Illinois Sexual Harassment Attorney Blog

I am always amazed when I walk into the waiting area of the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR") at the Thompson Center in Chicago and see people filing out paperwork by themselves. Most of them don't realize that they could have an employment attorney working for them for basically free. My Chicago office doesn't charge unless you recover some money so in affect you are getting me for free. Just think how much stress this would take off of you and what a feeling of relief knowing you have someone with real experience helping you. I know how important your sexual harassment or other discrimination case is to you. Don't go it alone and chance losing your case.

If going it alone with the IDHR isn't bad enough, when I go to the Chicago office of the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IHRC") I see even more people who are going it alone. This is very bad because the other side will have an attorney and this puts you at a real disadvantage. Do you really think you can go one-on-one with an experienced employment discrimination attorney ? And if you can get an attorney for contingency fee, why would you want to try? My Chicago offices never charges a fee to discuss your employment case. Do the right thing and call for a free consultation. Don't go it alone.

Because technology is spreading so quickly and most people own cell phones with text messaging capabilities, this medium is also being used to engage in sexual harassment. Most people don't just work from 9-5 anymore. They are available to answer questions while they are driving to and from work and at home. For this reason, many times supervisors have the cell phone numbers of their employees. This can lead to a problem for the company and supervisor. My Chicago office is seeing a big rise in the number of sexual harassment cases that involve the use of text messages. This is good news for employees who are being harassed at work because they will have a clear and accurate evidence trail.

This text message trail is very important when you file a case with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). During the investigation with the IDHR, evidence such as text messages can be utilized to show without question that you were the victim of sexual harassment and strict liability attaches. And don't forget that when one person at work in being sexually harassed it could create a hostile work environment for everyone. It is very important to speak with an employment lawyer and protect your rights. The company will pay large amounts of money to protect its' rights and assets.

So you filed your age discrimination lawsuit with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR") and received your notice of substantial evidence. Now what are you suppose to do? Well you can proceed on your own and file a complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC") for trial. Remember there won't be a jury trial but rather a trial in front of an administrative law judge. The good news about proceeding with the IHRC is the cost is free. Also there is a limited version of discovery that usually doesn't involve depositions--which can get expensive.

Age discrimination cases are usually won by the numbers. What I mean by that is usually someone isn't going to put derogatory statements about someones age in writing. You will generally have to prove the case by showing statistically younger workers are being given favorable treatment over older workers. The age cut-off is age 40. It is very important that you know how to proceed at the IHRC and can properly draft discovery and properly answer the discovery that the company will send to you. For this reason you should consult with an experienced and aggressive employment law attorney.

What happens when you come into work every day and your boss says you look hot or that sweater makes your chest really stand out? Are these types of remarks appropriate? Is there anything you can do about it? What does the law in Illinois saw about this? Of course this will be a case-by-case basis but generally if your boss is constantly making you feel uncomfortable by his comments about your looks, you may be the victim of sexual harassment by the creation of a hostile work environment. In Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois you can file a claim of discrimination at the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). However, you are better off speaking with an experienced employment lawyer and letting him file the charge for you.

My Chicago office gets many calls about employees who are tired of the remarks their boss makes about their looks. Employees are entitled to a certain degree of respect in the workplace and are protected from constant remarks which make them feel disrespected and humiliated. It is very important to speak with an employment lawyer early in the process to ensure your rights are protected and valuable evidence isn't lost. Remember the company is not going to protect your rights, only you and your attorney can do that.

The city of Methuen will settle a sexual harassment lawsuit for $250,000. The sexual harassment case involves legal secretary Fulya Metin Campanelli and former city solicitor Maurice Lariviere who was her boss. According to published accounts the main claim was that Lariviere engaged in sexual harassment years before and the city did nothing to stop it and to punish him for it. This led him to believe he could continue to engage in sexual harassment and put her in close proximity with him. Another words she is saying that if they had fired him or given him discipline before he would not have been in a position to sexually harass her in the future like he did.

