Vaziri Law, LLC represents clients in Chicago and throughout Illinois in workplace retaliation claims. Although taking legal action against your employer can be challenging, we have the skills and experience to protect your employment rights.
When you become our client, we will work to help you recover losses resulting from wrongful termination, lost career opportunities, and reputational harm. Contact us today to speak with an experienced Chicago employment retaliation attorney.
What is workplace retaliation in Chicago?
Under federal, state, and local law, all employees in Chicago have certain rights, including the right to complain about discrimination and harassment, as well as to notify the government or law enforcement about potential illegal conduct by their employers (whistleblowing) without fear of retaliation.
Employees also cannot be retaliated against for participating in an investigation or filing a lawsuit against an employer.
Employment retaliation occurs if an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee, such as:
- Wrongful termination
- Demotion
- Reassignment of duties
- Salary reduction
- Negative work evaluation
For example, an employee who is suddenly demoted or disciplined for complaining about discrimination may have a valid workplace retaliation claim. More subtle forms of retaliation are also common, such as supervisors or coworkers treating an employee who has complained about harassment in a hostile manner.
Despite the fact that Illinois is an at-will state for purposes of employment and employers have wide latitude when making employment decisions, employees cannot be retaliated against in any way for making a complaint, filing a lawsuit, or engaging in other protected activity.
How Vaziri Law Can Help With Your Chicago Workplace Retaliation Case
Workplace retaliation is common in Chicago, however, identifying and fighting back against it is challenging. Employers know how to conceal their illegal motives, which makes proving retaliation complicated.
This is where Vaziri Law, LLC comes in. Our experienced employment retaliation attorney will handle all the details of your claim, including:
- Conducting a thorough investigation
- Obtaining personnel records
- Identifying and interviewing witnesses, including colleagues, supervisors, and HR staff
- Taking over communications with your former employer and their attorneys
- Negotiating a settlement
- Filing an employment retaliation lawsuit if necessary
While we work to reach negotiated settlements to employment retaliation claims through forms of alternative dispute resolution, our trial-ready attorney is fully prepared to litigate in state and federal court. Trust the team at Vaziri Law LLC to fight for the compensation you deserve, whether through mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
Common Types of Employment Retaliation in Chicago
Employees are protected from discrimination, harassment, and workplace retaliation by federal, state, and local law. Common forms of employment retaliation include:
- Anti-Discrimination
- Wage-and-Hour
- Whistleblower
- Family Medical Leave
Anti-Discrimination
Employees in Chicago have powerful legal protections under applicable anti-discrimination laws, such as:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- The Illinois Human Rights Act
- The Chicago Human Rights Ordinance
These laws prohibit employment discrimination based on a wide range of protected characteristics (e.g. race, national origin, religion sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.). Moreover, employees are protected from retaliation for complaining to their employers or the appropriate state or federal agency about discrimination or harassment.
Wage-and-Hour
Employees must be paid the current minimum wage under state or local law, and non-exempt employees are also entitled to overtime pay under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers cannot retaliate against an employee for complaining about wages or filing a wage and hour claim.
Whistleblower
Employees who complain about potential illegal conduct are protected against whistleblower retaliation by federal and Illinois law. Examples of such misconduct include:
- Misrepresenting the company’s financial condition by providing false or misleading information
- Engaging in fraud, bribery, or embezzlement
- Over-billing for services or billing for services not provided
- Engaging in discrimination
- Violating safety rules or environmental codes
- Failing to pay wages or overtime
- Falsifying tax returns
For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform And Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) protects employees who provide information to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) concerning securities fraud.
Family Medical Leave Retaliation
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to:
- Care for a newborn or recently adopted child
- Care for a parent, child, or spouse with a serious medical condition
- Take a leave of absence due to a severe medical condition
- Assist family members when someone is deployed abroad on active military service
Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who exercise their rights under the FMLA.
Contact Our Experienced Chicago Workplace Retaliation Attorney
At Vaziri Law, we know how to fight back against workplace retaliation and will work to protect your livelihood and your future. Although no two claims are the same, you may be entitled to compensation such as:
- Reinstatement in your job, if feasible
- Lost wages (e.g. back pay, front pay)
- Out-of-pocket expenses for your employment search
- Attorneys’ fees and legal costs
Above all, we will provide you with powerful representation when you need it most and fight to protect your employment rights. Contact us today so we can start working on your employment retaliation claim.
Vaziri Law helps residents of Chicago, Illinois with Workplace Retaliation including those who live in Cook County, Dupage County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County, Illinois.