and Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of certain protected characteristics, both in Wilmington and elswhere in the state. Depending on what type of trait prompted the discriminatory treatment, government employers and even private organizations in Wilmington may be held liable under various state and federal laws.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

An employer will be deemed guilty of employment discrimination if they treat an employee unfairly because they belong to a category that is legally protected. 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, a Wilmington, 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 is shown upon finding a prior history of similar treatment of members of the same class, or upon testimony regarding the employer's statements that a reasonable person would understand to be biased. Furthermore, employers who fire someone or retaliate against them for bringing a discrimination lawsuit are clearly in violation of the law.

The procedure for pursuing an employment discrimination claim is complicated, since it involves filing a claim with certain agencies. An attorney in Wilmington, Illinois can help you in filing on time, as well as pursuing other remedies that are available to you while your claim is pending.