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File a Workplace Complaint

If you think that an employer did not follow workplace laws, you may file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor.

In Illinois, all workers are protected by labor laws. In Illinois, all workers have a right to be paid for the work they perform, regardless of immigration status. 

It is against Illinois law for an employer to retaliate against a worker for exercising their rights, filing a complaint, or cooperating with an investigation.

Prepare and submit a complaint

As you prepare, focus on clearly describing what happened and gather all evidence you can provide.

1. Gather information to describe what happened

  • This typically includes contact information for the employer, as well as additional information on your specific issue, which could include:
    • job and pay details, missing wage amount, communications between you and the employer, details on any incident or violation you have witnessed or contact information for any additional witnesses, etc.

2. Collect documents that support your complaint

  • This could be paystubs, W2 or 1099 form, the requests you made to your employer and their response, employer handbooks or internal policies, your employment contract, etc. 

3. Submit the complaint form that best matches your workplace issue, along with any supporting documents

  • You can find the right form and how to submit from the list of common issues below.
  • Submit supporting documents by uploading or emailing screenshots, photos, and PDFs with your complaint form. You can also mail paper copies to the assigned office for your issue.

4. We will review your complaint as soon as possible. We receive many complaints, so it may take a few months for us to get back to you.

  • Each complaint is different and not all complaints lead to an investigation. Depending on the information you’ve provided we may reach out for additional details, refer you to another office or department, make a formal request or issue a warning to the employer, schedule a hearing, or take other action.

Common Workplace Issues

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Your rights

Under the Minimum Wage and Overtime Law and the Wage Payment and Collection Act, you are entitled to:

  • A non-tipped minimum wage of $15 an hour (everyone 18 years of age and older)
  • Overtime pay for any time worked over 40 hours each week
  • Payment of your wages no later than 13 days after the end of the pay period you worked them in
NOTE: If your work took place in Chicago, you should submit a complaint to the Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department. If your work took place in Cook County, you should file a complaint with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights.

How to file a complaint

Online

Fill out the online form

You will need to create an Illinois ID to file this complaint online. An Illinois ID is a safe way to log into many different Illinois government websites using just one account.

Email or mail

Please be advised, claims that are e-mailed, mailed, or faxed will experience longer than normal wait times for processing.

Download a paper form

Descargar un formulario en papel | Pobierz formularz papierowy

Send your completed form via email to DOL.Wages@Illinois.gov or mail to 115 S. LaSalle St., 37th floor, Chicago, IL 60603.

Contact

312-793-2804

DOL.Wages@Illinois.gov

Your rights

 

Illinois employees are entitled to up to 40 hours of paid leave per year that they can use for any reason of their choosing.

Workers also have the right to unpaid but job-protected bereavement leave following the death of a child, a covered family member, or a qualifying reproductive event.

Note: If you are a victim of a crime of violence, you may be entitled to unpaid but job-protected leave or reasonable accommodations under VESSA. 

 

How to file a complaint

Online

Fill out the online form

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Send your completed form via email to DOL.PaidLeave@illinois.gov (paid leave issues) or DOL.LeaveRights@Illinois.gov (other leave issues) or mail to 115 S. LaSalle St., 37th floor, Chicago, IL 60603.

Contact

312-793-2600

For questions about paid leave: DOL.PaidLeave@illinois.gov

For questions about other leave issues: DOL.LeaveRights@Illinois.gov

The law

 

The Child Labor Law protects workers under the age of 16 by:

  • Requiring employment certificates that confirm the child is old enough and physically able to work, and that the job will not interfere with their schooling
  • Not allowing children to work in hazardous jobs
  • Limiting the time children can work between Labor Day and June 1, and the total number of hours they can work during the school year

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

You will be taken to DocuSign to file and sign your complaint, but it will ask you for the same information as the paper form below.

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Send your completed form via email to DOL.ChildLaborComplaints@illinois.gov or mail to 115 S. LaSalle Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603.

 

Contact

 

312-793-5570

DOL.ChildLaborQuestions@Illinois.gov

Your rights

 

Under the Wage Payment and Collection Act, if your employer has a policy that guarantees you vacation benefits, you may be entitled to receive payment for unused time when you leave.

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

You will need to create an Illinois ID to file this complaint online. An Illinois ID is a safe way to log into many different Illinois government websites using just one account.

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Descargar un formulario en papel | Pobierz formularz papierowy

Send your completed form via email to DOL.Wages@Illinois.gov or mail to 115 S. LaSalle St., 37th floor Chicago, IL 60603.

 

Contact

 

(312) 793-2808

DOL.Wages@Illinois.gov

Your rights

 

The Prevailing Wage Act requires anyone employed on public works projects to be paid no less than the standard wage for that job.

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

You will be taken to DocuSign to file and sign your complaint, but it will ask you for the same information as the paper form below.

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Descargar un formulario en papel | Pobierz formularz papierowy

Send your completed form via email to DOL.PWD@Illinois.gov or mail to 115 S. LaSalle St., 37th floor, Chicago, IL 60603.

 

Contact

 

312-793-3600

DOL.PWD@Illinois.gov

Your rights

 

Under the Employee Classification Act, if you are working for a construction contractor, you are considered an employee of that contractor unless you meet specific criteria.

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

You will need to create an Illinois ID to file this complaint online. An Illinois ID is a safe way to log into many different Illinois government websites using just one account.