The history of a person accused of sexual harassment comes into play when a situation like this occurs. You can't put a person under the control of a person who has a history of sexual harassment without the proper monitoring in place. In affect you are putting fresh meat in front of a wild animal. In this case the wild animal cost he city $250,000. These types of employment law cases are very expensive, especially since the city also had to pay its' own lawyer a great deal of money to defend the case prior to settlement.

"The hardest and smartest thing to do is approve this and get this behind us,""It's a six-year horror show." said Councilor Michael Condon.

Continue reading " Methuen Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit For $250,000 " »

My Chicago office gets many calls regarding what is sexual harassment in Illinois. Of course there are certain actions that are easy to identify as sexual harassment. But sometimes there are gray areas on what is sexual harassment. For example if a co-worker asks you out for a date one time that would not be sexual harassment. But if you keep turning him down and he doesn't stop that could be considered sexual harassment. Or perhaps after you turn him down he starts acting like a jerk at work and starts saying nasty things about you--that would be sexual harassment. In this type of situation it s a case by case basis. The facts will matter and should be evaluated by an employment lawyer.

Now if the person asking you out is your supervisor or another person in management who has any type of control over you, it may be sexual harassment the first time. The reason is that if you turn the person down you could feel that it would impact your job. And if you turn the boss down and something bad does happen at work, even if it isn't tied directly to turning him down for a date, it sure looks bad. It is a very bad practice for management to ask out employees. So if you are at work and are being asked out for a date and you don't want to go out, you have options. Contact an employment lawyer and find out if you are the victim of discrimination in the form of sexual harassment. If you are we can file a complaint at the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") received a record 99,947 charges of employment discrimination in 2011. With all of the calls to my Chicago office I am not suprised that the number of discrimination complaints is on the rise. I get so many calls about sexual harassment that I am amazed the number of complaints isn't higher. It is very important for employees to realize that they have rights and they have a place to turn to. It is imperative that you contact an employment lawyer who can help you navigate the EEOC and other agencies.

The EEOC obtained $455.6 million in relief through its administrative program and litigation in Fiscal Year 2011. This is a fantastic amount and this shows how widespread the employment discrimination is. There are state agencies that also investigate employment discrimination and I prefer to file directly with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR") because they do a faster and better job of investigating issues. However the imporant thing is to file with either agency and protect your employment rights.

United Insurance Company of America pays $37,500 to settle an Americans With Disability Act ("ADA") lawsuit. The ADA lawsuit was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") after first trying to settle with the company. According to published accounts Craig Burns was a recovering drug addict who was enrolled in a methadone treatment program for many years. In January 2010, United Insurance offered Burns a position as an insurance agent conditioned upon Burns’ passing a drug test.

The problem was Burns’ drug test showed the presence of methadone in his system. Because o this Burns submitted a letter to United Insurance from his treatment provider explaining that he was participating in supervised methadone treatment program and taking legally prescribed medication as part of the treatment. Upon receiving this information, United Insurance notified Burns that he was not eligible for hire and withdrew its offer of employment. This act is illegal and the EEOC held the company to the law.

“The ADA requires employers to make an individualized assessment of whether an individual can do the job rather than relying on fears or stereotypes,” said EEOC attorney Lynette A. Barnes.

So what happens after you file your sexual harassment complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC")? Well you would have already gone through the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR") and will have an idea of the companies position against you. The key will be to evaluate your chances of success at the IHRC. Remember the standards are much different at the IHRC than they were at the IDHR. For this reason it is very important to be represented by an experienced employment law attorney. Things can get very tricky with the IHRC and you need to properly propound discovery to the other side. Additionally you must know the proper way to answer the discovery that is coming your way.

It is my experience that most cases will settle at the IHRC because the risk of a loss by the company is too great and too expensive. Remember if you are successful at the IHRC you can get your attorney fees, back wages and you can ask to be reinstated. Additionally you the Commission can file a document whereby the company can't get any government contracts for up to two years. This is a powerful incentive for the company to settle. Can you imagine if the company is getting two million dollars of government contracts per year. Do you think they are going to risk this on your case? But in order to put this type of pressure and leverage on the company you must be experienced in these types of negotiations.

