; or (2) in employee handbooks. (c) Violation; penalty Any employer who willfully violates the posting requirements of this section shall be subject to a civil fine in an amount not to exceed $100 for each separate offense. 7. Prohibited acts (a) Interference with rights (1) Exercise of rights It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under this Act, including— (A) discharging or discriminating against (including retaliating against) any individual, including a job applicant, for exercising, or attempting to exercise, any right provided under this Act; (B) using the taking of paid sick time or unpaid sick time under this Act as a negative factor in an employment action, such as hiring, promotion, reducing hours or number of shifts, or a disciplinary action; or (C) counting the paid sick time or unpaid sick time under a no-fault attendance policy or any other absence control policy. (2) Discrimination It shall be unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against (including retaliating against) any individual, including a job applicant, for opposing any practice made unlawful by this Act. (b) Interference with proceedings or inquiries It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against (including retaliating against) any individual, including a job applicant, because such individual— (1) has filed an action, or has instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this Act; (2) has given, or is about to give, any information in connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this Act