Employment Law

Craig & Craig, LLC is actively involved in representing employers with regard to matters relating to human resource issues, ranging from consultation for the development or modification of employee handbooks and employment policies and practices to addressing specific instances of the application of existing policies and practices to a particular employee discipline or termination concern. Craig & Craig, LLC can assist in the development and presentation and negotiation of severance packages for specific termination actions, often in connection with an employee who has pending workers compensation claims or who has threatened claims of discrimination or other allegedly unlawful activity on the part of the employer. Advice is available for pre-employment considerations, including contract negotiations for executive and management level employees.

Craig & Craig, LLC is active in addressing charges brought by employees before the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Illinois Human Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, and subsequent litigation flowing from the administrative process. Retaliatory discharge litigation, generally with respect to claims of retaliation for workers compensation claims, are a recurring form of litigation filed in the Circuit Courts of Illinois. Consultation services are available with respect to OSHA compliance issues including claims of retaliation made by an employee who contends an adverse job action was taken because of a complaint to OSHA or similar protected activity.

Consultation and litigation services are provided with respect to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and litigation services are available for ERISA disputes involving claims of unlawful discrimination. Consultation is provided for development of sexual harassment policies and training services are available for all levels of management employees. Immediate attention is provided to requests for assistance in the urgent investigation of sexual harassment complaints and contentions of retaliation associated with complaints of sexual harassment, including providing direction for or direct participation in the investigation process and recommendations for appropriate responses upon the completion of the investigation effort.

John L. Barger, Member in the Mattoon office, represent clients in employment law matters in Central and Southern Illinois.

In the Mt. Vernon office, Members Paul R. Lynch and Julie A. Webb handle claims of employment discrimination on the administrative level, and in the courts. In cases alleging workers’ compensation retaliatory discharge, Mr. Lynch obtained summary judgments for employers, and successfully defended appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in Dotson v. BRP U.S., Inc., 520 F.3d 703 (7th Cir. 2008), and Emery v. Continental General Tire, Inc., 3 Fed. Appx. 554, 2001 WL 176794 (C.A. 7 (Ill.)). In the Mt. Vernon office, Members Paul R. Lynch and Julie A. Webb handle claims of employment discrimination on the administrative level, and in the courts. In cases alleging workers’ compensation retaliatory discharge, Mr. Lynch obtained summary judgments for employers, and successfully defended appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in Dotson v. BRP U.S., Inc., 520 F.3d 703 (7th Cir. 2008), and Emery v. Continental General Tire, Inc., 3 Fed. Appx. 554, 2001 WL 176794 (C.A. 7 (Ill.)).