Under the U.S. Constitution and Title VII of the U.S. Code, racial discrimination is banned in Illinois. According to these laws, employers may not take race into account when hiring, recruiting, determining pay or offering promotions.

What Must Be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

Before taking their discrimination claim to court, an employee must file their claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is the federal agency which has authority to investigate any claims of discrimination in the workplace. Racial discrimination claims involve situations where an employers treat workers differently than other workers who are of a different race.

The Pekin plaintiff must additionally be able to prove that the employer acted with intent to discriminate based on race in order to succeed in a racial discrimination claim. Proof of an employer's intent to discriminate can be shown if they have preferentially treated workers of different races than the plaintiff.

How Can a Pekin Lawyer Help with My Claim?

Additionally, in some circumstances, recorded employer statements regarding racial issues can be used to establish their intent to discriminate. In this area of litigation, procedural laws will vary greatly depending on where the claim is filed, and a Pekin attorney will be knowledgeable of the requirements for your particular location. Should you decide to file your claim at the EEOC, an Illinois lawyer will be able to help you out, and they can also point you towards other types of remedies available to you while your claim is pending.