The Illinois Employment Law Firm That Actually Cares
You work hard. You consistently show up, do your job, and — just like everyone else — expect fair treatment. But when your boss or a coworker crosses the line, it can feel like your whole world’s flipped upside down.
Straight talk? Work can seriously suck when you aren’t being treated right. Besides, you spend a large chunk of your time there, and you’re not asking for too much by demanding respect. Whether you’ve suffered sexual harassment, unfair treatment, discrimination, or even retaliation for speaking up, one thing is for certain: You deserve better. You deserve justice.
That’s exactly what we fight for. Punchwork Law is a no-BS employment law firm that actually cares about how you’re treated (and how that affects you). Here’s what happens during your free consultation: You vent, we listen, and then? Together, we take action.
Call our team today and let’s punch back against whoever’s wronged you.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois workers have rights under state and federal laws — from fair pay to safe workplaces and equal treatment.
- A good Illinois employment lawyer can help you resolve complex work issues like illegal discrimination, retaliation, unpaid wages, workplace safety, harassment, employment disputes, and wrongful termination.
- Our Illinois employment law firm represents workers in all industries: healthcare, restaurants, warehouses, offices, etc. — You name it, we’ve covered it.
Understanding Employment Law in Illinois
Labor and employment law in Illinois covers a wide range of protections for workers. Whether you’re working in a factory, a hospital, a school, or a remote tech gig, this state is very serious about your rights.
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s a look at some of the employment law issues Illinois cares about and the legislation that covers them:
- The Illinois Human Rights Act: Prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, disability status, conviction record, and more.
- Minimum Wage Law: As of January 1, 2025, Illinois mandates a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour for workers aged 18 and over. Tipped employees must be paid 60% of the minimum wage, and overtime must be compensated at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours of work.
- Pay Transparency Law: Employers with 15 or more employees must include salary ranges and benefit descriptions in all job postings, including those for remote positions.
- Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Act: Sets and enforces standards to ensure “reasonable protection” of the lives, health, and safety of public sector employees.
- Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act: This law ensures the timely payment of wages, final compensation, and commissions, as well as itemized pay stub deductions. Employers must pay earned wages within 13 calendar days of the end of the pay period.
Here’s the deal: Employers cannot fire or demote you for discriminatory reasons, retaliate when you report illegal or unsafe activity, or deny you fair pay. And they sure as hell can’t ignore harassment.
At Punchwork Law, we help everyday workers get real answers and results. We don’t sugarcoat things. We tell you what’s legal, what’s not, and exactly how we can fight back.
The Importance of Hiring an Illinois Employment Law Firm
Going up against your employer — or a big HR department — can be intimidating. They have lawyers on speed dial, so you should, too.
When you hire an Illinois employment law firm, you get:
- A devoted team that understands the ins and outs of local and federal law
- Strategic advice tailored to your situation
- Help gathering evidence and filing complaints
- A fierce advocate if things go to court
This stuff is personal. You need an experienced employment lawyer who gives a damn. That’s us.
Workplace Discrimination: You Don’t Have to Take It
Discrimination isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like being passed up for promotions you earned or constantly being talked over in meetings. Other times it’s being paid less than your coworkers for doing the same damn job.
In Illinois, it’s illegal to be mistreated at work because of your:
- Race or ethnicity
- Gender or sexual orientation
- Age
- Disability
- Pregnancy
- Religion
- National origin
- And other protected characteristics
Whether it’s hiring, firing, pay, or just daily mistreatment, you’ve got rights. Check out our Illinois Discrimination Lawyer page to learn more.
Wrongful Termination in Illinois: Fired for the Wrong Reasons?
Illinois might be an “at-will” state, but not every firing is legal. If you were let go for the wrong reason — like reporting misconduct or getting pregnant — that’s not just unfair, it’s wrongful termination. Period.
Here are just a few illegal reasons to fire someone:
- Because of race, religion, age, or gender
- Because they filed a complaint or reported wrongdoing
- Because they refused to break the law
- Because they requested medical leave or accommodations (which is completely legal under the Family and Medical Leave Act)
Our attorneys can spot patterns, investigate shady firings, and build a strong case. If you were fired and the timing just doesn’t sit right, trust your gut. Reach out to our Illinois Wrongful Termination team for justice.
