloughs, or lays off as a result of business circumstances or governmental order related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other circumstances that are similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an exception to this prohibition if the employer includes compensation equivalent to the employee’s base salary at the time of termination for the period of enforcement minus compensation earned through subsequent employment during the period of enforcement.
5. Illinois Attorney General Can Investigate and Initiate Action
Finally, under the amendments to the Act, the Illinois Attorney General can investigate any employer it believes “is engaged in a pattern or practice prohibited” by the Act and can initiate corresponding civil against such employer. The Attorney General can also request the court impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation or up to $10,000 for each repeat violation within a five-year period. Further, in any action in which the employee is the prevailing party, he or she is entitled to all costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees from the employer.
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Illinois employers will need to consider these new requirements when entering into non-competition or non-solicitation covenants going forward. Should you have any questions about the Act or want to ensure your agreements are compliant, please contact Elizabeth M. Roberson or another member of our Employment Law Practice.
Disclaimer. The contents of this article should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult with counsel concerning your situation and specific legal questions you may have.
[1] 820 ILCS 90/5.
Practices
January 6, 2022
As of January 1, 2022, Illinois employers must abide by significant new amendments to the Illinois Freedom to Work Act (the “Act”). Specifically, these amendments pertain to non-competition and non-solicitation agreements between employers and their employees that are entered into after January 1, 2022. The expanded law now prohibits employers from entering into non-competition and non-solicitation agreements for workers earning under a certain amount, adds a disclosure requirement, and allows the Illinois Attorney General to enforce such requirements. Employers not in compliance could be hit with civil penalties.
1. The New Wage Limits
First, the amendments prohibit employers from entering into non-competition agreements with employees who earn less than $75,000 annually. As defined by the Act, “earnings” includes salary, bonuses, commissions, “or any other form of taxable compensation.” The $75,000 threshold will also increase by $5,000 every five years through 2037, at which point the threshold will be $90,000.
Employers are also prohibited from entering into non-solicitation agreements with employees who earn less than $45,000 per year. Non-solicitation agreements are those that typically restrict employees and former employees from either soliciting for hire other employees or seeking to obtain business from clients, vendors, suppliers, and other business relationships, other than on behalf of the employer. The compensation threshold will increase by $2,500 every five years until 2037, at which point the threshold will be $55,000.
2. Adequate Consideration
The Act also requires the employer to provide adequate consideration in order to enter into a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement. Typically, continued employment provides adequate consideration, but the Act specifically defines what employers must provide. “Adequate consideration” under the Act, means (1) the employee worked for the employer for at least 2 years after the employee signed the non-competition or non-solicitation agreement or (2) the employer provides consideration that is adequate to support a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement, including a period of employment plus additional professional or financial benefits or simply professional or financial benefits that are by themselves adequate.1 Accordingly, continued employment, alone, is not adequate consideration under the amendments to the Act.
3. Disclosure Requirements
Additionally, the Act requires employers to advise employees in writing to consult with counsel prior to signing a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement and must allow the employee at least 14 calendar days to review a copy of the agreement. Employees can choose to waive these rights and sign without the advice of counsel or before the end of the 14-calendar day deadline.
4. COVID-19 Provision
Under the Act, employers are prohibited from entering into non-competition and non-solicitation agreements with any employee whom an employer terminates, furloughs, or lays off as a result of business circumstances or governmental order related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other circumstances that are similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an exception to this prohibition if the employer includes compensation equivalent to the employee’s base salary at the time of termination for the period of enforcement minus compensation earned through subsequent employment during the period of enforcement.
5. Illinois Attorney General Can Investigate and Initiate Action
Finally, under the amendments to the Act, the Illinois Attorney General can investigate any employer it believes “is engaged in a pattern or practice prohibited” by the Act and can initiate corresponding civil against such employer. The Attorney General can also request the court impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation or up to $10,000 for each repeat violation within a five-year period. Further, in any action in which the employee is the prevailing party, he or she is entitled to all costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees from the employer.
***
Illinois employers will need to consider these new requirements when entering into non-competition or non-solicitation covenants going forward. Should you have any questions about the Act or want to ensure your agreements are compliant, please contact Elizabeth M. Roberson or another member of our Employment Law Practice.
Disclaimer. The contents of this article should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult with counsel concerning your situation and specific legal questions you may have.
[1] 820 ILCS 90/5.