Marital status is defined as the status of being married, single, divorced, separated, or widowed. In Illinois, employment discrimination on the basis of your marital status is protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA). What Actions are Covered? When an...
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Month: August 2017
Illinois Wrongful Termination FAQ
If you believe that you have been wrongfully terminated, you probably have many questions regarding potential legal action and how to make a claim against your employer. We have prepared a list of common questions and answers which may apply generally to employees...
Types of Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination which violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and is a serious impediment to a functional work environment. Sexual harassment can affect anyone (regardless of gender) and be instigated by anyone. Anyone affected by...
Why is Paid Family Leave so Controversial?
Many countries around the world offer some form of paid family leave to new mothers and fathers, with the United States being a notable exception. In the United States, parents who are unable to work for family reasons such as pregnancy, bonding with a newborn or...
Age Discrimination in the Digital Age
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) has protected the rights of workers over the age of 40 for over half a century. But since the Great Recession, age discrimination has steadily increased in the digital age. In 2015, 33 million Americans over the...
Chicago’s Minimum Wage Increases to $12 per Hour. How Are Employers and Employees Impacted?
The minimum wage for over 400,000 Chicago employees rose from $11 to $12 per hour on July 1, 2018 because of the city’s Minimum Wage Ordinance. Amid concerns of growing labor costs and consumer inflation, how are employers and employees impacted by the changes? At...
How Employees and Employers Benefit from Amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act
Major changes are coming to the Illinois Department of Human Rights and Illinois Human Rights Commission. Upon signing by Governor Rauner, the amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act will remove administrative hurdles for employees seeking to bring IHRA claims at...
Join us for Equal Pay Day
The Wood Law Office Office will be observing Equal Pay Day on April 10th! Join us in the fight for equal pay for equal work in Chicago and around the nation. What is Equal Pay Day? Equal Pay Day was first observed by the National Committee on Pay Equality in 1996 to...
Black History Month Highlight: Marketing Black-Owned Businesses in Illinois
As Black History Month comes to a close, we should pause and take perspective about it and steps we can take to celebrate Black History beyond February. Supporting local, black-owned businesses in Illinois is one way to celebrate Black History Month throughout the...
Illinois Sexual Harassment Laws
Sexual Harassment Attorney Workplace sexual harassment grabs headlines when high-profile individuals such as television host Bill O’Reilly and movie producer Harvey Weinstein are involved. But less-known cases are sometimes equally eye-popping. A Texas jury awarded a...