Employment Lawyer
“I represent employees who are the victims of unlawful discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability. I also represent employees who are victims of unlawful retaliation and victims of sexual harassment. I represent employees in front of the Illinois Human Rights Commission, EEOC and in federal court.”
What the law does and does not require
The law does not require that your employer be fair to everyone. What an employer cannot do is treat you differently because of a protected characteristic — race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or age. An employer also cannot fire you because you filed a worker’s compensation case, and cannot fire you for reporting unlawful activity to government agencies.
Sexual harassment in the workplace
Despite the advances made by the “me too” movement, sexual harassment continues in the workplace today almost as bad as it did 20 years ago. That is the bad news. The good news is that most employers now take it seriously when employees report sexual harassment.
Deadlines are short
There are different statutes of limitations under state and federal law. Generally, an EEOC case may be filed within 300 days of the discriminatory acts, whereas under Illinois law you may have up to two years. Many employment cases require filing first with the Illinois Department of Human Rights or the EEOC before pursuing litigation, which makes contacting a lawyer promptly important.
Should you quit?
Before leaving, you should make a complaint about the discriminatory conduct to Human Resources or a manager. This notice requirement helps employers address violations and protects your legal rights.