Illinois Lawyer Referrals and Legal Guidance

• As of January 1, 2011, it’s illegal for most employers in Illinois to do a credit check before they hire you.


• Don’t sign a non-compete agreement without legal advice

  A non-compete agreement basically says that you can’t compete with your employer down the road if you quit or you are fired. These agreements usually contain specifics about which activities are prohibited and how long you’re prohibited from doing them. They also often describe a geographic area where the competing activities aren’t allowed.

  Non-compete agreements favor the employer. In addition, your employer is usually the one who drafts it. So there are two good reasons to hire an attorney to review the contract before you sign. Even if you do sign the agreement, that doesn’t mean it’s valid and enforceable. Courts often find that these agreements are too broad or too vague.

• There are two main types of sexual harassment in the workplace

  First is the type where a boss or someone else in a position of authority forces you into a relationship or sexual acts by promising something, such as a promotion, or threatening something, such as termination. The other main type is when the general atmosphere is intimidating and inappropriate. This can be because of co-workers, not just bosses. Examples include showing sexually explicit pictures, or making crude jokes or inappropriate comments.

  One of the most important things you can do in any situation involving sexual harassment at work is report it. Tell a manager, put it in writing. It can really hurt your case if you don’t because an employer isn’t going to be held liable for something they had absolutely no knowledge of.

• A severance agreement usually requires you to give up your rights to pursue any claims for illegal termination or anything else against your company.


• Employers do not have to offer severance agreements under the law, but often do in order to create some good will as well get a release of any claims from the employee and know that they have put that matter behind them.


• Employers cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation in Illinois, but they can in other states.


• In many, but not all cases your employer must know that you are sexually harassed and failed to do something about it for them to have liability for the harasser’s behavior.


• If you file a compliant with the EEOC or Illinois Dept of Human Rights, they will always give you a right to sue letter when their investigation is finished even if they don’t think that you can prove your case.

Web Site Disclaimer: None of the information on this website should be considered legal advice. The law in Illinois is constantly changing and although we do our best to keep our website current, you should not make any final determinations based on what you read here. By contacting us or any lawyer that you are referred to through this website, you have not created an attorney-client relationship. The only way to establish an attorney client relationship with us or any other Illinois lawyer is through a signed retainer agreement in which you agree to hire the lawyer and they agree to work with you as a client. The advice that you receive from us should be taken in general terms. Finally, there is never a cost to speak with the Illinois attorneys that run our site and will talk to you on the phone or by e-mail for free. However, the cost to actually handle a case by any lawyer that we recommend is between you and that law firm. If you have questions about anything we offer or anything related to our website please call us at (312) 346-5320.