Chicago Area Lawyers For Workplace Discrimination

The Law Offices of Colleen M. McLaughlin welcomes the opportunity to advise employers and employees on the most practical solutions to your work-related legal problems in Wheaton and throughout Illinois. Whether your particular situation results in a simple consultation to give you peace of mind, assistance with drafting or negotiating employment-related documents, or representation before a government agency or in a lawsuit, our attorneys have the experience and expertise to advise you as to your legal options. Most importantly, our attorneys will provide you with an honest, forthright evaluation of your options, the benefits and the downside of each course of action, even if the advice is something you don’t necessarily want to hear, but need to hear.

Our most common areas of practice include representing employees in the areas of:

  • Overtime claims (including class actions) under both the Illinois minimum wage law (IMWL) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Wage and hour disputes (commissions, bonuses and vacation pay) under both the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Discrimination claims, including representation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), the Illinois Human Rights Commission (IHRC)

As your western suburban lawyer for workplace discrimination, we handle cases in federal and state courts for:

  • Violations of Title VII (Civil Rights Act) for discrimination (including harassment and hostile work environment) on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or national origin
  • Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for discrimination based on disability or perceived disability
  • Violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
  • Violations of the Equal Pay Act
  • Violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act, for discrimination (including harassment and hostile work environment) based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, familial status, arrest record, physical and mental disability, military status, and sexual orientation
  • Retaliatory discharge claims stemming from an employee’s exercise of his or her rights under any of the federal or state discrimination laws
  • Family and Medical Leave Act violations
  • Wrongful termination and harassment claims based on retaliation for an employee “blowing the whistle,” in violation of the Illinois Whistleblower Act or Illinois common law
  • Retaliatory discharge claims based on violations of Illinois public policy such as retaliating against an employee who files a workers’ compensation claim, blows the whistle, or refuses to go along with an employer’s illegal activities
  • Negotiation of executive compensation packages and employment agreements
  • Negotiation of severance agreements
  • Negotiation of non-competition, confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements
  • Unemployment insurance appeals before the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Board of Review, or the circuit court
  • Whistleblower (qui tam) claims under the federal False Claims Act and related statutes
  • Representation before various state and federal agencies, including the Illinois and U.S. Departments of Labor (IDOL and USDOL) on wage claims and other wage and hour compliance issues, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations

And advising employers on prevention and resolution of employment disputes, including:

  • Drafting employment handbooks and policies
  • Counseling on personnel and human resources issues
  • Training staff on employment policies and employment laws
  • Advising businesses on best practices in employment matters
  • Conducting investigations on charges of discrimination
  • Representation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) on discrimination charges
  • Negotiation of or drafting of employment agreements, including non-competition, confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements
  • Negotiation of or drafting of severance agreements

Contact The Law Offices of Colleen M. McLaughlin

Our attorneys strive to address employment law matters decisively and cost-effectively. Contact us to learn how our lawyers can assist you. We stand ready to serve as your Illinois employer or DuPage County employee rights attorney.