Many municipalities have their own version of anti-discrimination laws and administrative bodies at which you can file a complaint, have a hearing, and receive damages, including a monetary award and backpay, if you are successful.
The city of Chicago Commission on Human Relations hears complaints filed by plaintiffs and can award monetary damages to the successful plaintiff.
Filing a charge with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations is free and no lawyer is required to pursue a case. Though it is generally advisable to hire a lawyer to represent you as the defendant usually will and the legal arguments will be more familiar to a lawyer.
The Commission on Human Relations can be contacted at:
Chicago Commission on Human Relations
740 N. Sedgwick,
Third Floor
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 744-4111
(312) 744-1088 (TDD)
(312) 744-1081 (FAX)
Justin Randolph is a national origin discrimination lawyer in Chicago. Our office would be happy to assist you with your matter and operates on a contingency basis so there is no up front cost to you.
Please contact us by phone or email for a free consultation.
If you live in Cook County you can file a charge with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights. The Commission on Human Rights is charged with applying the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance.
The Commission on Human Rights can be contacted at:
Cook County Commission on Human Rights
69 W. Washington St.
Suite 2900
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-1100
(312) 603-1101 (TDD)
(312) 603-9988 (FAX)
Our office would be happy to assist you with your matter and operates on a contingency basis so there is no up front cost to you.
Please contact us by phone or email for a free consultation.
The State of Illinois uses both the Illinois Department of Human Rights and Illinois Human Rights Commission to handle claims under the Illnois Human Rights Act.
A charge is filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and an agent is assigned to investigate the claim. If the claim is found to have merit a charge is filed with the Illinois Human Rights Commission. An individual has a right to file a charge with the Illinois Human Rights Commission even if the IDHR does not find their claim to have merit.
The Human Rights Commission assigns an administrative judge to the case and a public hearing is held to determine the merits of the claim.
The Illinois Department of Human Rights can be contacted at:
Illinois Department of Human Rights
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph
Suite 10-100
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 814-6200
(312) 263-1579 (TDD)
(312) 814-1541 (Fax)
Our office would be happy to assist you with your matter and operates on a contingency basis so there is no up front cost to you.
Please contact us by phone or email for a free consultation.
The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission handles claims on the federal level. They enforce federal anti-discrimination laws including those against discrimination based on national origin.
The EEOC can be contacted at:
U.S. Equal Employment Oppor. Comm'n Chicago District Office
500 W. Madison,
Suite 2800
Chicago, IL 60611-2511
(312) 353-2713; 2714
(312) 353-2421 (TDD)
(312) 353-7355 (Fax)
Our office would be happy to assist you with your matter and operates on a contingency basis so there is no up front cost to you.
Please contact us by phone or email for a free consultation.
A variety of laws - local, state and federal - protect a person from national origin discrimination in the workplace.
At the federal level Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is intented to prevent or at least remedy national origin discrimination. Title VII covers employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments.
As summarized by the EEOC, Title VII is inteded to protect workers in the following manner:
Title VII's pregnancy-related protections include:
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National origin discrimination means treating someone less favorably because he or she comes from a particular place, because of his or her ethnicity or accent, or because it is believed that he or she has a particular ethnic background. National origin discrimination also means treating someone less favorably at work because of marriage or other association with someone of a particular nationality. Examples of violations covered under Title VII include:
- Employment Decisions
Title VII prohibits any employment decision, including recruitment, hiring, and firing or layoffs, based on national origin. - Harassment
Title VII prohibits offensive conduct, such as ethnic slurs, that creates a hostile work environment based on national origin. Employers are required to take appropriate steps to prevent and correct unlawful harassment. Likewise, employees are responsible for reporting harassment at an early stage to prevent its escalation. - Language
- Accent discrimination
An employer may not base a decision on an employee's foreign accent unless the accent materially interferes with job performance. - English fluency
A fluency requirement is only permissible if required for the effective performance of the position for which it is imposed. - English-only rules
English-only rules must be adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons. An English-only rule may be used if it is needed to promote the safe or efficient operation of the employer's business.
- Accent discrimination
Coverage of foreign nationals
Title VII and the other antidiscrimination laws prohibit discrimination against individuals employed in the United States, regardless of citizenship. However, relief may be limited if an individual does not have work authorization.
- Employment Decisions
It is also unlawful to retaliate against an individual for opposing employment practices that discriminate or for filing a discrimination charge, testifying, or participating in any way in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation under Title VII.
Our office offers free email or phone consultations and will be happy to discuss your matter with you.
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