Illinois Fingerprint Timeclock Settlement, $1.69M EasyWorkforce BIPA Case—Claim Up to $750 by March 31, 2026
WorkEasy Software LLC agreed to pay $1.69 million to settle claims it violated Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act by collecting employee fingerprints through timeclock systems without proper consent. The settlement covers approximately 21,915 Illinois workers who used WorkEasy, EasyClocking, EasyWorkforce, or TimeLogix fingerprint timeclocks between June 24, 2016 and August 15, 2023. Eligible employees can receive between $160 and $750 depending on when they used the devices. The claim deadline is March 31, 2026, and the final approval hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2026.
What the Illinois Fingerprint Timeclock Lawsuit Alleged
The class action lawsuit Tapia-Rendon v. Employer Solutions Staffing Group II, LLC was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Case No. 21-CV-3400. Lead plaintiff Maria Tapia-Rendon alleged that WorkEasy Software LLC (formerly known as EasyWorkforce Software LLC) violated BIPA by capturing, collecting, storing, and disclosing employee fingerprints without obtaining the informed written consent required by Illinois law.
The lawsuit claimed multiple BIPA violations. First, EasyWorkforce allegedly failed to inform employees in writing that their biometric identifiers—their fingerprints—were being collected or stored, violating Section 15(b) of BIPA. Second, the company allegedly failed to inform employees about the specific purpose and length of time for which their fingerprints would be collected, stored, and used, another Section 15(b) violation.
Third, EasyWorkforce allegedly failed to obtain a written release from employees authorizing the collection of their biometric data, violating Section 15(b)’s informed consent requirement. Fourth, the company allegedly failed to make publicly available a written policy establishing a retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying biometric data, violating Section 15(a) of BIPA. Finally, the lawsuit claimed EasyWorkforce failed to adequately secure employees’ biometric information during collection and storage.
Understanding BIPA’s Biometric Privacy Protections
Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, codified at 740 ILCS 14/, is one of the strictest biometric privacy laws in the nation. Passed in 2008, BIPA regulates how companies collect, store, and disclose biometric identifiers like fingerprints, facial scans, retina scans, and voiceprints. The law defines “biometric identifier” as any retina or iris scan, fingerprint, voiceprint, or scan of hand or face geometry.
BIPA requires companies to obtain informed written consent before collecting biometric data. This means employees must be told in writing that their biometric information is being collected, why it’s being collected, and how long it will be kept. They must then sign a release authorizing the collection. Companies must also publish retention and destruction policies explaining when biometric data will be deleted.
The law provides a private right of action, meaning individuals can sue companies directly for violations without waiting for government enforcement. Section 20 of BIPA establishes statutory damages of $1,000 per negligent violation and $5,000 per reckless or intentional violation. This makes BIPA enforcement powerful—employees don’t need to prove actual harm to recover damages, just that the law was violated.
The $1.69 Million Settlement Structure
The settlement creates two classes of eligible workers with different payout ranges based on when they used the fingerprint timeclocks. The Subclass includes workers who used the devices on or before April 30, 2022, while the broader Class covers all workers who used them through August 15, 2023.
Subclass members who used WorkEasy, EasyClocking, EasyWorkforce, or TimeLogix fingerprint timeclocks on or before April 30, 2022 can receive between $225 and $750 per person. Other Class members who started using the devices after April 30, 2022 but before August 15, 2023 can receive between $160 and $500 per person. Final payment amounts depend on the total number of valid claims filed—more claims mean smaller individual payments through pro-rata distribution.
The settlement fund totals $1,685,000. From this amount, the court will deduct settlement administration costs, attorneys’ fees up to $561,667, attorneys’ expenses of $253,376.31, and a $10,000 service award to the class representative Maria Tapia-Rendon. The remaining funds will be distributed to approved claimants over five years, with the first round of payments issued approximately 73 days after final court approval.
Eligibility Requirements for Class Members
You qualify for this settlement if you used a WorkEasy, EasyClocking, EasyWorkforce, or TimeLogix fingerprint timeclock to clock in or out at a job in Illinois between June 24, 2016 and August 15, 2023. The class includes approximately 21,915 current and former employees across Illinois who used these biometric timekeeping systems.
Important exceptions apply. You’re not eligible if you previously opted out of the Class or reached a separate settlement agreement with EasyWorkforce. The settlement covers only fingerprint-based timeclocks manufactured or distributed by these brands—not other biometric systems like facial recognition or hand geometry scanners.
Geographic location matters under BIPA. You must have used the fingerprint timeclock while working at a job in Illinois. BIPA only protects Illinois residents and workers within Illinois, so employees who used identical timeclocks in other states don’t qualify for this settlement. The class period runs from June 24, 2016 through August 15, 2023, covering over seven years of alleged BIPA violations.
What You Must Know About BIPA Class Actions
The 2024 BIPA Amendment Changed Future Cases
In August 2024, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2979 (Public Act 103-0769), fundamentally changing how BIPA damages are calculated. The amendment clarifies that multiple collections of a person’s biometric data using the same method constitute a single violation, not separate violations for each scan.
Before this amendment, plaintiffs argued that every fingerprint scan at a timeclock was a separate BIPA violation. Under that interpretation, an employee who scanned their fingerprint twice daily for a year could claim 730 separate violations. At $1,000 per negligent violation or $5,000 per reckless violation, damages could reach astronomical levels—what one defendant called “annihilative” damages.
The Illinois Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Cothron v. White Castle System, Inc. had supported the per-scan interpretation, finding that each collection of biometric data triggered a new accrual period for damages. The Court explicitly invited the legislature to clarify its intent regarding damage assessment, and lawmakers responded with the 2024 amendment limiting violations to one per person regardless of how many times their biometric data was collected using the same system.