Choctaw Transportation Company, Inc. pays $75,000 to settle a racial discrimination lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") on behalf of an African-American job applicant. According to published accounts the company refused to hire a black job applicant for a deckhand position because of his race. The applicant was qualified and should have been hired for the position.

This isn't the first problem for Choctaw. The EEOC alleges Choctaw has been discriminating for decades against black workers. Apparently Choctaw segregated its work force and has refused to hire blacks in deckhand positions. This type of activity is hard to believe. The company now has been exposed and the EEOC held the company to the laws that apply regarding employment. Hopefully this type of activity will not occur in the future at this company.

“Employees should not be subjected to racial discrimination in hiring, as it is a violation of federal law,” said EEOC attorney Faye Williams.

Rafael’s Italian Restaurant will pay $25,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit. The sexual harassment lawsuit was first filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") on behalf of various female workers. Some of the females were actually teenagers which makes this even more horrific. According to published accounts the sexual harassment was going on for years and management did not stop it. The harassment included crude comments of a sexual nature directed at the females. If that weren't bad enough there were even requests for sex.

In an even more troubling allegation some of the male workers even used vegetables to simulate sodomy and to hit the victims between their legs. It is hard to believe this type of behavior went on without management intervening on behalf of the female workers. Can you imagine sending your daughter to work in a hostile work environment like this? As a result of this settlement the company will have to undergo sexual harassment training and draft a written policy on sexual harassment for all employees to see. I hope there are changes to management and this doesn't happen in the future.

“Allowing serial harassers to victimize female employees without facing consequences is a clear violation of federal law,” said EEOC attorney Faye A. Williams.

Findlay Honda will pay $150,000 to settle a retaliation and racial discrimination lawsuit. The lawsuit was first filed on behalf of to two black employees by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"). According to published accounts a parts department manager made racially derogatory comments and jokes on a near-daily basis to the two black employees. I know it is hard to believe this type of behavior takes place but it does. Not only did that happen but he also imposed stricter work-related rules on black employees. This type of discrimination is referred to as different terms and conditions.

Two black employees were eventually fired, one after communicating that he was going to file a discrimination charge against the company. This is referred to as retaliation. If you have a negative job action taken against you after complaining about discrimination you have a valid retaliation claim. The amount paid by the company shows they realize they did something wrong and want this to go away. I am glad the EEOC made the company pay up and helped the two workers get some satisfaction.

“We commend Shack-Findlay Automotive for taking proactive measures to ensure a workplace free of discrimination,” said EEOC attorney Anna Y. Park

What happens in Chicago if you boss is making your life so miserable that you can no longer work? Well if there is an underlying complaint of discrimination you will have a claim for a constructive discharge. Constructive discharge in Illinois means that if you are being discriminated against and it creates a hostile work environment that a reasonable person would not tolerate you can quit and it is treated legally as a termination. However, if there is no underlying complaint of discrimination you have a problem. In Chicago and throughout Illinois there is no general harassment law. This means if the boss is just a jerk you get no protection.

So what happens next if you quit your job? Well I would do two things. First I would file a claim with the Illinois Department of Employment Security and second I would file a multiple count claim with the Illinois Department of Human RIghts ("IDHR"). The claim would be for the underlying discrimination and for constructive discharge. Remember that the more legitimate claims you have the better off you are. Chicago is seeing a rise in the number of constructive discharge claims and filing quickly is the best thing to do. Act fast and protect your rights if you are the victim of discrimination at work in Chicago.

My Chicago offices gets calls all the time from people who report sexual harassment at work and then get fired. Sometimes they don't get fired but get demoted or the boss starts to really put the screws to them. In any event they get a negative job action after reporting the sexual harassment. In Illinois this is referred to as retaliation. If this happens to you at work, you can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). The IDHR is tasked with investigating complaints of sexual harassment, retaliation and other forms of discrimination. There are strict time limits for reporting the activity so it is important that you act fast. Don't forget to save as much evidence as possible. This means printing out email's and text messages before they are erased.

