Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has reached a $300,000 settlement with Surestaff LLC, a temporary staffing agency accused of using a no-poach agreement to limit workers' job mobility and wage potential. The settlement, awaiting court approval, aims to compensate workers harmed by the company's engagement in such restrictive practices. Raoul's continuing efforts to safeguard employees' rights to fair wages and options in employment have led to several similar settlements this past year, as noted by Illinois Attorney General's news release.
In 2022, Raoul's office filed a lawsuit against a collection of six staffing companies, including Surestaff and Vee Pak LLC, for conspiring to not hire each other's employees. This settlement requires Surestaff to not only pay but to also implement steps that will ensure affected workers can freely choose their employers. The Attorney General stressed the importance of enforcing laws that protect workers, and according to the official news release, "This settlement will include compensation for Illinois workers who were affected by unlawful activity that limited wages and job opportunities."
The legal actions stem from allegations that the no-poach agreements interfered with temporary workers' abilities to seek better jobs and terms of employment across the state, thus harming competition and violating antitrust laws. While Surestaff has agreed to settle, the legal proceedings continue against other defendants including Alternative Staffing Inc. and Vee Pak, with a recent ruling in April 2025 denying their motion to dismiss the case.
As part of the settlement, Surestaff is required to establish compliance measures to prevent future violations of antitrust laws. The settlement follows a trend of action from Raoul's office, which includes a $275,000 settlement with Staffing Network LLC and a $200,000 settlement with Midway Staffing Inc., as reported by the Ilinois Attorney General's news release earlier in June 2025. These cases reflect Raoul's commitment to actively combat illegal employment practices.
Attorney General Raoul further encourages any workers who believe their rights have been compromised to contact his Workplace Rights Hotline or file a complaint online. The Attorney General's office has shown its intent to continue to vigorously advocate for workers' rights and challenge any agreements that restrict employees' freedom in the labor market. With the recent cases being led by his Antitrust and Workplace Rights bureaus, workers in Illinois are being ensured reinforcement in their right to seek the jobs and wages they deserve.
