Illinois Statutes Chapter 330. Veterans and Service Members § 61/5-5. Basic Protections

(1) For the purposes of this Section, all employment rights shall be extended to all employees in military service under this Act, unless otherwise stated.

(2) Military leave. A service member employee is not required to get permission from his or her employer for military leave. The service member employee is only required to give such employer advance notice of pending service. This advance notice entitles a service member employee to military leave.

An employer may not impose conditions for military leave, such as work shift replacement, not otherwise imposed by this Act or other applicable law. This paragraph shall not be construed to prevent an employer from providing scheduling options to employees in lieu of paid military leave.

A service member employee is not required to accommodate his or her employer's needs as to the timing, frequency, or duration of military leave; however, employers are permitted to bring concerns over the timing, frequency, or duration of military leave to the attention of the appropriate military authority. The accommodation of these requests are subject to military law and discretion.

Military necessity as an exception to advance notice of pending military leave for State active duty will be determined by appropriate State military authority and is not subject to judicial review.

For purposes of notice of pending military service under paragraphs (2) or (3) of the definition of “military service” under Section 1-10, an employer may require notice by appropriate military authority on official letterhead. For purposes of this paragraph, notice exceptions do not apply.

(3) Service, efficiency, and performance rating. A service member employee who is absent on military leave shall, minimally, for the period of military leave, be credited with the average of the efficiency or performance ratings or evaluations received for the 3 years immediately before the absence for military leave. Additionally, the rating shall not be less than the rating that he or she received for the rated period immediately prior to his or her absence on military leave. In computing seniority and service requirements for promotion eligibility or any other benefit of employment, the period of military duty shall be counted as civilian service. This paragraph does not apply to probationary periods.

(4) State active duty ineligible discharge. For purposes of State active duty, a disqualifying discharge or separation will be the State equivalent under the Military Code of Illinois for purposes of ineligibility of reemployment under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act as determined by appropriate State military authority.

(5) A retroactive upgrade of a disqualifying discharge or release will restore reemployment rights providing the service member employee otherwise meets this Act's eligibility criteria.