The Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act prohibit employers in Illinois from discriminating on the basis of gender. As such, employers may not use make any determinations based on gender in any areas such as wage amounts, hiring, and promotion policies. They also must ensure that working environments are not hostile or biased towards a particular gender, and that it is not of an overtly sexual atmosphere.

What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

The Equal Pay Act allows discrimination to be proven if it can be shown that both men and women work for the same employer doing the same tasks, and yet are paid differently. Employers in Lemont may also be held liable in a discrimination claim if their hiring and promotion policies favor one gender, or if the they take retaliatory action against a worker who files a complaint against their employer.

When is Sexual Harassment Prohibited?

Any unwelcome sexual behavior directed at the victim, including physical or verbal acts, is considered to be sexual harassment. Employers in Lemont might also be liable for the behavior, even when the conduct was done by an employee's co-worker.

If the employer allows conduct to create an overly sexual work environment, they might be held liable for sexual harassment in Illinois. It is normally somewhat hard to prove gender discrimination if you don't have an attorney, because certain aspects such as proving intent can be complex. Pursuing a claim also involves following procedures, many of which can be detailed.