(The Center Square) – An Illinois trade organization has joined a legal challenge to a new law that restricts employers’ free speech rights in the workplace. The Schaumburg-based Technology and Manufacturing Association represents more than 800 small businesses in Illinois. The group has joined a lawsuit against Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan, whose agency is charged with enforcing the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 8 by the Liberty Justice Center, claims that the law revokes free speech across the state. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3649, the Worker Freedom of Speech Act, into law on July 31. The law is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The act prohibits companies from holding mandatory meetings where religious or political matters are discussed. It provides that employees may file civil lawsuits if there are alleged violations by employers. Within 30 days after the law takes effect, employers will be required to post and keep posted a notice of employee rights under the new law where employee notices are customarily placed. Proponents of the law have said that mandatory meetings give employers an opportunity to force employees to listen to anti-union rhetoric. […]

By : Markus McDowell