Chicago Employment Discrimination Lawyers

Employment discrimination can take many different forms in Chicago, and it is essential for both job applicants and employees to know that they have protections against employment discrimination under state law in Illinois, as well as under a variety of federal laws. Most employment discrimination protections in Illinois are contained in the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), while a range of federal laws prohibits specific forms of employment discrimination. Whether you have faced discrimination in the job search process, during your employment, or in termination, you could be eligible to file a claim. It is essential to seek advice as soon as possible from our experienced Chicago employment discrimination lawyers.

Types of Employment Discrimination in Chicago

Many forms of discrimination are prohibited in hiring, promotion, pay, and firing in Chicago workplaces. Discrimination based on any of the following is expressly prohibited in all Chicago workplaces:

• Age-related discrimination;
• Disability discrimination;
• Gender discrimination;
• Harassment on the basis of a person’s actual or perceived age, disability, gender, gender identity, military status, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation;
• Pregnancy discrimination;
• Racial discrimination, or discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin;
• Discrimination on the basis of a person’s religion;
• Sex discrimination;
• Sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination; and
• Sexual harassment.

Other forms of discrimination or harassment also may be unlawful under Illinois law or under a specific federal law. 

Laws Prohibiting Employment Discrimination in Chicago

There are a number of laws that prohibit employment discrimination in Chicago, including but not limited to the following:

• Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA);
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, and pregnancy;
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person’s disability; and
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for job applicants or employees aged 40 or older.

The IHRA covers all workplaces where the employer has 1 or more employees. However, most federal laws that prohibit discrimination typically only cover employers with 15 or more employees, and in some cases employers with 20 or more employees. To determine whether you should file a claim under state or federal law, you should seek advice from a Chicago employment discrimination attorney. For most circumstances, employees who have faced discrimination will find that the IHRA provides more protections to employees in Chicago than the range of federal laws. However, there are some situations where it could make sense to file a federal claim.

Employment Discrimination Can Include Harassment

Many forms of workplace harassment constitute unlawful employment discrimination. When discrimination creates a hostile work environment, or when an employee or job applicant faces quid pro quo sexual harassment, it may be possible to file a claim.

Contact Our Chicago Employment Discrimination Attorneys

Do you have concerns about employment discrimination in Chicago? You should get in touch with one of our Chicago employment discrimination attorneys as soon as possible. We can evaluate your case and provide you with more information about your options for filing a discrimination claim under state or federal law. Contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline to learn more about how we can assist you.

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