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Descargar un formulario en papel | Pobierz formularz papierowy

Send your completed form via email to DOL.ECA@Illinois.gov or mail to 524 S. 2nd Street, Suite 400, Springfield, IL 62701

 

Contact

 

217-782-1710

DOL.ECA@Illinois.gov

Your rights

 

Under the One Day Rest In Seven Act, you are entitled to 24 hours of rest in every 7-day period. This act also requires you to be given a meal period of at least 20 minutes for every 7.5-hour shift.

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

You will be taken to DocuSign to file and sign your complaint, but it will ask you for the same information as the paper form below.

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Send your completed form via email to DOL.ODRISA@Illinois.gov or mail to 115 S. LaSalle St., 37th floor, Chicago, IL 60603.

 

Contact

 

312-793-2804

DOL.ODRISA@Illinois.gov

Your rights

 

Under the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act, you are entitled to:

  • Detailed pay statements that include the third-party client where you worked, number of hours worked, your rate of pay for each hour worked, total pay period earnings, and all deductions
  • General safety training for the client’s worksite, which you are paid to attend
  • Refuse assignments at a worksite where there is a strike, lockout, or other labor trouble without being retaliated against
  • Not have transportation costs deducted from your pay if you are provided transportation to a worksite
  • Pay equal to that of a direct-hired employee if you work for a single client more than 720 hours in a 12-month period

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

You will be taken to DocuSign to file and sign your complaint, but it will ask you the same information as the paper form below

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Send your completed form via email to DOL.DayLabor@illinois.gov or mail to 115 S. LaSalle Street, 37th floor, Chicago, IL 60603.

 

Contact

 

312-793-8889

DOL.DayLabor@illinois.gov

Your rights

 

Under the Freelance Worker Protection Act, if you’re a freelance worker, you are entitled to:

  • A written contract that includes names and contact information for both parties, an itemized list of services and when they are due, the rate of pay, and when payment is due
  • Full payment for your work by the due date in the contract or within 30 days of completing the services outlined in the contract
  • Protection from retaliation for exercising your rights

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

Email

Download a paper form

Send your completed form via email to DOL.Freelance@illinois.gov

Contact

 

312-793-1819

DOL.Freelance@illinois.gov

Your rights

 

Under the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), if you are a victim of domestic, sexual, gender violence, or any other crime of violence, or have family or household members who are victims of such violence, you are entitled to:

  • Up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in any 12-month period to seek medical, legal, counseling, safety, or other assistance; and
  • Up to two weeks of unpaid leave to arrange a funeral, attend a funeral, or grieve if a family or household member was killed in a crime of violence

 

How to file a complaint

 

Online

Fill out the online form

Email or mail

Download a paper form

Send your completed form via email to DOL.LeaveRights@illinois.gov or mail to 115 S. LaSalle St., 37th floor, Chicago, IL 60603.

 

Contact

 

312-793-2600

DOL.LeaveRights@Illinois.gov

Other Workplace Issues

Issues other agencies can help with

Not all workplace issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Labor. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for above, you might need to contact another government agency. 

Topic

Agency

Contact information

Unemployment insurance

Illinois Department of Employment Security

(800) 244-5631

Workers’ compensation

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission

(312) 814-6500

Income tax withholding (including 1099s and W2s)

Internal Revenue Service

(800) 829-4933

Employee benefits (ERISA/COBRA/Retirement/Pensions)

U.S. Department of Labor - Employee Benefits Security Administration

(312) 353-0900
Unsafe workplace (private employer) Federal OSHA (800) 321-6742

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

U.S. Department of Labor - Wage and Hour Division

(866) 487-9243

Employment Discrimination

Illinois Department of Human Rights

(312) 814-6200

 

Union Labor Practice

Illinois Labor Relations Board (ILRB)

(217) 785-3155

Nurse (RN/LPN) License Lookup

Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation

(888) 473-4858

Have questions?

If you're unsure where to go, we’re here to help.

 

Illinois Department of Labor Helpline

Chicago office: 312-793-2800

Springfield office: 217-782-6206

TTY: (800) 526-0844

Send us a question via email

DOL.Questions@illinois.gov

Find Support

Many employment laws allow you to enforce your rights directly in court. If you're looking for help filing a private action or just navigating your employment issue, legal support is available.

 

Locate a lawyer

  • Illinois State Bar Association | 217-525-5297
    • Serves all of Illinois. Offers a free online database of licensed attorneys or a phone-based consultation with a lawyer for a small fee.
  • Chicago Bar Association | (312) 554-2001
    • Primarily serves Cook County. Offers an online referral service and phone-based consultation with a lawyer for a small fee.
  • National Employment Lawyers Association
    • A nationwide online database of employment lawyers who specialize in labor and employment issues.

 

Connect to Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations provide free legal assistance for low-income individuals and families.

 

Northern Illinois

Central Illinois

Southern Illinois

Legal Aid Chicago

Website

Phone: (312) 341-1070

 

Metropolitan Family Services

Website

Phone: (312) 986-4200

Prairie State Legal Services

Website

Phone: (815) 965-2134

Land of Lincoln Legal Aid

Website

Phone: (877) 342-7891

* Any links to non-government websites on this page provide additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site, but linking to such sites does not constitute an endorsement by the Illinois Department of Labor of the information or organization providing such information.