The IDHR isn't tasked with anything more than investigation the complaint. If the investigator finds substantial evidence, you can then file a complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC") where you will have your trial in front of an administrative law judge. The IHRC can be a very tricky place and it takes experience to navigate. The important thing is at the IHRC you need evidence to prove your case. It is important to have an organized plan of attack.

Matrix, L.L.C. pays $450,000 to a class of 15 former employees to settle a racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. The lawsuit was first filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") on behalf of the employees. According to published accounts Matrix officials told white supervisor Barbara Palermi not to hire any more black cleaners. When Palermi hired additional black cleaners based on their qualifications to do the job, Matrix dismissed her in retaliation for opposing the company’s racial discrimination. It is amazing that this type of activity still exists in the United States--but it does.

The EEOC alleged that Matrix management officials also discriminated against the black cleaners by insisting they sit in the back of the cafeteria during break times. At one point they even forbid them from using the cafeteria at all. To make matters worse and in an amazing turn of events Matrix fired all of the employees at the worksite and replaced them with an entirely non-black cleaning crew.

“We commend the company for its agreement to carry out the significant equitable relief provided in the consent decree, including providing expansive annual training, which will benefit all company employees,” said EEOC Attorney Spencer H. Lewis, Jr.

Family Dollar Stores of Virginia, Inc. pays $45,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit. The sexual harassment lawsuit was first filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") on behalf of Chanele Brown. According to the complaint Brown was sexually harassed by her male store manager at the Family Dollar store where she worked. Even though Brown worked as a customer services representative for less than a month she still had a valid sexual harassment complaint against the company because a supervisor was harassing her.

The sexual harassment included the manager groping Brown and propositioning her for sex. Think of the pressure this puts on the worker when her boss is trying to have a sexual relationship and she doesn't want that. To make matters worse the manager also allegedly reduced Brown’s work hours during one week and told her that in order to have the hours reinstated, Brown had to let the manager come to her home. This is called Quid Quo Pro which is Latin for this for that. Brown ended up refusing the manager’s request and resigned the next day. This is referred to as a constructive discharge and means that it is treated under the law as a firing.

“Employers are reminded that it is not enough to have policies prohibiting sexual harassment in place, hidden away in a handbook somewhere,” said EEOC attorney Lynette A. Barnes.

In Chicago there seems to be a rise in the number of sexual harassment cases between employees and members of senior management. Senior management can include owners, CEO's and COO's. Many times employees are reluctant to come forward because they feel the other person is too powerful and is beyond being controlled. They feel if it comes down to it, they will be fired--and if they are it would be retaliation under the Illinois Human Rights Act. This would only makes matters worse for the company and subject the company to additional liability. The important thing is to come forward and not let these senior managers get away with what they are doing.

In Chicago the job market is tight and people are afraid of rocking the boat for fear of losing their job. However, if someone is going to engage in sexual harassment do you really think they are beyond firing you if you reject them? Of course they will do whatever they deem necessary to protect their own interests. Filing a complaint of sexual harassment with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR") is a good first step in stopping the harassment and protecting your rights. If they fire you for filing the complaint with the IDHR you then have an additional charge of discrimination based on retaliation. So firing actually gives you some protection. It is very important to protect your rights and take action if you are the victim of sexual harassment at work.

What happens in Chicago when your supervisor is engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with you? As an employee what can and should you do? In Illinois there is strict liability against a company and against the supervisor individually for sexual harassment if you are being subjected to sexual harassment by the supervisor. That means if you are being sent text messages and emails that are sexual in nature by the supervisor or anyone in management who has any type of control over you, than you have a case of sexual harassment. You can file directly with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). It is very important to get an attorney involved early so that the complaint can be drafted properly and it is filed in a timely manner. Additionally, the company will take you more serious if you have an attorney.

