Representing Employment in Joliet and Will County

Fish Potter Bolaños, P.C. is an employment law firm representing employees and small business owners in Joliet and surrounding areas of Illinois. Backed by more than 100 years of collective experience, we are prepared to handle labor and employment disputes of almost every nature.

Our Joliet employment law attorneys represent employees and employers in a wide range of legal matters, including but not limited to matters of:

• Discrimination
• Non-competes
• Overtime
• Pregnancy discrimination
• Retaliation
• Severance agreements
• Sexual harassment
• Shareholder, Corporate, and partnership disputes
• Unpaid wages
• Whistleblower claims
• Workers’ compensation
• Wrongful termination
• Qui Tam
• Employment Contracts
• Will County Employment Lawsuits

For immediate help with an employment law case in Joliet, call us at (312) 818-2407.

Wrongful Termination

If you have been wronged or mistreated at work, you may have a legal claim for wrongful termination. An employment lawyer can help you determine whether you have a case and can represent you in court if necessary.

There are many reasons why an employee may have a valid wrongful termination claim. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Firing for refusing to do something illegal
• Firing in retaliation for whistleblowing
• Firing in violation of public policy of after a Workers Compensation Claim
• Firing due to discrimination or harassment
• Firing in breach of contract

If you have been fired for any of these reasons, or for any other reason that you believe was unlawful, it is important to consult with an employment law attorney from our firm as soon as possible. We also represent small business owners facing accusations of wrongful termination.

Discrimination

State and federal anti-discrimination laws protect certain classes of employees. These classes include:

• Race
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Age
• Disability
• Citizenship status
• Sexual Orientation
• Pregnancy

Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against employees who file a discrimination complaint or participate in an investigation into discrimination. If you were fired or mistreated because you filed a discrimination complaint, or because you participated in an investigation, you may have a legal claim for retaliation.

A Joliet employment lawyer can help you determine your rights as an employee or protect you as a business owner.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of sex discrimination that is prohibited by federal and state law. Sexual harassment can take many different forms, but it always involves unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, and it can be very damaging to the victim.

Victims of sexual harassment can suffer a wide range of negative consequences, including but not limited to:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Shame
• Low self-esteem
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

In addition, victims may lose their jobs or be passed over for promotions, and they may also experience difficulty finding new employment.

If you have been the victim of sexual harassment at work, it is important to take action. You can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Illinois Department of Human Rights. You can also speak with an employment lawyer about your options.

Retaliation

If you have been fired or mistreated because you filed a discrimination complaint, or because you participated in an investigation, you may have a legal claim for retaliation.

Retaliation is when an employer takes negative action against an employee in retaliation for filing a complaint or participating in an investigation. Retaliation can take many different forms, including:

• Firing or demoting the employee
• Cutting hours or reducing pay
• Threatening the employee
• Harassing the employee
• Intimidating the employee

Overtime

In Illinois, eligible employees are entitled to receive one and a half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a week. This is known as overtime pay.

If you have not been paid the overtime wages you are owed, you may be able to file a claim for back pay. To file a claim, you must first notify your employer of your intent to file a claim. Your employer then has an opportunity to respond to the claim. If the two of you are unable to reach a resolution, you may file a lawsuit against your employer.

Alternatively, if you are a small business owner whose employee is claiming overtime without warrant, we are here to help you fight the allegations.