Employment discrimination in Illinois is a violation of local, state, and federal law. If you have been treated unfairly by an employer throughout Cook County, it takes an accomplished Chicago employment discrimination lawyer to protect your rights.
At Vaziri Law LLC, we have extensive experience handling employment discrimination claims and a proven history of achieving results for our clients. Whether you believe you have been discriminated against because of your age, race, gender, disability, or any other protected characteristic, we can help.
When you become our client, your case will be handled by an experienced discrimination attorney who fights to win in and out of the courtroom. Though taking legal action against your employer is intimidating, our legal team has your back. Contact our Cook County office today to set up a consultation regarding employment discrimination that you or a loved one have experienced.
Representing Victims of Employment Discrimination in Chicago
It is illegal for employers in Illinois as well as around the country to make discriminatory employment decisions. Discrimination can occur at
any point during the employment relationship: hiring, compensating, training, promoting, and firing.
There are several federal laws and state laws that protect workers from discrimination, including:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, as well as sexual orientation, and gender identity.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) bars employers from discriminating against employees and job applicants based on age (40 and over) when making employment decisions.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employers from discriminating against disabled workers and prospective job candidates or those with perceived disabilities.
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy.
- The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008 protects employees from discrimination based on their genetic information.
- The Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) prohibits discrimination based on a more comprehensive set of characteristics than federal laws — ancestry, arrest record, citizenship status, conviction record, marital status, military status, unfavorable discharge from the military, etc.
Types of Discrimination Claims
Generally, there are three categories of employment discrimination:
- Disparate (discriminatory) treatment – You were treated less favorably by your employer compared to others because of your protected status (e.g. age, gender, race, religion, sex, disability, etc.).
- Disparate impact – An employment policy or practice that appears to be neutral has had an adverse impact on you because you are a member of a protected class.
- Workplace retaliation – You were punished for engaging in a legally protected right, such as complaining about harassment or reporting unlawful conduct by your employer. Retaliation may involve termination, demotion, or salary reduction.
Common examples of employment discrimination include:
- Refusing to hire a job applicant because of his or her race;
- Refusing to select a disabled employee for a training program;
- Firing or discharging an employee for whistleblowing about discrimination; or
- Paying a woman less than a man for doing the same job.
Despite the protections under federal and state law, proving discrimination can be difficult because employers know how to disguise their discriminatory motives. For this reason, it is crucial to work with an experienced Chicago employment lawyer who will fight hard to protect your employment rights.
How Vaziri Law, LLC Can Help With Your Employment Discrimination Claim
You should know that before you can file an employment discrimination claim under federal law, you must file a claim (or “Charge”) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Eventually, the agency will issue a Right to Sue letter that will allow you to file a lawsuit in federal court. Our firm has extensive experience representing clients in administrative proceedings before the EEOC and later litigating the case in federal court.
Because the IHRA covers most employers and provides wider legal protections than federal law, we may recommend pursuing an employment discrimination claim in state court. Regardless of the forum — mediation, arbitration, or litigation, our employment discrimination attorney will fight hard to protect your rights.
Damages You Can Recover in an Employment Discrimination Claim in Chicago
Depending on the circumstances, you may be awarded damages such as:
- Back pay (back wages)
- Front pay
- Lost benefits (e.g. health and pension)
- Lost bonuses
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
In addition, employment discrimination laws allow you to recover attorneys’ fees and court costs, which means you will not have any out-of-pocket legal costs. Finally, the court may also provide equitable relief by ordering your employer to take certain actions. If you were wrongfully terminated, for example, the court may order your employer to reinstate you.
Contact Our Employment Discrimination Attorney at Vaziri Law, LLC Today!
If you have been subjected to workplace discrimination, you need the informed representation our firm provides. We will take the time to explain all your rights, explore all your options, and work to achieve the best possible outcome. Contact our office today so we can start working on your claim.
Vaziri Law helps residents of Chicago with Employment Discrimination including those who live in Cook County, Dupage County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County.