Workplace Retaliation Lawyer Chicago, IL

Protecting Clients from Unlawful Workplace Retaliation

If you recently made a complaint at work about an illegal or unjust situation, and your employer seems to be punishing you now, you might be the victim of workplace retaliation. If you feel like the punishment you’re dealing with is unfair, you’re correct. In fact, it’s also illegal, as there are state and federal laws in place to protect you from employer retaliation after taking certain actions at work that are within your legal rights.

Unfortunately, retaliation can become complicated in the workplace when it is not so obvious that it’s even occurring. You will need to prove that you’re being punished by your employer specifically because you exercised your legal rights or engaged in a lawful activity, which can be challenging. This is why you need skilled lawyers on your side to gather the evidence you need for your workplace retaliation claim. Contact Atlas Law Center today to schedule a free consultation with lawyers who look forward to protecting your rights in the workplace.

What Are Your Legally Protected Actions at Work?

As an employee, you have certain rights that your employer cannot punish you for using. This allows you to stand up for what’s right without worrying about losing your job or being disciplined at work. If you did just that and are now experiencing negative consequences, you should consider filing an employer retaliation claim so you don’t suffer financially for doing the right thing.

Before you take legal action, it’s helpful to know what your legally protected activities are as an employee. They include:

Filing a workers’ compensation claim
Reporting discriminatory conduct on the basis of race, religious practice, gender, age, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation
Participating in an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation regarding an employment discrimination complaint
Asking coworkers or supervisors about salary information to ensure equal pay
Insisting on fair pay, such as minimum wage or overtime pay
Filing a sexual harassment claim
Requesting unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Reporting unsafe conditions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Requesting a reasonable accommodation for a disability
Reporting on your employer’s illegal actions
Refusing to participate in or enforce employment discrimination at work

If you carried out a protected activity from this list and believe your employer is targeting you, it’s time to talk to Chicago retaliation attorneys about your legal options. Whether you reported age discrimination or sexual harassment on behalf of yourself or a colleague or participated in an investigation on an EEO charge, it is unlawful for your employer to retaliate against you for these protected actions. You deserve the chance to seek justice with our team by your side, so call us today.

What Are Examples of Workplace Retaliation?

Retaliation claims typically require you to prove you completed a protected activity at work and were subsequently punished by your employer. There are many ways for an employer to retaliate against you and other employees for reporting harassment, filing a workers’ compensation claim, cooperating with the investigation of a discrimination claim, and more. Some of the most common forms of workplace retaliation include:

Suddenly getting poor performance reviews at work when you used to get positive reviews
Being passed over for promotions you’re qualified for
Not getting a pay raise when your coworkers get one
Being demoted or getting a pay cut
Facing disciplinary actions, such as warnings and unpaid leave, even though you didn’t break any rules at work
Being assigned job duties that are challenging or nearly impossible for you to do
Dealing with a hostile work environment in which your manager or coworkers make you feel uncomfortable, offended, or unsafe through verbal or physical harassment
Being wrongfully terminated for vague reasons

Whether your employer retaliated through wrongful termination, a demotion, a hostile work environment, or any other adverse action, you deserve to get justice. Contact our Illinois employment law firm to start your employer retaliation case.

What Compensation Are You Entitled to If You Win Your Retaliation Case?

Employers must follow the laws created by the Illinois Human Rights Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and other regulations meant to protect employees. If they don’t, you have the right to take legal action. Doing so can allow you to be compensated for the unfair treatment you received at work, and it can also remind employers like yours of the importance of adhering to employment law.

When you contact our workplace retaliation attorneys about your case, we’ll discuss the outcome you hope to get. For most employees, financial compensation is an important result, as this can make up for the demotions, pay cuts, or job loss that you dealt with due to employer retaliation.

If your former employer wrongfully terminated you and you want your job back, you can request this as part of your compensation. You can also ask your employer to pay your attorney fees and other legal costs. Our legal team can review any additional damages that you might want, so call us today to learn more.

Are You Ready to Call Chicago Retaliation Lawyers?

If you’re a victim of workplace retaliation, please contact Atlas Law Center for legal assistance immediately. If you wait too long, you might miss out on your right to sue since employment law cases have strict deadlines to abide by.

When you contact us for a free consultation, our caring lawyers will listen as you discuss the details of your situation. Once we understand which protected activities you carried out at work and what forms of retaliation your employer displayed, we’ll determine the most suitable approach to your case. If you’re ready to report workplace retaliation and learn more about your rights and remedies, please call 630-394-6350.