So what do you do after you file your complaint of sexual harassment with the IDHR? First, keep your nose clean at work and dont' give them an excuse to fire you. And believe me they will be looking for a reason to fire you. Just because you file with the IDHR doesn't mean you can start coming in late or goof off on your job. Second, keep doing your best and keep good records of what you do. If you are subjected to any discipline, make sure you document your objections in a professional fashion. Remember at some point a judge may be looking at these documents and we want to make sure they look professional. Let the other side look bad. The botton line is in Illinois there is strict liability against a supervisor for sexual harassment. Don't let your supervisors engage in sexual harassment in Chicago against you.

My Chicago offices gets emails and visits from people who are the victims of religious discrimination at work. So what exactly is discrimination based on religion? You can't be treated different at work based on your religious beliefs. And the employer must make changes to the schedule that don't create a hardship on the business if your religion requires it. So if you can't work on a certain day because of your religious beliefs and it doesn't create a burden on your employer he must give you that day off. If this doesn't happen and your employer continues to treat you this way, you are in a hostile work environment and you have a right to file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). The IDHR will investigate the complaint and gather documents from your employer.

If the IDHR finds that you are in fact being discriminated against you will have a right to file a complaint directly with the Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC"). The actual procedure is the IDHR sending you a letter stating that they found substantial evidence and you now have 90 days to file your complaint with the IHRC. This is where the actual trial will take place and you will have an opportunity to confront your employer and his witnesses. The trial will take place in front of an administrative law judge and the remedies available to you include, back wages, future wages, money for medical care, lost benefits, attorney fees and money for emotional distress. You can also ask for your job back. All of this puts pressure on the other side and the chances of settlement if you have a decent case are good. Don't let your employer discriminate against you because of your religious beliefs.

My Chicago offices gets calls all the time from people who are representing themselves in front of the Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC"). They may have a claim of sexual harassment resulting in the creation of a hostile work environment or some other form of discrimination. The first step of course is to file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). After the IDHR issues its' report and finds substantial evidence you then have 90 days to file directly with the IHRC. Now the case really starts. Do you know what to do next? Are you going to be able to proceed on your own? Chances are the answer is no. But if you insist on proceeding on your own you should know the basics.

You will be given a trail date. This usually just acts as a first status with the Judge. The reason for this is both parties usually want to engage in discovery. So the first trial date is not really a trial date. When you do get your first trial notice you will see that there is a statement about a pre-hearing memo being filed 10 days prior to the start of the trial. What is this and how should you approach it. An experienced trial lawyer will be able to handle this for you and will have filed this document many times. It is very important that you fill this out properly or it could affect your trial. I suggest you don't fill this out alone. If you are going to fill it out alone read the rules on the IHRC website and follow their instructions. Remember this memo is very important, will list your witnesses you will call, and the evidence you produce at trial. Don't list an important piece of evidence and you can't use it at trial.

So you are at work and your supervisor starts to send you sexual type messages via text message. What should you do to stop this behavior without losing your job? And does this rise to the level of sexual harassment in Illinois? Well the short answer is yes. In Illinois there is strict liability attached to the company if a supervisor or person in management engages in conduct that can be deemed sexually harassing. So sexual text messages would qualify as sexual harassment in Illinois. And the best part about text messages are they show the phone number sent from and are easy to show ownership. Text messages are great forms of evidence.

One thing you should do is save the text message and print them out so you can' risk losing them. A complaint for sexual harassment can be filed at the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR") and they will automatically file with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"). I prefer to file with the IDHR because they are required by law to conduct an investigation within one year. The EEOC on the other hand does not have to conduct an investigation within a certain time period. In short, save your text messages and call an experienced employment lawyer.

