Representing Employment in Joliet and Will County

Discrimination

State and federal anti-discrimination laws protect certain classes of employees. These classes include:

• Race
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Age
• Disability
• Citizenship status
• Sexual Orientation
• Pregnancy

Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against employees who file a discrimination complaint or participate in an investigation into discrimination. If you were fired or mistreated because you filed a discrimination complaint, or because you participated in an investigation, you may have a legal claim for retaliation.

A Joliet employment lawyer can help you determine your rights as an employee or protect you as a business owner.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of sex discrimination that is prohibited by federal and state law. Sexual harassment can take many different forms, but it always involves unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, and it can be very damaging to the victim.

Victims of sexual harassment can suffer a wide range of negative consequences, including but not limited to:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Shame
• Low self-esteem
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

In addition, victims may lose their jobs or be passed over for promotions, and they may also experience difficulty finding new employment.

If you have been the victim of sexual harassment at work, it is important to take action. You can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Illinois Department of Human Rights. You can also speak with an employment lawyer about your options.

Retaliation

If you have been fired or mistreated because you filed a discrimination complaint, or because you participated in an investigation, you may have a legal claim for retaliation.

Retaliation is when an employer takes negative action against an employee in retaliation for filing a complaint or participating in an investigation. Retaliation can take many different forms, including:

• Firing or demoting the employee
• Cutting hours or reducing pay
• Threatening the employee
• Harassing the employee
• Intimidating the employee

Overtime

In Illinois, eligible employees are entitled to receive one and a half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a week. This is known as overtime pay.

If you have not been paid the overtime wages you are owed, you may be able to file a claim for back pay. To file a claim, you must first notify your employer of your intent to file a claim. Your employer then has an opportunity to respond to the claim. If the two of you are unable to reach a resolution, you may file a lawsuit against your employer.

Alternatively, if you are a small business owner whose employee is claiming overtime without warrant, we are here to help you fight the allegations.