What is Employment Law in Illinois?
Map courtesy of Geology.com except where noted.
Illinois is nicknamed "The Prairie State" and "The Land of Lincoln". It has the fifth largest population in all of the U.S. and achieved statehood in the year 1818. With its broad industrial base and economic productivity, it is sometimes referred to as a "microcosm" of America. Illinois is often looked to as a bellwether in terms of social, cultural, and political trends.
Of the 50 states, Illinois is noted for having a distinct and variegated system of governance. At the local level, Illinois' government is perhaps the most complex of all states. Many different districts have been created for specific functions. For example, there are school districts, library districts, sanitary districts, watershed districts, land use districts, and many others. These individual miniature government units often have their own taxing and election authority.
In contrast to its local governance system, the court system of Illinois is relatively simple. It is composed of Circuit Courts, Appellate Courts, and the Illinois Supreme Court. Most legal claims in Illinois are processed at the circuit court level. Appeals and more complex matters are typically heard in the Appellate Courts or at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of Illinois maintains the "Supreme Court Commission of Professionalism". The Commission is responsible for maintaining the professional standards for lawyers, judges, and for the justice system overall. Lawyers in Illinois practice law according to these standards, thus ensuring the quality of legal services provided to clients. Illinois lawyers are also familiar with the state's complex governance system.
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At-Will and Contract Employment
Most job relationships in Illinois are on the basis of "at will" employment, but in other cases there may be an employment contract with a set term. "At will" employment implies that either the employee or the employer may end the relationship at any point, so long as the reason for the termination is not illegal. Employment laws of Illinois will be of primary importance in order to determine the clauses and agreements when an employment contract is used.
The Law of Discrimination in Illinois
Illinois laws prohibiting discrimination generally apply at any stage of the employment process, including hiring, promotions and terminations. Specific categories, or classes, are created by Illinois law. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against persons based on their membership in classes such as age, race, disability, national origin, or religion. Lawyers who specialize in workplace discrimination in Illinois can help clarify when behavior may be considered employment discrimination.