There are some very troubling statistics regarding discrimination complaints based on sexual orientation in Illinois and in particular in Chicago. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") the number of discrimination charges increased by over 6,000 from the previous year. In Chicago if you are the victim of discrimination based on sexual orientation you can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). The IDHR will investigate the complaint and if there is a finding of substantial evidence, the IDHR will allow you to file a complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC") for trial. At the IHRC there will be a trial in front of an administrative law judge. You also have an option of filing a lawsuit at the circuit court in the county where the discrimination occurred. An experienced employment lawyer can help you decide which is the best venue.

Even though Chicago is a metropolitan area there are still many narrow-minded people who engage in terrible behavior toward people who are different than they are. In the case of people in the Gay and Lesbian community, small minded people still can make their life miserable at work. Remember if you are the victim of discrimination based on sexual orientation you have rights and an opportunity to make things right. There are remedies that are available to you if you file a timely charge of discrimination at the IDHR. Protect your rights and act quickly. Save any text messages, emails or voice mails that may show discrimination or unwelcome comments. Take notes of things said in private and confront the person doing the discrimination via email so you have a paper trail. Also complain to human resources in writing so you have a record of making the complaint.

You have been working hard and putting in the extra effort. You apply for the vacant supervisors job and you seem like a lock for it. You have the right education, work experience and you do the job now when the supervisor is out on vacation. But you don't get the job and what's worse a man who is less qualified and less educated gets it. You can't believe it and don't know what to do next. Well the good news is in illinois you can file a complaint of gender discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). They are the agency that is tasked with investigating complaints of discrimination in Chicago.

So what do you need to prove gender discrimination? Well it is very rare that you will have actual evidence of direct discrimination. That is, that management will write a memo saying don't hire any women for the job. So what is needed is what's called indirect evidence. You will show your qualifications, your education and the qualifications of the person who received the job. Other than your gender what was different? Did other men apply for the job and reach the next level of interviews? Does the company have a pattern of hiring only females for management positions? If the case makes it to litigation and you can take depositions or get the notes of the people doing the interview, are there negative comments about a bad interview or were they positive. These are just a few of the items you need to prove your case. Speaking with an experience attorney who practices in front of the IDHR would be your best bet in winning your case of gender discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC") is one of the agencies in Illinois that hears cases involving age discrimination and other forms of discrimination. In order to get a case in front of the IHRC you must first file a complaint alleging discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR"). The IDHR will conduct an investigation and upon finding substantial evidence will send you the proper documents allowing you to file your complaint with the IHRC. It is very important to understand what takes place at both agencies so you can maximize your chances of success. Remember that one wrong step and your case could end.

So once your age discrimination case makes it to the IHRC what then? Well the good news is you are probably going to end up with a trial in front of an administrative law judge. Unless you have a baseless case this will happen. And the chances of your case being baseless at this point are not great because the case would not have made it from the IDHR. At trial you can ask for your job back which puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the company to settle. You can imagine how uncomfortable a company would be if they are ordered to take an employee back after they fired the employee. You can also ask for attorney fees, lost wages and benefits and money for emotional distress as well as any medical bills you may have incurred, including money for a therapist. Make sure you are prepared for your trial at the IHRC and maximize your chances of success.

So your case made it all the way to the Illinois Human Rights Commission ("IHRC"). Now what do you do? Are you prepared to take the case to trial and wait a few years for the judges decision? Remember at the IHRC there are no jury trials. The good news for you is that most cases before the IHRC settle, just like most other civil cases. If you have a sexual harassment case chances are the company isn't going to want all the juicy details to emerge. Just think how embarrassing it would be to have the world know how women are really treated at work. If your sexual harassment case makes it to the IHRC you have leverage.

So what do you do next? Well I hope you have an experienced sexual harassment lawyer because that is how you are getting top dollar for your case. Negotiations can be tricky and are all about leverage, pressure and experience. If you are suing a company they have to have a lawyer in order to appear in front of the IHRC so why go it alone. You need a lawyer who is experienced to battle their lawyer. If you hire the right lawyer you basically get him for free because of the increase in the settlement you will receive. If your case has advanced this far, go the extra mile and make sure you receive top dollar.