Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced a settlement with Alternative Staffing, Inc. (ASI) over allegations that the temporary staffing agency entered into a no-poach agreement with other agencies. The agreement, once approved by the court, will require ASI to pay $1 million to compensate affected temporary workers.
“This settlement includes relief for workers who had their wages and job opportunities limited by this unlawful activity,” said Raoul. “My office will continue to enforce laws that protect workers’ rights to fair wages and freedom to seek better employment opportunities.”
In 2022, the Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against six staffing agencies, including ASI and its client Vee Pak LLC (Voyant Beauty). The lawsuit alleged that these agencies conspired not to solicit or hire each other’s employees, with Vee Pak acting as an intermediary in facilitating and enforcing the agreement. According to the suit, this arrangement reduced competition and harmed temporary workers in Illinois by restricting their ability to pursue better jobs, wages, and benefits.
The terms of the settlement require ASI to pay $1 million primarily for compensating temporary workers affected by the no-poach agreement. Additionally, ASI must ensure that affected employees are free to work for any employer they choose. The company is also required to implement compliance measures and is prohibited from engaging in conduct that violates antitrust laws.
Legal action continues against Vee Pak. In April 2025, a circuit court denied motions from defendants seeking dismissal of the case.
This settlement follows several others secured by Raoul’s office as part of ongoing efforts against no-poach agreements and unfair business practices affecting Illinois workers. Recent settlements include $300,000 with Surestaff LLC in December 2025; $275,000 with Staffing Network LLC in November 2025; $200,000 with Midway Staffing Inc. in June 2025; and $120,000 with American Quest Staffing Solutions Inc. and Creative Staffing Inc. in December 2023.
The actions are part of broader advocacy by the Illinois Attorney General on behalf of vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants, and seniors across Illinois (official website). The office handles thousands of consumer complaints annually while aiming to protect consumers and promote safer communities (official website). It also offers services like complaint filing for consumer fraud or civil rights issues (official website).
Raoul encourages individuals who believe their workplace rights have been violated to call his Workplace Rights Hotline at 1-844-740-5076 or file a complaint online through the Attorney General’s website.
Supervising Attorneys Paul J. Harper and Brian M. Yost from Raoul’s Antitrust Bureau handled these cases along with Deputy Bureau Chief Christian Arizmendi from the Workplace Rights Bureau.