Employment in Illinois is considered “at-will,” which generally means that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason as long as that reason is not prohibited by state or federal law.  Oftentimes, treatment that an employee might consider “unfair” or “unprofessional” will not rise to the level of being “unlawful,” and the employee will not have legal standing to challenge the actions taken against him or her by the employer.

However, employers are prohibited from making employment decisions on the basis of an employee’s membership in a protected class.  Generally, this means that employers cannot make decisions which alter the terms and conditions of employment based on characteristics including race, sex, national origin, color, religion, age, or disability. 

A number of laws protect employees from discrimination on the basis of their membership in a protected class.  At Caffarelli & Siegel, our attorneys commonly work with individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in violation of Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or the Americans with Disabilities Act.  These statutes prohibit employers from discriminating in the hiring, employment, or termination of employees based on race, sex, national origin, color, religion, age, and disability.  Before filing suit under any of these statutes, an individual must first file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, within 300 days of the unlawful violation.

In Illinois, employees are also protected against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.  Recent amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act allow individuals to file suit in state court if they feel they have been discriminated against on the basis of their orientation.

If you believe you have been subjected to unlawful discrimination, or if you would like representation by an attorney in any relevant administrative or judicial proceeding, contact Caffarelli & Siegel Ltd. to speak to a Chicago Employment lawyer.