Retaliatory Discharge and Whistleblower Claims in Illinois

Illinois law creates something called an “at-will” employment relationship between an employee and an employer.  A retaliatory discharge occurs when an employer fires an employee for taking an action that is protected by either a statute or general public policy. One of the most common actions that gives rise to a retaliatory discharge claim is an employer's firing of an employee after “whistleblowing.”  Whistleblowing means that an employee reported suspected illegal conduct by the employer to the government, and it is protected by 740 ILCS 174.

Illinois law provides statutory protection to whistleblowers, so that their employers cannot fire them in retaliation for their reporting. However, the law has a limited set of actions that qualify as whistleblowing for the purposes of legal protection.

To read this blog in its entirety, please click on the following link; http://www.dgaalaw.com/dgaablawg/illinois-employment-lawyer-retaliatory-discharge-whistleblower

If you believe that you suffered a retaliatory discharge for whistleblowing or some other protected act, contact a member of our team today  at 847-934-6000.