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Chicago Employment Law Firm
Have You Been Taken Advantage Of By Your Employer?
Hiring the right employment lawyer can be the difference between success and failure. Because the stakes are so high in employment law cases, employers will fight tooth-and-nail to avoid paying back pay, penalties, fines, fees, and attorney costs. Our employment law attorneys have been there and have successfully represented employees who need and deserve to get their money.
You worked for your wages in good faith; now, let us help you get you the pay you deserve.
Talk To An Employment Attorney Before Making Any Decisions
The decisions employees make while they are employed can have a great impact on the outcome of any labor complaint or employment lawsuit.
Employees may also file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor to get their unpaid wages. In order to file with the Illinois Department of Labor, employees must act within five years of when the original claim arose.
In some cases, lawsuits for unpaid wages and overtime on behalf of many employees may be brought as a collective action. A collective action can reduce employer retaliation, since an entire class of workers is involved in a lawsuit rather than a single employee.
Most clients have questions about the steps they need to take, if any, including:
- What are my rights?
- Do I have a legal claim?
- What facts would support a legal claim?
While the federal minimum wage is currently set at $7.25 per hour, Illinois state law requires employers to provide a minimum of $8.25 per hour. In employment law cases involving wage and hour violations in Illinois, every employee is entitled to file a private and civil employment lawsuit to recover:
- Unpaid wages
- Penalties
- Punitive damages
- Attorneys fees and costs
- Reinstatement
We Win Cases
Employer Retaliation
Contact Our Chicago Employment Lawyers
Filing an Employment Discrimination Lawsuit
When an employer violates state or federal employment laws, employees can file complaints with Illinois employment and labor agencies.
Employers that have more than 15 employees are governed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Illinois antidiscrimination state laws.
In Illinois, workplace discrimination is jointly governed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).
Employment discrimination on the following bases is prohibited in Illinois:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Religion
- Sex and Pregnancy
- Disability: Physical or Mental
- Age (40 and Older)
- Genetic Information
- Marital Status
- Sexual Orientation
- Citizenship Status
- Military Status
- Unfavorable Military Discharge
- Gender Identity
- Arrest Record
- Victims of Domestic Violence
Employment discrimination lawsuits can be filed with the EEOC or the IDHR. Employees who feel that they have been discriminated against on the basis of a prohibited class can file with either agency and indicate that they are cross-filing in order to ensure that both agencies work together to resolve discrimination claims.
Since the IDHR does not allow Illinois employees to file a private lawsuit, discrimination claims that are valid will be filed with the IDHR and not in traditional civil court. Illinois-based discrimination claims must be filed within six months of the discriminatory act.
Additionally or alternatively, employees may file complaints with federal agencies. Finally, employees may also pursue their claims in state and federal civil courts after either exhausting administrative remedies or directly bypassing them in some circumstances.
Discrimination claims under federal law must be filed with the EEOC within six months of the discrimination. While hiring an attorney is not required to file under the administrative agencies, most employees often do not have the resources or knowledge to adequately pursue these cases on their own. A qualified employment lawyer, on the other hand, can make a world of difference.
Our employment lawyers advise any employees who are considering an employment lawsuit to consult with a knowledgeable employment lawyer before resigning from a position.
Employment Law Cases We Handle
GWC employment lawyers help employees file discrimination cases.
There are numerous state and federal laws that govern employee rights in Illinois, but this does not prevent employers from continuing to steal their employees’ wages.
The laws exist to ensure that employers do not violate the constitutional and legal rights of workers in our state.
Our firm helps employees file discrimination lawsuits that involve violations of all relevant state and federal labor laws and regulations, including:
- Civil Rights Act (Title VII)
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Equal Pay Act
- Illinois Human Rights Act
- Family Medical Leave Act
As a plaintiff firm, we help everyday working residents of our state get the wages and benefits they deserve in a healthy, safe, and legal work environment. GWC;s employment lawyers devote their time to upholding these employment laws in the face of unscrupulous employers.
We handle the following employment law and labor violation cases:
- Wage and Hour Violations
- Third-Party Claims
- Wrongful Termination
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Whistleblower Actions
- Sexual Harassment
- Disability Discrimination
- Pregnancy Discrimination
- Racial Discrimination
- Age Discrimination
- Unemployment Benefit Appeals
If you suspect that your employer is violating one or more state or federal employment laws and regulations, you should not hesitate to protect your rights by contacting an employment law firm.