Representation

Employment Law Services in Illinois & Missouri

At Gateway Employment Law, we represent employees across Illinois and Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro East region, in a wide range of workplace disputes. Our firm focuses exclusively on protecting employee rights when employers violate federal and state employment laws.

Workplace issues can impact your career, income, and professional reputation. Whether you are facing discrimination, harassment, retaliation, unpaid wages, wrongful termination, or violations of leave and disability rights, our firm provides strategic legal guidance to help employees understand their options and pursue fair outcomes.

Below is an overview of the primary employment law matters handled by Gateway Employment Law.

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Wrongful Termination

A termination may be unlawful when an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason, even in an at-will employment setting. Wrongful termination claims often involve retaliation, protected leave, contract violations, or other conduct protected by law

Examples of wrongful termination include:
   – Being fired for reporting illegal activity
   – Being terminated after filing a workers’ compensation claim
   – Being fired for taking legally protected leave
   – A termination that violated an employment contract
   – Being fired for refusing illegal instructions
   – An employer fabricating reasons for termination
   – Being forced to resign due to intolerable conditions
   – A termination that violated public policy protections
   – Being fired shortly after filing a discrimination complaint
   – Being terminated for engaging in protected activity

Learn more about Wrongful Termination

Workplace Discrimination

Employees in Illinois and Missouri are protected from discrimination based on characteristics such as race, sex, age, disability, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Employers cannot make decisions about hiring, promotions, discipline, or termination based on these protected characteristics.

You may have experienced discrimination if:
   – You were treated unfairly because of race
   – You were discriminated against because of gender or sex
   – You experienced age discrimination (40+)
   – You were discriminated against because of disability
   – Your employer discriminated against you based on religion
   – You experienced discrimination due to pregnancy
   – You were discriminated against based on national origin
   – Your employer discriminated against your sexual orientation
   – Your employer discriminated against your gender identity
   – You were denied promotion due to a protected characteristic

Learn more about Employment Discrimination

Workplace Retaliation

Employees have the right to report discrimination, harassment, illegal conduct, and safety violations without fear of punishment. When an employer takes negative action after an employee raises concerns, it may constitute unlawful retaliation.

Examples of retaliation include:
   – Being disciplined after filing an HR complaint
   – Being demoted after reporting discrimination
   – Your employer reducing your hours after a complaint
   – Being terminated after reporting harassment
   – Facing retaliation after participating in an investigation
   – Being punished for reporting safety violations
   – Experiencing retaliation for whistleblowing
   – Being reassigned undesirable duties after complaining
   – Receiving sudden negative performance reviews
   – Being threatened for raising workplace concerns

Learn more about Workplace Retaliation 

Disability Accommodations & Medical Leave

Employees may have legal protections when they need reasonable accommodations for a disability or job-protected leave for a serious health condition. Employers can violate the law by denying accommodations, interfering with leave rights, or retaliating after a request is made.

Examples of violations include:
   – Employers refusing reasonable accommodations
   – Employers ignoring medical restrictions
   – Termination after disclosing a disability
   – Failure to engage in the interactive process
   – Denial of modified duties or schedule changes
   – Violations of FMLA or medical leave rights
   – Retaliation for requesting or taking leave
   – Failure to restore employment after leave

Learn more about Disability Accommodation and Medical Leave

Religious Accommodations

Employers may be required to reasonably accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs and practices unless doing so would create an undue hardship. These cases often involve scheduling, dress, grooming, or workplace policy conflicts.

Examples of violations include:
   – Denial of reasonable religious accommodations
   – Discipline for religious practices or observances
   – Failure to accommodate schedule or dress requirements
   – Workplace policies that conflict with religious beliefs
   – Retaliation after requesting religious accommodations

Learn more about Religious Accommodations

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Whistleblowing

Employees who report illegal, fraudulent, or unsafe conduct may be protected under whistleblower laws. When an employer responds with discipline, termination, or other retaliation, legal protections may apply.

Examples of violations include:
   – Reporting fraud or financial misconduct
   – Reporting workplace safety violations
   – Reporting regulatory or legal violations
   – Retaliation after reporting wrongdoing
   – Violations of whistleblower protection laws

Learn more about Whistleblowing

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Wage & Hour Violations

Employers must comply with wage laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state labor laws. These laws require employers to properly compensate employees for all hours worked, including overtime and minimum wage.

Examples of wage and hour violations include:
   – Not being paid overtime you earned
   – Being required to perform off-the-clock work
   – Being misclassified as an independent contractor
   – Your employer is withholding earned wages
   – Not being paid for required training
   – Your tips are being taken or improperly distributed
   – Being denied legally required breaks
   – Receiving paychecks with unexplained deductions
   – Being paid below minimum wage
   – Not being paid for work-related travel time

Learn more about Wage & Hour Violations

Severance Agreements & Negotiation

Severance agreements can affect compensation, legal claims, future employment restrictions, and other important rights after separation from a job. Legal review can help employees understand the terms, assess risk, and negotiate for a better outcome.

Examples include:
   – Reviewing severance agreements before signing
   – Negotiating improved severance compensation
   – Evaluating release of claims provisions
   – Addressing non-compete or confidentiality clauses
   – Ensuring fair and lawful agreement terms

Learn more about Severance Agreements & Negotiation

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Non-Compete & Non-Solicitation Agreements

Restrictive covenant agreements can limit where an employee can work or who they can contact after leaving an employer. These matters often require careful review of enforceability, scope, and risk under Illinois and Missouri law.

Examples include:
   – Reviewing non-compete agreements
   – Defending against non-compete enforcement
   – Evaluating enforceability under Illinois and Missouri law
   – Addressing non-solicitation restrictions
   – Advising on employment transitions and risk mitigation

Learn more about Non-Compete & Non-Solicitation Agreements

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Talk to Gateway Employment Law

Workplace disputes can be complex and highly personal. Gateway Employment Law helps employees understand their rights, evaluate potential claims, and pursue fair outcomes when employers violate the law.
If you believe your workplace rights have been violated, our team can help you determine the next steps and protect your career moving forward.