Examples of Discrimination in The Workplace

December 8 , 2023

When we start a new job, most of us do not ever think that we could be discriminated against at work. But all too often, many people in Illinois are discriminated against at work because of their sex, gender identity, age, race, and more. If that happened to you recently, you should speak to our discrimination lawyers in Chicago about legal options. At Law Office of Michael T. Smith, our discrimination lawyers understand your suffering and stress and can hold your employer accountable for their actions.

How Does the Illinois Human Rights Act Prohibit Discrimination?

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on several protected classes, including color, race, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, marriage, and disability. The Act also makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against you because of your citizenship status, pregnancy, or arrest record.

Examples of Workplace Discrimination

There are many possible examples of workplace discrimination. The following are some of the most common types that are intolerable in Illinois and nationally:

• Age discrimination: Not employing someone because they are more than 40.
• Disability discrimination: Not giving reasonable accommodations to an employee with a disability that would let her work and would not impose a hardship on the employer.
• Sex and gender discrimination: Paying a female worker less than a male worker for the same work.
• Sexual orientation discrimination: Denying someone fair treatment because of their sexual orientation.
• Racial discrimination: Making insulting or harassing remarks about an employee because of their race.
• Pregnancy discrimination: Firing or laying off an employee because she is pregnant.
• Religious discrimination: Not allowing a worker to swap shifts so they can celebrate their religious holiday.
• Another type of discrimination under the Act is denying someone reasonable accommodation when the employer must provide one. Some examples are:
• If you have a vision disability, it is reasonable to ask the employer to provide company documents in large print so you can read them. If the company does not, it could be employment discrimination.
• If your religion requires you to pray at 11 a.m. every day, you could ask your employer to give you a break instead of noon.
• If you use a walker, a reasonable accommodation could be to give you a parking space near the company entrance.

If you think you have been discriminated against at work, you can contact the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Your employment attorney in Chicago can advise you about filing a claim.

What Compensation Can You Receive In A Workplace Discrimination Case?

You could receive some or all of the following types of compensation in a workplace discrimination claim:

• Back pay
• Lost future earnings
• Lost benefits
• Damages for emotional distress
• Punitive damages
• Attorneys’ fees

Speak to Our Discrimination Lawyers in Chicago

If you were discriminated against at work, you need a litigator working for you, not a negotiator. Law Office of Michael T. Smith will fight for every dollar of compensation for you and will not settle for the bare minimum. If you have questions about a discrimination case, contact one of our discrimination lawyers in Chicago by calling us.

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