The Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act prohibit employers in Illinois against discriminating on the basis of gender. As such, employers can not use make any determinations based on gender in any areas such as wage amounts, hiring, and promotion requirements. They are also required to ensure that working conditions are not hostile toward any one gender and that the environment is not overtly sexual.
What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?
Under the Equal Pay act, discrimination can be proven if men and women both work in the same place, do the same job, but are still paid differently. Employers in Naperville can 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?
Sexual harassment consists of all unwanted conduct of a sexual nature directed towards the victim, and includes both physical and verbal acts. Employers in Naperville may be held liable for the sexual harassment, even when it was a co-worker who directly engaged in the conduct.
Illinois employers may also be held liable for sexual harassment if it permits conduct that leads to an overly sexual work environment. It can be challenging to prove gender discrimination without first obtaining a lawyer, since specifics such as proving intent can often be complicated. There might also be procedures that must be followed in detail when one pursues a claim.