Content Policy

​A unique feature of Illinois workNet is the ability to access local and statewide work support resources and services in one location via the Internet. Illinois residents and businesses can find information about their area based on location.

To provide local information, in each Local Workforce Innovation Area (LWIA), selected staff are given access and support to publish to Illinois workNet local content areas. This local content policy has been developed to assist LWIAs with maintaining the quality and consistency of local information. This policy provides a framework for adoption by Local Workforce Innovation Boards (LWIB) ​in tandem with their LWIA. This policy may be adopted as written or modified while keeping the intent of the policy to uphold standards to ensure that those who use Illinois workNet will find the quality and consistency of information published to the portal of value and within the purpose and goals of Illinois workNet.

At the local level, content managers are designated as either authors (individuals who may access the content manager publishing tool to publish local information) or editors (individuals who may access the content manager publishing tool to publish local information and approve posting by authors as well as their own postings to be published to the portal).

Local areas must designate LWIA staff as editors but may select to have LWIA staff and partners as authors. Either way, the LWIA will have a process in place to:
  • determine individual content managers and their designation (author or editor)
  • assure all organizations whose staff have access to the content manager publishing tool understand their role and are provided a clear line of communications
  • require all organizations whose staff have access to the content manager publishing tool to agree to the terms of usage and sign the Illinois workNet Local Content Policy adopted by the LWIB and LWIA
  • ​identify local content across partners and other organizations and keep the information current


Local Content Policy
A. Illinois workNet Standards
All local information published in the portal must support its goals. Some of the goals are through virtual access:
  • enable individuals and businesses to benefit from access to web-based workforce services to include Universal Core Services and information that, in the past, were typically provided through physical locations
  • streamline access to workforce-related resources and services through a customer-friendly interface
  • bring together career resources and economic development
  • maintain a high level of information quality
  • support a dynamic environment that assures current and relevant statewide and local information
  • be accessible to all Illinois citizens
B. General Guidelines
  • ​All information must be accurate, grammatically correct, and up to date. Expired information should not remain on the portal.
  • All links must work and be to website information relevant to the portal's purpose and goals and require minimal registration.
  • All images must be within the content manager’s graphic specifications and represent the portal's goals.
  • Local information is placed in the appropriate posting area.
  • LWIAs may not charge not-for-profit organizations for advertising services on Illinois workNet.
C. Local content that can be INCLUDED in Illinois workNet
All local information published in the portal must support its goals. Event information or services provided to the community to support finding a job, exploring careers and education/training, and locating work support information can be published in the portal.

Information published on the portal can come from any of the following entities:
  • Federal, state, and local government offices and nonprofit community-based agencies that provide community service
  • Organizations such as professional organizations, churches, social clubs, social or fraternal organizations, and civic groups that offer a service for the community at large that is not restricted to their members
  • Public and private housing providers that offer subsidized or below-market rent apartments
  • For-profit businesses that offer a unique service that is not widely offered by the nonprofit community, such as board and care facilities, sober houses, and companies that modify motor vehicles to accommodate drivers with disabilities
  • Hotlines, help lines, information lines, and information and referral lines that are administered by a nonprofit or government entity
  • School districts, colleges, and universities, within Illinois and states that border Illinois
  • Consumer protection and basic business services that are either government-designated or contracted
  • Comprehensive and specialized information and referral services
  • For-profit agencies that provide free or low-cost services
  • Commercial, for-profit, or not-for-profit businesses that are advertising open staff positions
D. Local content that is EXCLUDED from Illinois workNet
Events, promotions, or services that are published on the portal:
  • May not be illegal, obscene, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, infringing of intellectual property rights, or otherwise injurious to third parties or objectionable
  • May not consist of or contain software viruses, political campaigning, direct or indirect lobbying, religious campaigning, commercial solicitation, chain letters, mass mailings, or any form of “spam”
E. Organizations that are EXCLUDED from Illinois workNet
  • ​Agencies or groups that misrepresent their services in any way
  • Agencies or groups that deny services based on color, race, religion, sexual preference, or nationality
  • Agencies or groups whose service is illegal
  • Agencies or groups whose services cannot be verified
  • Agencies or groups that have credible or serious complaints about their service registered against them
  • Commercial or for-profit products or services such as selling a car, advertising products


Illinois workNet Privacy Policy
​Individuals and businesses that provide personal information to Illinois workNet to set up an account are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a). This Act requires Illinois workNet to notify end users that the Privacy Act protects the information they provide. Further, Illinois workNet parties will not share personal information with any other organization or individual unless required by the Department of Justice or by a court in connection with litigation. Learn more about the ​Illinois workNet Privacy Policy​.

Data Security
The Illinois workNet system provides security for end-user data. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is used when a user enters personal data, from registering to logging into the application and any updates to personal information. SSL ensures sensitive user data such as a password or SSN is encrypted when transmitted from the client browser to the server and back. The data is stored in a secure database within a secure data center.

Local Content Policy Agreement
Illinois workNet sites agree to use the adopted Illinois workNet Local Content Policy and understand that the site must meet all specified requirements. All local information published in the portal must support its goals. Event information or services provided to the community to support finding a job, exploring careers and education/training, and locating work support information can be published in the portal. Information published on the portal can come from any of the following entities:
  • Federal, state, and local government offices and nonprofit community-based agencies that provide community service
  • Organizations such as professional organizations, churches, social clubs, social or fraternal organizations, and civic groups that offer a service for the community at large that is not restricted to their members
  • Public and private housing providers that offer subsidized or below-market rent apartments
  • For-profit businesses that offer a unique service that is not widely offered by the nonprofit community, such as board and care facilities, sober houses, and companies that modify motor vehicles to accommodate drivers with disabilities
  • Hotlines, help lines, information lines, and information and referral lines that are administered by a nonprofit or government entity
  • School districts, colleges, and universities, within Illinois and states that border Illinois
  • Consumer protection and basic business services that are either government-designated or contracted
  • Comprehensive and specialized information and referral services
  • For-profit agencies that provide free or low-cost services
  • Commercial, for-profit, or not-for-profit businesses that are advertising open staff positions​​