EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission): The federal agency responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an...
Adverse Employment Action
A significant negative change in the terms and conditions of employment, such as being fired, demoted, or having your pay cut.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The federal law that prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
The federal law that protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age.
Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)
A powerful Illinois state law that regulates the collection, use, and storage of biometric identifiers like fingerprints and facial scans.
Burden-Shifting Framework
The three-step legal analysis (McDonnell Douglas framework) that courts use to evaluate discrimination claims based on circumstantial evidence.
Charge of Discrimination
The formal complaint that must be filed with the EEOC or a state agency before you can file a lawsuit for discrimination.
Contingency Fee
A fee arrangement where a lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage of the amount recovered in a case. If you lose, the lawyer gets nothing.
Deposition
A formal, pre-trial interview in which a witness is questioned under oath by the opposing party's attorney.
Discovery
The formal, pre-trial phase of a lawsuit where parties exchange information and evidence.
Disparate Treatment
A form of intentional discrimination where an employer treats an employee differently because of their protected characteristic.
EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission): The federal agency responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee.
Employment At-Will
The legal doctrine that holds that an employment relationship can be terminated by either the employer or the employee at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all, as long as the reason is not illegal.
Exempt Employee
An employee who is not entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA. To be exempt, an employee must meet specific salary and duties tests.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
A federal law that provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for specified family and medical reasons.
Hostile Work Environment
A form of harassment where the workplace is permeated with discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, and insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim's employment.
IDHR (Illinois Department of Human Rights)
The state agency that enforces the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Interactive Process
The good-faith conversation that an employer must have with an employee who has requested a reasonable accommodation for a disability.
National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)
The largest professional organization in the country of lawyers who exclusively or primarily represent employees in employment disputes.
Non-Exempt Employee
An employee who is entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay under the FLSA.
Pretext
A false or fabricated reason given by an employer to cover up the true, discriminatory reason for an adverse employment action.
Protected Activity
An action taken by an employee that is protected by law from employer retaliation, such as complaining about discrimination or filing an EEOC charge.
Protected Class
A group of people with a common characteristic who are legally protected from discrimination (e.g., race, gender, age, religion).
Quid Pro Quo Harassment
A form of sexual harassment where a job benefit is directly tied to an employee's submission to unwelcome sexual advances.
Reasonable Accommodation
A modification or adjustment to a job or work environment that enables a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of that job.
Retaliation
When an employer takes a negative action against an employee for engaging in a protected activity.
Right to Sue Letter
A letter issued by the EEOC or a state agency that closes their investigation and gives the employee the right to file a private lawsuit.
Statute of Limitations
The strict deadline by which a legal claim must be filed.
Summary Judgment
A judgment entered by a court for one party and against another party summarily, i.e., without a full trial.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: The landmark federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
Wage Theft
The illegal withholding of wages or the denial of benefits that are rightfully owed to an employee.
Wrongful Discharge
A termination of employment that is in violation of the law.
Reference material
This appendix is public educational material, not legal advice. Verify current forms, addresses, and deadlines with the responsible agency or an attorney.