This settlement predates the amendment’s effective date, so it likely reflects the older, more generous interpretation allowing higher total damages. Future BIPA settlements will probably yield smaller payouts per class member under the new one-violation-per-person rule.
Why Fingerprint Timeclock Cases Dominate BIPA Litigation
Workplace fingerprint timeclocks have become the most common source of BIPA class actions. According to legal analytics, 78% of BIPA settlements involve workplace claims rather than consumer claims. The median workplace class includes approximately 777 people—far smaller than consumer privacy cases that can involve millions of users.
The pattern is simple. Employers install fingerprint timeclocks to prevent “buddy punching” where one employee clocks in for another. These systems are efficient and affordable, but many employers fail to obtain proper BIPA consent or publish required retention policies. Employees then file class actions seeking statutory damages for every shift they worked.
Similar BIPA settlements demonstrate the trend. Pret A Manger paid $677,000 to settle claims over fingerprint timeclocks used by about 800 workers. A 2022 settlement involving another employer provided between $569 and $952 per class member. The EasyWorkforce settlement’s payout range of $160 to $750 falls within typical BIPA workplace settlement amounts.
What to Do Next to Claim Your Settlement Payment
Step-by-Step Claim Filing Process
First, determine your eligibility by confirming you used a WorkEasy, EasyClocking, EasyWorkforce, or TimeLogix fingerprint timeclock in Illinois between June 24, 2016 and August 15, 2023. Gather documentation including your place of employment and dates of employment during that period—this information is required to submit a claim.
Next, visit the official settlement website at easyworkforcebipalawsuit.eagclaims.com to file your claim online. The online portal is the fastest way to submit claims and allows you to track your claim status. Alternatively, you can download and print the PDF claim form from the settlement administrator’s website, complete it, and mail it to: EasyWorkforce Class Action Administrator, PO Box 2790, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
When filing, you’ll choose your preferred payment method. Options include paper check mailed to your address, ACH transfer, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or a digital Mastercard. Electronic payment methods typically process faster than paper checks. Submit your claim by the March 31, 2026 deadline—late claims won’t be accepted.
Official Settlement Resources and Contact Information
The official settlement website is www.easyworkforcebipalawsuit.com, supervised by Class Counsel and the Court. This is the only authorized website for the litigation—other websites may contain incorrect information and shouldn’t be relied upon. The settlement administrator handling all claims processing is JND Legal Administration.
For questions about your eligibility or claim status, contact the settlement administrator at 1-844-917-4405 or email [email protected]. The administrator can verify your class membership and help resolve documentation issues. Court documents are available on the settlement website’s “Court Documents” section.
The case name is Tapia-Rendon v. Employer Solutions Staffing Group II, LLC, Case No. 21-CV-3400, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Class counsel representing the workers include Nick Larry Law LLC and Loevy & Loevy.
Important Dates to Remember
Mark these critical deadlines: Claims must be submitted by March 31, 2026—this is the only way to receive payment. If you want to exclude yourself from the settlement to preserve your right to sue EasyWorkforce separately, you must submit an exclusion request by February 25, 2026. Objections to the settlement must also be filed by February 25, 2026.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2026. The Court will decide whether to approve the settlement, attorneys’ fees, and the service award to the class representative. You can attend telephonically if you wish to speak, but attendance isn’t required. If the Court grants final approval, the first round of payments will be issued approximately 73 days later, with additional payments made annually for five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Illinois Fingerprint Timeclock settlement about?
The settlement resolves claims that WorkEasy Software LLC violated Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act by collecting employee fingerprints through timeclock systems without obtaining informed written consent, providing required disclosures, or establishing proper data retention and destruction policies. The alleged violations occurred between June 2016 and August 2023 across Illinois workplaces.
How much is the EasyWorkforce BIPA settlement worth?
The total settlement fund is $1.69 million ($1,685,000). After deductions for administration costs, attorneys’ fees up to $561,667, expenses of $253,376.31, and a $10,000 service award, the remaining funds will be distributed to eligible class members over five years.
Am I eligible to file a claim in the Illinois Fingerprint Timeclock settlement?
You’re eligible if you used a WorkEasy, EasyClocking, EasyWorkforce, or TimeLogix fingerprint timeclock to clock in or out at a job in Illinois between June 24, 2016 and August 15, 2023. You must not have previously opted out or reached a separate settlement with EasyWorkforce.
What is the deadline to submit a claim?
The claim deadline is March 31, 2026. All claims must be submitted online or postmarked by this date. Missing this deadline means forfeiting your right to receive settlement compensation. The final approval hearing is April 28, 2026.
How much can I receive from the EasyWorkforce settlement?
Subclass members who used the devices on or before April 30, 2022 can receive between $225 and $750. Other class members who started using the devices after April 30, 2022 can receive between $160 and $500. Final amounts depend on the total number of valid claims filed.
How do I file a claim in the Illinois Fingerprint Timeclock settlement?
File online at easyworkforcebipalawsuit.eagclaims.com or mail a completed PDF claim form to EasyWorkforce Class Action Administrator, PO Box 2790, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. You’ll need to provide your place of employment and dates of employment during the class period.
What BIPA violations did the lawsuit allege?
The lawsuit alleged EasyWorkforce failed to obtain informed written consent before collecting fingerprints, failed to provide required disclosures about biometric data collection purposes and retention periods, failed to publish retention and destruction policies, and failed to adequately secure biometric information—all violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act.
Last Updated: January 17, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides legal information only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
Take Action: If you’re an eligible class member, file your claim by March 31, 2026 at easyworkforcebipalawsuit.eagclaims.com to receive your settlement payment. For questions about BIPA rights or claim disputes, consult qualified legal counsel.
Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
Read more about Sarah