This Cook County village has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most affluent Chicagoland suburbs. But this affluence did not occur overnight. Instead, the people of Flossmoor worked hard to achieve it and even harder to maintain it. So, a sudden job loss usually has both financial and emotional implications. In many cases, it might have legal implications, as well, as outlined below.
If a wrongful termination dispute develops, employers have teams of lawyers whose only interest is their clients’ financial well-being. You need an equally aggressive Flossmoor wrongful termination lawyer on your side. That is the kind of representation we offer at the Law Office of Mitchell Kline. Because of our tenacity, we are usually able to resolve these disputes out of court and on victim-friendly terms.
Written contracts usually supersede Illinois’ at-will employment rule. Generally, employers in the Land of Lincoln can fire employees for good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all, as long as the reason is not illegal. If the employee had a written contract, employers can only end employment if the employee violates that contract in a meaningful way.
Despite what film mogul Samuel Goldwyn once said (“An oral contract isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on”), non-written promises are enforceable in court. A Flossmoor wrongful termination lawyer simply needs additional evidence to enforce them.
To determine if an enforceable oral contract exists, most Cook County courts examine several factors, such as:
Wrongful termination victims must prove that a contract existed by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). So, a little evidence goes a long way.
Public policies are items that most people agree are necessary for society to function effectively. Some examples include service in the National Guard, voting, jury duty, and some whistleblowing (more on that below). Employers cannot fire employees for reasons that violate public policy.
This area is Legalese for an abject failure to treat the employee fairly. Employers do not have a duty to always do the right thing, but they cannot go too far, either.
The aforementioned at-will employment rule makes it difficult for even the best Flossmoor wrongful termination lawyers to prevail in these actions. Successful resolutions are usually case-specific. Some examples include glossing over the dangerous aspects of a job, repeatedly transferring employees to induce them to quit, and misleading workers about advancement opportunities.
Most Cook County workers are in a protected class. These classes include women, workers over 40, non-native English speakers, and racial minorities. When employers fire workers in protected classes, they have the burden of proof, and the burden of persuasion, to show that there was a neutral reason for their adverse action.
Other workers engage in protected activities. Complaining about workplace harassment, whistleblowing, and union organization is the three most common situations. If victims establish a temporal connection between the protected activity and the firing or other adverse action, compensation is usually available.
This compensation typically includes money for back pay, front pay, and other economic losses, such as relocation and job search expenses. Compensation for pain and suffering is often available, as well.
Wrongful termination is against the law in Illinois. For a free consultation with an experienced Flossmoor wrongful termination attorney, contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline. After-hours and home visits are available.
