Employment Discrimination Attorneys Serving Chicago, Illinois and Surrounding Areas

Chicago Employment Discrimination Lawyers

You’re angry, confused, and maybe even scared. You feel that you’ve been violated and tossed aside by the people and organization you’ve come to rely on and trust.

In short, your job has become your nightmare.

Our employment discrimination lawyers understand your stress and suffering. For more than 30 years in northern Illinois and surrounding counties, we have been relentless in taking on large public and private employers who mistakenly believe they can act with impunity.

Some employers think they’re above the law. They’re not.

We Know The System

According to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, on-the-job discrimination is illegal under several federal laws, including:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, or sex
• Equal Pay Act of 1963: protects men and women performing essentially the same work in the same establishment from sex-based wage discrimination
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967: protects individuals who are at least 40 years old
• Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in private companies and in local and state government agencies
• Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: prohibits discrimination against qualified disabled individuals working in the federal government
• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994: ensures that persons who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard, or other “uniformed services” are not discriminated against in employment based on past, present, or future military service

Federal Employees Have Separate Laws Protecting Them

Another U.S. law—the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978—also makes discrimination illegal, but it targets federal employees and applicants. The law is enforced by the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board.

The Civil Service Reform Act dictates that employees with authority may not take personnel actions that favor or discriminate against co-workers or applicants. Federal employees wielding authority are also barred from making personnel decisions based on attributes or conduct, such as marital status, sexual orientation, and political affiliation, that don’t affect job performance.

Under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, it’s also illegal to bring reprisal against federal employees or applicants for whistle-blowing or for exercising an appeal, complaint or grievance right.

At the Law Office of Michael T. Smith & Associates, we proudly serve those in Chicago, Illinois, and surrounding areas, including Cook, Lake, McHenry, and DuPage counties. We are a discrimination law firm that has been doggedly pursuing justice for our clients for more than 30 years. We go up against federal agencies and private companies alike, including:

• Federal Aviation Administration
• U.S. Post Office
• Chicago Blackhawks
• Sears, Roebuck, and Co.

Contact Our Tireless Chicago Employment Discrimination Lawyers

We’re litigators, not negotiators. We don’t want to settle for the bare minimum for our wronged clients. We want justice.

Call our office at (847) 450-1103 or contact us here for aggressive representation that won’t back down from the federal government or large private employers. We are proud to represent individuals in Chicago, Illinois, and beyond.