Both Illinois and the federal government have passed laws that prohibiting discrimination on the basis of particular protected characteristics. In Ottawa, government and private organizations can be held liable for discrimination, depending on what type of trait the unfair treatment was initially based on.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

If an employee is a member of a legally protected class and their employer treats them unfairly because of that, the employer will be held liable for employment discrimination. Some traits which employers are not allowed to evaluate employees with include: race, age, national origin, religion, familial status, and gender. In order for a claim of employment discrimination to be successful, an Ottawa, Illinois plaintiff must show that his (or her) employer actively intended to treat him differently because of his protected status.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Illinois?

This will be proven if the employer in question has treated others of the same class in a comparable manner. It may also be shown when there is testimony regarding specific employer statements that a reasonable person would define as biased. Furthermore, an employer violates the law if they terminate a person's employment or otherwise retaliate in response to a discrimination lawsuit filed against them.

Pursuing an employment discrimination claim can often be complicated, because they involve filing your claim with particular agencies. An Ottawa, Illinois lawyer can help you file in a timely manner, and while your case is pending, they can help you in pursuing any available remedies.