Section 210.1010  Employer Conduct Deemed Willful

An employer's conduct shall be deemed willful when the employer knew its underpayment of wages was prohibited by the Act or showed reckless disregard of the wage payment requirements under the Act. All of the facts and circumstances surrounding the violations shall be taken into account in determining whether, by a preponderance of the evidence, an employer's conduct was willful.

a)         An employer's conduct shall be deemed knowing, among other situations, if the employer received advice from a responsible, duly authorized representative of the Director to the effect that the conduct in question is not lawful; if the employer has previously received notice, through a responsible, duly authorized representative of the Director, that the employer allegedly was in violation of the Act; if a court or other tribunal has made a finding that the employer has previously violated the Act for underpaying its employees.

b)         An employer's conduct shall be deemed reckless, among other situations, if, as a result of previous advice of the Director, the employer was on notice that it should have inquired further into whether its conduct was in compliance with the Act and failed to make adequate further inquiries.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 14051, effective July 19, 2022)