Employment Law FAQs

Employment law is a complex legal area. It can be difficult to determine whether actions taken by an employer are in violation of employee rights. The following are some of the frequently asked questions the attorneys at the law firm of Costigan & Wollrab, P.C., encounter. Of course, everyone’s situation is different and nothing can replace the personalized advice you can receive from a qualified lawyer. To schedule an initial consultation at our law offices in Bloomington, call us at 309-808-6067.

Can my employer retaliate against me for taking legal action?

There are numerous protections provided to employees by state and federal law. If your employer illegally retaliates against you, you may be eligible to recover compensation. However, not every negative action in the workplace may be considered illegal. In many cases, you will have to first report the suspected illegal behavior to a supervisor or a human resources director before you can take legal action. Our attorneys can let you know what the proper process is and what the best option is for protecting your rights.

What types of accommodations must my employer make for my disability?

According to the law, employers must make “reasonable accommodations” for disabled employees. What is considered reasonable varies from industry to industry and profession to profession. We can help determine whether your employer is being reasonable or unreasonable if you are seeking a disability accommodation.

What are the rights of hourly employees compared to salaried employees?

There are distinct differences between employees who are paid an hourly wage and those who receive a salary. One of the biggest differences is that hourly employees are entitled to overtime pay after working a certain amount of hours in a week, while salaried employees are generally not entitled to overtime.

Employers may attempt to classify workers who should be paid hourly as salaried in an effort to avoid paying overtime. Employers may also illegally classify workers as “independent contractors” instead of hourly employees in an effort to reduce the amount of compensation to which an employee is entitled. We understand the law and how workers should be classified based on their job duties.

I was terminated from my job. Was my termination illegal?

Illinois is an at-will employment state. Essentially, this means that an employer may fire an employee at any time for any reason, or for no reason at all. However, if the termination was based on illegal reason, such as an employee’s race or because the employee reported illegal activity in the workplace, it is considered to be wrongful termination and the employer may be held liable.

Contact Us With Your Employment Law Questions

If you believe that your employee rights have been violated, we can help answer your questions and determine whether you have a strong case against your employer. Call us at 309-808-6067 or send us an email to schedule an initial consultation.