Discrimination

Everyone deserves a workplace free of unlawful discrimination. Unlawful discrimination can take many forms, but it usually consists of discriminating against someone based on who they are – their fixed traits – as opposed to what they do or what they say. This is why your employer cannot consider any legally protected traits when making an important employment decision about you. In Illinois, these traits include:

It is important to remember that not all discrimination is unlawful. In Illinois, discrimination and any accompanying harassment must be based on a protected characteristic. This means your employer is free to discriminate against you due to entirely unrelated matters, such as the quality of your work. However, just because an employer claims the reason for discrimination is a lawful one doesn’t mean it necessarily is. Sometimes, employers offer a legitimate reason for discrimination to conceal an illegal one.  

If you believe you were illegally discriminated against, you should talk to an attorney today.

How RAK Law Can Help

If you are suffering workplace discrimination, here is how a lawyer can help:

Stop the discrimination. If you contact an attorney early enough in the process, they can sometimes convince your employer to take steps to end the discrimination. This can take many forms. The manager who is discriminating against you may be disciplined or transferred, or, if you prefer, you may be transferred to a different manager or location. Regardless, getting an attorney involved early in the process can help you navigate it smoothly and ensure that your employer complies with the law.

Get you out. In many cases, by the time a victim of discrimination retains an attorney, the offending behavior has become so offensive that they just want to leave. In these cases, an attorney can work directly with your employer to negotiate an exit package that protects your interests and preserves your reputation.

You can sue. If your employer is not willing to negotiate an out-of-court resolution you may have no choice but to bring a lawsuit. A good attorney will walk you through the process and make sure you understand the risks and potential benefits and, if you decide to sue, will fiercely advocate for your rights and always keep your best interests in mind.