Commission on Human Rights Reports & Guidance Documents
This page includes reports, guidance documents, and statements released by the Commission on Human Rights.
Reports
2023 Annual Report of the Commission on Human Rights
El informe anual del Comisión de Derechos Humanos del condado de Cook 2023
2023 Annual Report of the Commission on Human Rights (Content Only)
2022 Annual Report of the Commission on Human Rights
El informe anual del Comisión de Derechos Humanos del condado de Cook 2022
2021 Annual Report of the Commission on Human Rights
2021 Annual Report of the Commission on Human Rights - Flipbook
Quarterly Commission Report 9.6.24
Quarterly Commission Report 6.6.24
Quarterly Commission Report 3.24.24
Quarterly Commission Report 10.19.23
Quarterly Commission Report 7.20.23
Quarterly Commission Report 4.3.23
Quarterly Commission Report 1.26.23
Quarterly Commission Report 9.22.22
Quarterly Commission Report 2.18.22
Quarterly Commission Report 10.22.21
Guidance Documents
Where To File Complaints
| Agencies to Contact | Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) | Cook County Commission on Human Rights (CCCHR) | Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) |
| Types of Discrimination Covered | Race Color Religion Sex (including sexual harassment) National Origin Ancestry Age Disability Marital Status Parental Status Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Source of Income Military Status Bodily Autonomy Retaliation | Race Retaliation | Race Retaliation | Race Retaliation |
| Geographic Limitations | Housing located within the City of Chicago | Housing located within Cook County | Residential and commercial real estate transactions in Illinois | Housing located within U.S. or U.S. territories |
| Time Limitations | Must file within 365 days of the alleged violation | Must file within 180 days of the alleged violation | Must file within 1 year of the alleged violation | Must file within 1 year of the alleged violation |
| Who Can Be Sued | All persons with right to sell, rent, or lease any housing accommodation within Chicago, and their agents Lenders under credit transaction provisions | All persons with right to sell, rent, lease, or sublease any housing unit within Cook County, and their agents or any agent, broker, or other individual working on behalf of any such individual | Owners, managers, salespersons, real estate brokers, rental agents, or other agents or employees of the owner or the owner's agents Builders and appraisers Mortgage lenders (banks and loan brokers) Any other person engaged in a real estate transaction | Most residential housing owners (exceptions: owner-occupied builders with no more than four units, single-family house with no broker, some private organizations), sales and rental agents, builders, lenders, and appraisers Municipalities Advertisers |
| Kinds of Relief Available | Make whole damages (such as moving expenses, rent differentials and emotional distress damages) Punitive damages Fines to the City Injunctive relief (order to sell/rent) Attorney’s fees and costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as moving expenses, rent differentials and emotional distress damages) Fines to the County Injunctive relief, including emergency relief (order to cease eviction or order to sell/rent) Attorney’s fees and costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as moving expenses, rent differentials and emotional distress damages) Fines to the State Injunctive relief, including emergency relief (order to cease eviction or order to sell/rent) Attorney’s fees and costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as moving expenses, rent differentials and emotional distress damages) Punitive damages Injunctive relief, including emergency relief (order to cease eviction or order to sell/rent) Attorney’s fees and costs to prevailing Complainant |
| Agency Contact Information | Chicago Commission on Human Relations Phone: 312.744.4111 | Cook County Commission on Human Rights Phone: 312.603.1100 | Illinois Department of Human Rights Phone: 312.814.6229 | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Phone: 312.913.8453 |
| Intake Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Intake interviews are by appointment only, please call or email to make an intake appointment | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Office Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (2 copies of all filings required) | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Agencies to Contact | Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) | Cook County Commission on Human Rights (CCCHR) | Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) |
| Types of Discrimination Covered | Race Retaliation | Race Retaliation | Race Retaliation | Race Retaliation |
| Geographic Limitations | Violation occurred within the City of Chicago | Violation occurred within Cook County | Violation occurred within Illinois | Violation occurred within U.S. or at U.S. company located outside U.S. |
| Time Limitations | Must file within 365 days of the alleged violation | Must file within 180 days of the alleged violation | Must file within 300 days the of alleged violation | Must file within 300 days of the alleged violation (or 180 days if state fair employment agency does not cover) |
| Who Can Be Sued | Employers (no minimum number of employees) Labor Organizations Employment Agencies Individuals | Employers (no minimum number of employees) Labor Organizations Employment Agencies Individuals | Employers with at least 15 employees in Illinois; or with at least 1 employee for sexual harassment, disability, pregnancy, retaliation, public contractors, state/local gov’t units, apprenticeship & training programs Labor Organizations Employment Agencies | Employers with at least 15 employees for Title VII and ADA claims and state and local governments; with at least 20 employees for ADEA; with at least 1 employee for Equal Pay Act, federal government, & educational institutions Labor Organizations |
| Kinds of Relief Available | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages) Other Damages (such as interest) Punitive Damages Injunctive Relief (such as reinstatement) Fines to the City Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages) Other Damages (such as interest) Injunctive Relief (such as reinstatement) Fines to the County Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages) Other Damages (such as interest) Injunctive Relief (such as reinstatement and barring contracts with the State), including emergency relief Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and reinstatement) Compensatory Damages (such as out-of-pocket and emotional harm) Punitive Damages Injunctive Relief, including emergency relief Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing Complainant |
