ILCS » Chapter 740 · Act 174
Illinois Compiled Statutes

740 ILCS 174/15 (2026)

Retaliation for certain disclosures prohibited

✓ current as of May 2026
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(740 ILCS 174/15)
    Sec. 15. Retaliation for certain disclosures prohibited.
    (a) An employer may not take retaliatory action against an employee who discloses or threatens to disclose to a public body conducting an investigation, or in a court, an administrative hearing, or any other proceeding initiated by a public body, information related to an activity, policy, or practice of the employer, where the employee has a good faith belief that the activity, policy, or practice (i) violates a State or federal law, rule, or regulation or (ii) poses a substantial and specific danger to employees, public health, or safety.
    (b) An employer may not take retaliatory action against an employee for disclosing or threatening to disclose information to a government or law enforcement agency information related to an activity, policy, or practice of the employer, where the employee has a good faith belief that the activity, policy, or practice of the employer (i) violates a State or federal law, rule, or regulation or (ii) poses a substantial and specific danger to employees, public health, or safety.
    (c) An employer may not take retaliatory action against an employee for disclosing or threatening to disclose to any supervisor, principal officer, board member, or supervisor in an organization that has a contractual relationship with the employer who makes the employer aware of the disclosure, information related to an activity, policy, or practice of the employer if the employee has a good faith belief that the activity, policy, or practice (i) violates a State or federal law, rule, or regulation or (ii) poses a substantial and specific danger to employees, public health, or safety.
    (d) An employer may not take retaliatory action against an employee for disclosing or threatening to disclose in good faith any violation of Section 5-10 of the Illinois Bivens Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-867, eff. 1-1-25; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-440, eff. 12-9-25.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 115 cases (42 in the last 5 years), 2005–2026 · leading case: Parks v. Speedy Title & Appraisal Review Servs., 318 F. Supp. 3d 1053 (E.D. Ill. 2018).
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Parks v. Speedy Title & Appraisal Review Servs., 318 F. Supp. 3d 1053 (E.D. Ill. 2018). · cites it 4× “Specifically, under the IWA, an employer may not retaliate against an employee: • "who discloses information in a court, an administrative hearing, or before a legislative commission or committee, or in any other proceeding, where the employee has reasonable cause to believe…”
Rehfield v. Diocese of Joliet, 2021 IL 125656 (Ill. 2021). · cites it 2× “(citing 740 ILCS 174/15 (West 2014)). ¶ 34 This court will not read the limitation suggested by defendant into the clear, unambiguous language of the statute.”
Sweeney v. The City of Decatur, 2017 IL App (4th) 160492 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 2× “¶2 Plaintiff appeals, contending the circuit court erred by dismissing his claim (1) brought under section 15(b) of the Whistleblower Act (740 ILCS 174/15(b) (West 2014)) because that provision (a) only requires disclosure of suspected law violations to a government or law…”
Brame v. City of North Chicago, 955 N.E.2d 1269 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 3× “Brame, a lieutenant of the North Chicago police department, brought a complaint under section 15(b) of the Whistleblower Act (Act) (740 ILCS 174/15(b) (West 2010)) against defendants, the City of North Chicago (City); the mayor of the City, Leon Rockingham, Jr.”
Brame v. The City of North Chicago, 2011 IL App (2d) 100760 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 3× “Brame, a lieutenant of the North Chicago police department, brought a complaint under section 15(b) of the Whistleblower Act (Act) (740 ILCS 174/15(b) (West 2010)) against defendants, the City of North Chicago (City); the mayor of the City, Leon Rockingham, Jr.”
United States Ex Rel. Absher v. Momence Meadows Nursing Ctr., Inc., 764 F.3d 699 (7th Cir. 2014). “”); 740 ILCS 174/15(b) ("An employer may not retaliate against an employee for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, where the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of a State or federal law, rule, or…”
Zuccolo v. Hannah Marine Corp., 900 N.E.2d 353 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 2× “In Illinois, the Whistleblower Act prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee “for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, where the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of a State or…”
Coffey v. DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc., 145 F. Supp. 3d 771 (N.D. Ill. 2015). · cites it 2× “” 740 ILCS 174/15; see also 740 ILCS 174/30 (“If an employer takes any action against an employee in violation of Section 15 or 20, the employee may bring a civil action .”
Sardiga v. N. Trust Co., 948 N.E.2d 652 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “740 ILCS 174/15 (West 2004). Thus, “refusing” means refusing; it does not mean “complaining” or “questioning,” as Sardiga would have us believe.”
Bajalo v. Nw. Univ., 860 N.E.2d 556 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). “For the above-stated reasons, we answer the certified question in the negative and reverse the order of the trial court. Reversed and remanded for further proceedings.”
Callahan v. Edgewater Care & Rehab. Ctr., Inc., 872 N.E.2d 551 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “This statute prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee for “disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, where the employee has reasonable canse to believe that the information discloses a violation of a State or federal law, rule, or…”
Weiler v. Vill. of Oak Lawn, 86 F. Supp. 3d 874 (N.D. Ill. 2015). “He claims that the Village violated the Illinois Civil Rights Act, 740 ILCS 23/5 (count 9), and the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/6-101(A) (count 11), by terminating him because he opposed race discrimination.”
Show all 115 citing cases →
— 740 ILCS 174/15(a) — 14 cases
Parks v. Speedy Title & Appraisal Review Servs., 318 F. Supp. 3d 1053 (E.D. Ill. 2018). “Specifically, under the IWA, an employer may not retaliate against an employee: • "who discloses information in a court, an administrative hearing, or before a legislative commission or committee, or in any other proceeding, where the employee has reasonable cause to believe…”
Spratt v. Bellwood Pub. Library, 380 F. Supp. 3d 783 (E.D. Ill. 2019).
Torres v. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., 255 F. Supp. 3d 826 (2017).
Parks v. Magedoff (N.D. Ill. 2018).
Del Signore v. Nokia of Am. (N.D. Ill. 2023).
— 740 ILCS 174/15(b) — 71 cases
Parks v. Speedy Title & Appraisal Review Servs., 318 F. Supp. 3d 1053 (E.D. Ill. 2018). “Specifically, under the IWA, an employer may not retaliate against an employee: • "who discloses information in a court, an administrative hearing, or before a legislative commission or committee, or in any other proceeding, where the employee has reasonable cause to believe…”
Sweeney v. The City of Decatur, 2017 IL App (4th) 160492 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). “¶2 Plaintiff appeals, contending the circuit court erred by dismissing his claim (1) brought under section 15(b) of the Whistleblower Act (740 ILCS 174/15(b) (West 2014)) because that provision (a) only requires disclosure of suspected law violations to a government or law…”
Brame v. City of North Chicago, 955 N.E.2d 1269 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “Brame, a lieutenant of the North Chicago police department, brought a complaint under section 15(b) of the Whistleblower Act (Act) (740 ILCS 174/15(b) (West 2010)) against defendants, the City of North Chicago (City); the mayor of the City, Leon Rockingham, Jr.”
Brame v. The City of North Chicago, 2011 IL App (2d) 100760 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “Brame, a lieutenant of the North Chicago police department, brought a complaint under section 15(b) of the Whistleblower Act (Act) (740 ILCS 174/15(b) (West 2010)) against defendants, the City of North Chicago (City); the mayor of the City, Leon Rockingham, Jr.”
Rehfield v. Diocese of Joliet, 2021 IL 125656 (Ill. 2021). “(citing 740 ILCS 174/15 (West 2014)). ¶ 34 This court will not read the limitation suggested by defendant into the clear, unambiguous language of the statute.”
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