Chicago Employment Law Firm

At GWC, our clients often come to us for legal assistance when they are sick and tired of being taken advantage of by their employers. Many clients have also delayed seeking legal help because they were afraid that their employer would retaliate against them by firing them, reducing their pay, or changing their hours and making work unpleasant.

Employers are prohibited from retaliation, and the first thing that our employment lawyers tell new clients is that their employer cannot retaliate against them for filing an employment discrimination lawsuit or a lawsuit for unpaid wages whether it is in Illinois civil courts or through the EEOC and the IDHR.

If the employer does attempt to retaliate, the employer will face new legal claims for violating state and federal laws that prohibit employer retaliation.

At GWC, our highly trained investigators lay the groundwork for our aggressive employment lawyers. In some cases, when an employer is clearly engaging in widespread violations, we find that representing multiple employees who all have the same claims is the best way to represent a client. By working with knowledgeable employment violation attorneys, you can get the justice that you deserve.

Hiring the right employment lawyer can be the difference between success and failure.

Because the stakes are so high in employment law cases, employers will fight tooth-and-nail to avoid paying back pay, penalties, fines, fees, and attorney costs.

Our employment law attorneys have been there and have successfully represented employees who need and deserve to get their money.

You worked for your wages in good faith; now, let us help you get you the pay you deserve.

Contact us today in the manner most convenient for you.

Call 1-312-464-1234
Talk to a professional via Live Chat 24/7.
Fill out the Free Case Evaluation form.

When an employer violates state or federal employment laws, employees can file complaints with Illinois employment and labor agencies.

Employers that have more than 15 employees are governed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Illinois antidiscrimination state laws.

In Illinois, workplace discrimination is jointly governed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).

Employment discrimination on the following bases is prohibited in Illinois:

• Race
• Color
• National Origin
• Religion
• Sex and Pregnancy
• Disability: Physical or Mental
• Age (40 and Older)
• Genetic Information
• Marital Status
• Sexual Orientation
• Citizenship Status
• Military Status
• Unfavorable Military Discharge
• Gender Identity
• Arrest Record
• Victims of Domestic Violence

Employment discrimination lawsuits can be filed with the EEOC or the IDHR. Employees who feel that they have been discriminated against on the basis of a prohibited class can file with either agency and indicate that they are cross-filing in order to ensure that both agencies work together to resolve discrimination claims.

Since the IDHR does not allow Illinois employees to file a private lawsuit, discrimination claims that are valid will be filed with the IDHR and not in traditional civil court. Illinois-based discrimination claims must be filed within six months of the discriminatory act.

Additionally or alternatively, employees may file complaints with federal agencies. Finally, employees may also pursue their claims in state and federal civil courts after either exhausting administrative remedies or directly bypassing them in some circumstances.

Discrimination claims under federal law must be filed with the EEOC within six months of the discrimination. While hiring an attorney is not required to file under the administrative agencies, most employees often do not have the resources or knowledge to adequately pursue these cases on their own. A qualified employment lawyer, on the other hand, can make a world of difference.

Our employment lawyers advise any employees who are considering an employment lawsuit to consult with a knowledgeable employment lawyer before resigning from a position.

GWC employment lawyers help employees file discrimination cases.

There are numerous state and federal laws that govern employee rights in Illinois, but this does not prevent employers from continuing to steal their employees’ wages.

The laws exist to ensure that employers do not violate the constitutional and legal rights of workers in our state.

Our firm helps employees file discrimination lawsuits that involve violations of all relevant state and federal labor laws and regulations, including:

• Civil Rights Act (Title VII)
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act
• Equal Pay Act
• Illinois Human Rights Act
• Family Medical Leave Act

As a plaintiff firm, we help everyday working residents of our state get the wages and benefits they deserve in a healthy, safe, and legal work environment. GWC;s employment lawyers devote their time to upholding these employment laws in the face of unscrupulous employers.

We handle the following employment law and labor violation cases:

• Wage and Hour Violations
• Third-Party Claims
• Wrongful Termination
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• Whistleblower Actions
• Sexual Harassment
• Disability Discrimination
• Pregnancy Discrimination
• Racial Discrimination
• Age Discrimination
• Unemployment Benefit Appeals

If you suspect that your employer is violating one or more state or federal employment laws and regulations, you should not hesitate to protect your rights by contacting an employment law firm.

Common Employment Law Violations

• Day Laborers and Undocumented Workers
• Domestic Worker Rights
• Employee Vacation Benefits
• Employer Retaliation
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Minimum Wage Violations
• Misclassified Independent Contractors
• Non-Exempt Employees
• Overtime Pay Violations
• Pre-and-Post Shift Work
• Union Worker Overtime Pay
• Unpaid Overtime
• Unpaid Wages and Back Pay
• Wage and Hour Violation Lawyers

Unions We Have Proudly Represented

• Amalgamated Transit Union
• American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
• American Federation of Teachers
• Chicago Teachers Union
• Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union
• Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
• International Association of Fire Fighters
• International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters
• International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
• International Union of Elevator Constructors
• International Union of Operating Engineers
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades of the United States and Canada
• International Union of Police Associations
• Laborers’ International Union of North America
• Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association of the United States and Canada
• Railroad Unions
• Service Employees International Union
• Sheet Metal Workers International Association
• Transportation Communications International Union
• UNITEHERE!
• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
• United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union
• United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Service Workers International Union
• United Transportation Union
• United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers
• United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America