| Agency Contact Information | Chicago Commission on Human Relations Phone: 312.744.4111 | Cook County Commission on Human Rights Phone: 312.603.1100 | Illinois Department of Human Rights Phone: 312.814.6229 | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Phone: 312.872.9744 Fax: 312.588.1260 |
| Intake Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Intake interviews are by appointment only, please call or email to make an intake appointment | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Office Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (2 copies of all filings required) | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Agencies to Contact | Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) | Cook County Commission on Human Rights (CCCHR) | Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) |
| Types of Discrimination Covered | Race Color Religion Sex (including sexual harassment) National Origin Ancestry Age Disability Marital Status Parental Status Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Source of Income Military Status Bodily Autonomy Retaliation | Race Retaliation | Race Retaliation |
| Geographic Limitations | Violation occurred within the City of Chicago | Violation occurred within Cook County | Violation occurred within Illinois |
| Time Limitations | Must file within 365 days of the alleged violation | Must file within 180 days of the alleged violation | Must file within 300 days of the alleged violation |
| Who Can Be Sued | Place, business establishment or agency that sells, leases, provides, or offers any product or service to public, including membership organizations with over 400 members which provide regular meal service and receive payment for dues or other services from or on behalf of nonmembers | Persons that own, lease, rent, operate, manage, or in any manner control a public accommodation Exceptions for sex discrimination in private facilities, sleeping rooms and educational institutions | Accommodation or business facility of any kind which sells or otherwise offers services or goods to public OR Operator of such facility Public officials who are officers or employees of the State or its agencies |
| Kinds of Relief Available | Make whole damages (such as out-of-pocket expenses and emotional distress damages) Punitive Damages Injunctive Relief (such as order to admit complainant to public accommodation) Fines to the City Attorney’s fees and costs for prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as out-of-pocket expenses and emotional distress damages) Injunctive Relief (such as order to admit complainant to public accommodation) Fines to the County Attorney’s fees and costs for prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages) Other Damages (such as interest) Injunctive Relief (such as reinstatement and barring contracts with the State), including emergency relief Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing complainant |
| Agency Contact Information | Chicago Commission on Human Relations Phone: 312.744.4111 | Cook County Commission on Human Rights Phone: 312.603.1100 | Illinois Department of Human Rights Phone: 312.814.6229 |
| Intake Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Intake interviews are by appointment only, please call or email to make an intake appointment | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM |
| Office Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (2 copies of all filings required) | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Agencies to Contact | Chicago Office of Labor Standards (OLS) | Cook County Commission on Human Rights (CCCHR) | Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) |
| Types of Discrimination Covered | Wage Theft Minimum Wage Paid Leave and Sick Leave Fair Work Week Domestic Care Workers | Minimum Wage Paid Leave Living Wage | Unpaid Wages Minimum Wage Overtime Child Labor Consumer Coverage Day & Temporary Labor One Day Rest in Seven Nurse Agency Child Bereavement Family Bereavement Employee Classification Paid Sick Leave Equal Pay Personnel Records Prevailing Wage Paid Leave |
| Geographic Limitations | Violation occurred within the City of Chicago | Violation occurred within Cook County, in municipalities that comply with these Ordinances | Violation occurred within Illinois |
| Time Limitations | Must file within 3 years of the alleged violation | Must file within 3 years of the alleged violation | Must file within 1 year of the alleged violation |
| Who Can Be Sued | Employers (no minimum number of employees) Labor Organizations Employment Agencies Individuals | Employers (no minimum number of employees) Labor Organizations Employment Agencies Individuals | Employers with at least 15 employees in Illinois; or with at least 1 employee for sexual harassment, disability, pregnancy, retaliation, public contractors, state/local gov’t units, apprenticeship & training programs Labor Organizations Employment Agencies Individual sexual harassers |
| Kinds of Relief Available | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages) Other Damages (such as interest) Punitive Damages Injunctive Relief (such as reinstatement) Fines to the City Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages) Other Damages (such as interest) Injunctive Relief (such as reinstatement) Fines to the County Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing Complainant | Make whole damages (such as back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages) Other Damages (such as interest) Injunctive Relief (such as reinstatement and barring contracts with the State), including emergency relief Attorney’s fees & costs to prevailing Complainant |
| Agency Contact Information | Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Phone: 312.744.6060 | Cook County Commission on Human Rights Phone: 312.603.1100 | Illinois Department of Labor Phone: 312.793.2800 |
| Intake Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Intake interviews are by appointment only, please call or email to make an intake appointment | Monday through Thursday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM |
| Office Hours | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM | Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |