Blog

Dec. 18, 2017

A recent decision by the Illinois Court of Appeals has clarified the rights of disabled employees, granting them the ability to pursue lawsuits in cases where they have been harassed and discriminated against because a disability.

Dec. 18, 2017

When it comes to sex discrimination, it is well established law that harassment based on gender is illegal. But what about harassment based on a person’s age? While there is extensive law regarding sexual harassment, age harassment is a relatively new subject for the courts, as illustrated by a recent case from here in Illinois.

Dec. 18, 2017

It’s hard to believe, but in 2016 there is no law at the federal level explicitly protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people from workplace discrimination. However, there is some indication that this may be beginning to change at the federal level, complementing an Illinois law that has protected employment rights of the LGBT community for the past decade.

Dec. 18, 2017

There has long been an idea under Illinois law that doing the right thing should be protected. If you notice your employer is doing something illegal and report it to law enforcement, you should be rewarded for this good deed, or at the very least protected from retaliation at your job. Illinois has long had what’s known as the Whistleblower Act on the books to protect employees from retaliatory discharge if they report wrongdoing on the part of their employer.

Dec. 18, 2017

When an employee reports a complaint for an unlawful practice or discrimination against their employer, there is a chance they might retaliate and fire that person. Under state and federal laws, an employer cannot fire their worker for exercising their rights. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission describes retaliation as an adverse action taken against an employee who was involved in a protected activity.

Dec. 18, 2017

Employees have a right to voice concerns that their coworkers are being treated unfairly, according to a recent opinion from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Illinois. The case, Staffing Network Holdings, LLC v. NLRB, found that such statements cannot be subject to employee retaliation under the longstanding doctrine of protected concerted activity.

Dec. 18, 2017

For an employee to file a wrongful termination claim, the general perception is that they must prove the employer fired them in violation of the employment contract or for unfair reasons. However, there are situations where an employee is forced to resign from their job because of intolerable or hostile working conditions.

Dec. 18, 2017

Sex discrimination remains a serious problem in many professional fields. While it may seem inconceivable that in 2016 there women are still barred from entire classes of jobs, in reality that is sadly still the case. And even when the federal government intervenes to put an end to such practices, it can take many years of litigation just to get a court to answer the question of whether illegal sex discrimination exists.

Dec. 18, 2017

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has enforced several laws that protect employees from discrimination based on everything from religion and physical ability to age and sex. While there are federal laws in place against workplace discrimination, most states have also passed some laws that take additional measures against it.

Dec. 18, 2017

Retaliation refers to the wrongful termination or punishment faced by an employee for reporting any illegal activity or unethical conduct of the employer or company, such as workplace safety violations, harassment, discrimination, and others. There are several laws that give workplace rights to employees and prohibit retaliation.