Wrongful Termination Lawyer Serving Clients in Park Ridge, IL

Were you recently fired from your job? Are you wondering if you might be able to file a wrongful termination lawsuit? You should not hesitate to discuss your case with an experienced Park Ridge wrongful termination lawyer. While it is important to understand that many employment situations in Illinois are at-will, there are a number of exceptions that can allow an employee to file a lawsuit.

If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, you should have an experienced advocate on your side to ensure that your voice is heard.

What is Wrongful Termination in Park Ridge?

When it comes to employment law, the term wrongful termination might be a bit difficult to understand given that Illinois is an at-will employment state. As the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) makes clear, the fact that Illinois is an at-will employment state means that “an employer or employee may terminate the relationship at any time, without reason or cause.” What does this mean in practice? Unless you have an employment contract that stipulates terms of your employment and makes clear conditions of termination, you can be fired from your job without a cause or a reason.

Yet it is important to understand that the term “at-will employment” does not mean that employers can engage in illegal behavior. An article in the Monthly Labor Review clarifies some notable exceptions to at-will employment in Park Ridge, which include the following:

• Existence of an implied contract;
• Termination as retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim;
• Termination as retaliation for refusing to engage in illegal activity at the employer’s request; and
• Discrimination.

The IDOL emphasizes that, although Park Ridge is within an at-will employment state, your employer “cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military service, or unfavorable military discharge.” Illinois law specifies other forms of illegal discrimination, as well.

What You Should Do If You Believe You Were Wrongfully Terminated

What should you do if you believe you were wrongfully terminated? It is essential to gather as much information as possible surrounding the conditions of your employment and termination, including but not limited to the following:

• Dates of any evidence of discrimination or retaliatory language;
• Specific language that was discriminatory or retaliatory (including in-person conversations, emails, memos, etc.);
• Date of any conversation with an employer in which promises were made about your employment, or in which conditions of employment were stipulated (suggesting the existence of an implied contract);
• Specific language that suggested the existence of an implied contract (including in-person conversations, emails, memos, etc.);
• Names and contact information of any witnesses at work; and
• A copy of your personnel file.

Your Park Ridge wrongful termination lawyer will want to analyze any evidence or information you can provide, and your lawyer will be able to assess the merits of your case. If you were wrongfully terminated, you may be entitled to back pay, reinstatement, and compensatory damages.

Contact a Park Ridge Wrongful Termination Lawyer

If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, you should discuss your case with a Park Ridge wrongful termination lawyer as soon as possible. Contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline today to learn more about how we can assist you.

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