Wage and Overtime Disputes: Let’s Talk Payback
You put in the hours. You may even show up early, stay late, and do more than what’s in the job description. The least your employer can do? Pay you what you’ve earned.
Maybe you’ve been stuck working through unpaid breaks. Your overtime keeps mysteriously disappearing from your paycheck. Or you’re seeing strange deductions on your paycheck that you never agreed to.
Unfortunately, employers cut corners all the time. They might even:
- Misclassify your position as exempt to avoid paying overtime
- Ask you to work off the clock
- Deduct pay for breaks you didn’t actually take
- Withhold your final paycheck
All of that? It’s flat-out illegal.
Our Illinois employment lawyers help workers recover unpaid wages, overtime, and other money they’re owed. Let’s hold your employer accountable.
Retaliation at Work: When Speaking Up Gets You Punished
Speaking up should never be punished.
But in the real world? You report harassment, and suddenly your hours get cut. Or you flag a serious safety issue and — next thing you know — you’re stuck on the night shifts nobody wants with zero support.
That’s called retaliation, and Illinois employment law prohibits it.
It doesn’t even have to be as obvious as getting fired. Retaliation can also be:
- Getting demoted or transferred to a “dead-end” role or department
- Being excluded from meetings or projects
- Facing sudden “performance issues” or getting a bad employee review
- Dealing with bullying from supervisors or other coworkers
If this sounds familiar, we’re here to help.
Harassment and Hostile Work Environments: Enough Is Enough
Perhaps you’ve faced inappropriate jokes, creepy comments, or being cornered after hours. Maybe you’ve tried to report it and been told that you’re just “too sensitive.”
If your workplace feels uncomfortable, unsafe, or downright toxic, that’s a red flag. And if your employer doesn’t do anything about it? That’s a big legal problem.
Whether it’s sexual harassment, gender-based comments, or racial slurs, it all adds up. And you certainly don’t have to take it.
We’re here to help you document what’s happening, shut it down, and get the justice you deserve.
Filing an EEOC Claim: We’ll Walk You Through It
Discrimination and retaliation claims often start with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Illinois Department of Human Rights. But the process is full of deadlines, forms, and technical steps.
Want to ditch the confusion? We help clients:
- File strong, timely complaints
- Understand their rights at every stage
- Get through mediation or investigations
- Use “Right to Sue” letters (your green light to take legal action)
Translation? You need an Illinois EEOC Lawyer who makes it simple. That’s where we come in. Simply tell us what happened, and we’ll handle the legal maze.
How to Choose the Right Illinois Employment Attorney
Not every lawyer “gets” employment law. And not every employment lawyer treats you like a human being.
Punchwork Law is different. We bring:
- Real Empathy: We’ve seen how this stuff wrecks people’s lives, and we care.
- Relentless Energy: When we take a case, we’re all in.
- Real-World Values: We’re built on honesty, grit, and having your back when it counts. We stand up to employers who cut corners, bend the rules, or think they’re too big to be held accountable.
- Real Talk, Always: We explain things the way we’d want them explained to us — simple, clear, and honest.
The Punchwork Process
You don’t need proof on paper or a perfect case to give us a call. If something at your job feels wrong, that’s reason enough to talk. We’ll hear you out, ask a few questions, and shoot you straight.
Here’s how the process typically goes:
- You reach out. Call, text, or fill out our form above. It’s up to you.
- We listen. Really listen. Then we ask questions and explain things without all the confusing “legalese.”
- We lay out your options. If there’s a case, we’ll show you the next steps and help you make the right call.
- You’re in charge. We don’t do pressure here. We do honesty. What comes next? That’s your call, and we’ll back you up either way.
Ready To Punch Back? We’ve Got You.
Work is supposed to pay the bills, not break you down. You deserve a place where you can show up, grow, and get paid fairly. But if your workplace feels more like a battleground than a job? It’s time to get the right legal team on your side.
With us, you don’t have to keep wondering what your options are (or suffering in silence). You’ve got rights. We’ll help you use them to the fullest extent of the law.
Reach out today and talk to a real-deal Illinois employment attorney who’s ready to go to bat for you. We take cases across the state and the initial consultation is 100% free.
Don’t let another day pass without standing up for yourself. You’re worth the fight. And so is your peace.
