On August 15, 2025, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 3638 into law amending the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (IWTA). The law aims to ensure that employees can speak out by prohibiting unilateral contract terms that would otherwise prevent them from reporting or pursuing claims under Illinois law. The amendments also make clear that employers cannot include contract language that prevents employees from engaging in “concerted activity” to address work-related issues. Simply put: Contractual provisions that restrict employee speech on a broader array of topics or discourage certain collective actions are deemed void under these amendments. These protected activities now include participating in proceedings related to unlawful employment practices and engaging in concerted activity to address work-related issues.