Joliet — Ch. 9½ Art. III Employment § 9½-45
Definitions
Operative Text
For purposes of this article: (a) Hire means to engage or contract for, or attempt to engage or contract for the services of any person as an employee. (b) Employ means to use or be entitled to the use and benefit of the services of a person as an employee. (c) Employer includes any person within the City of Joliet who hires or employs any employee, and any person wherever situated who hires or employs any employee whose services are to be partially or wholly performed in the City of Joliet, but the term "employer" shall not include any person with respect to the hiring or employment of a household domestic servant or any religious corporation, association or society with respect to the hiring or employment of individuals of a particular religion, when religion shall be bona fide occupational qualification for employment, provided such selection is not based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or sensory, mental or physical handicap. (d) Employee includes any and all persons who perform services for any employer for compensation, whether in the form of wages, salary, commission, or otherwise. (e) Employment means the state of being employed as an employee by an employer. (f) Employment agency means any person regularly undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure employees for an employer or to procure for employees opportunities to work for an employer. (g) Labor organization includes any person, employee representation committee, or plan in which employees participate, and which exists wholly or in part for the purpose of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours or other terms or condition of employment and shall include without limitation any conference, general committee, joint board, or joint council. (h) Person includes one or more individuals, labor organizations, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal representatives, agents, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, public bodies or public corporations, including, but not limited to the City of Joliet or any department or unit thereof.
Joliet Ch. 9½ Art. III § 9½-45 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the employment article. It defines key terms such as "hire," "employ," "employer," "employee," "employment agency," "labor organization," and "person," setting the scope of who and what is covered by the article's anti-discrimination rules. Notably, the definition of "employer" excludes those who hire household domestic servants and religious organizations hiring on the basis of religion when religion is a bona fide occupational qualification, provided the selection is not based on protected characteristics such as race, color, sex, or national origin.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Although § 9½-45 is a definitions section rather than a direct operational requirement, property owners and managers in Joliet who employ workers—whether on-site staff, maintenance personnel, or others whose services are performed within the city—should understand that they fall within the article's definition of "employer." Compliant operators familiarize themselves with these definitions to correctly assess whether their hiring and employment practices are subject to the article's broader requirements. Reviewing the full scope of terms like "employee" and "employment agency" under § 9½-45 helps ensure that all covered working relationships are properly identified and managed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants, § 9½-45 is primarily relevant as background context: it defines who counts as an employer, employee, or labor organization under Joliet's employment article, which can matter if a tenant works for a landlord or property management company operating within the city. Understanding these definitions can help tenants recognize whether their own working relationship with a housing provider falls under the article's protections. Tenants who believe their rights under Joliet Ch. 9½ Art. III may be implicated can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service for general information about how these definitions apply.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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