If you work in Illinois and you were forced to resign due to an illegal reason, you may have a strong wrongful termination claim. Wrongful termination is when you are fired or forced to resign for a reason that is illegal, like discrimination or retaliation.
If you have been forced to resign due to discrimination, retaliation, or harassment you can file a wrongful termination claim against your previous employer.
Can An Employer Force You To Resign In Illinois?
An employer cannot force you to resign in Illinois if the reason you are forced to resign is illegal. Most often when employees are forced to resign it’s because they were experiencing discrimination or harassment and they had to resign to escape an untenable situation.
But the Illinois Human Rights Act and Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act protect workers from illegal discrimination and wrongful termination.
If you resigned because you were experiencing discrimination or harassment your resignation is technically wrongful termination. Some of the circumstances where employees may be forced to resign as a result of discrimination include:
- Experiencing racial, sexual, or other harassment or bias.
- Coworkers and employers using racial or hostile language.
- Being targeted for bullying by coworkers or employers.
- Having hours or shifts cut or rearranged as a punishment for speaking out about an issue
- Being left out of company events or trainings or being singled out by coworkers for bullying.
If you had to quit your job because you weren’t being given enough hours to support yourself or you were targeted for discrimination you can file a wrongful termination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
How To File A Wrongful Termination Claim Due To Forced Resignation
You should speak with an Illinois wrongful termination lawyer about the details of your case. A skilled Illinois wrongful termination attorney will be able to give you advice on your unique situation.
Then you should file a claim in the EEOCC office in Illinois and the Illinois Department of Labor. The EEOC is a Federal agency and will open a Federal investigation while Illinois Department of Labor investigates as the state level. They will look at your claim and all the evidence you have to determine the next steps.
They may decide to sue your employer directly or they could award you a “right to sue” letter which would give you the opportunity to file your own lawsuit.
But for any lawsuit and your initial claim you will need to gather as much evidence as you can of the discrimination that forced you to resign. Documents, text messages, emails, and other proof will be essential to making your case.
Get Help With Your Claim
The first step to move forward is to get personalized advice from an Illinois wrongful termination lawyer. Fill out a free case evaluation now to get connected to an experienced attorney who can advise you based on the details of your unique situation. Having the advice of an Illinois attorney can help you get any damages you’re entitled to.
