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I was terminated by my employer on april 19th. My supervisor and I had numerous issues over my 51/2 year tenure, but management refused each time to get involved or resolve any issues. Some of these issues included violating my military rights, hippa etc.. In december, I exposed some information to them in regards to my supervisor and sexual harrassment of women in the village. Since then I bacme a target up until I was let go. Now I am being harrassed by the police if I am near the building after normal business hours. This just occurred last evening. I am not able to get unemployment and my reputation is destroyed. I saw an attorney once but she took me for 1400.00 after stating that she could help me and then refused to continue without alot more money. I am in desperate need for some help, but only have enough money to survive right now until I get another job. I am also a single mom. Please advise.
Answers (1)
Your situation raises multiple legal issues.
Generally speaking, private employers have the privilege of being cruel, stupid and unfeeling. That kind of thing is not actionable. You mention a village but it is not clear the village is your employer. If you work for the government, you may have some additonal rights as a matter of constitutional law and some statutes here.
Why not start with what you can do for free? You're female and sounds like you may be over forty. Check with the Ill. Dept. of Human Rights and see if they'll investigate simple discrimination for you. Also mention to them (if it is true) that you reported discrimination (either sexual harassment or gender bias) to someone in a position of authority. Opposing Discrimination is always a protected activity under the Illinois Human Rights Act, even if your report turns out to be unfounded.
In the meantime, if you'd like to write more about this report that you made, an answering attorney might be able to tell you whether you fit in a "Whistleblower" category generally, as opposed to merely opposing discrimination. Most whistleblower protection turns on whether you reported it to someone with prosecutive authority over it. Whistleblowing cases are extremely fact-dependent.
Also, if you were punished for a deployment or activation in the military, the ISBA has a committee which may provide you help at no charge.
Can't make much out of what you call a HIPAA violation without knowing what it is. Not all secondary releases are violations and some employer personnel do get to review your medical claims and payouts in certain circumstances.
I'll check back in a few days and see if you've updated your question.
Anthony B. Cameron
Quincy, Illinois
posted by Anthony Cameron | May 18, 2005 11:54 AM [EST]
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