Cynthia Pietrucha

Workplace Rights and Violations: Pietrucha Law Firm, LLC – Your Trusted Employment Law Firm

With nearly 10 years of experience, I'm a licensed employment lawyer with a proven track record of success in helping American employees and employers navigate complex workplace issues. I'm best known for negotiating severance agreements at employment termination and handling federal employment law violations.

Whether you’re an employee seeking fair treatment, or an employer looking to protect your business, my firm has the experience and expertise to help.

Main Areas of Focus:
1. Severance Agreement and General Release Counseling
2. Severance Agreement and General Release Negotiation
3. Medical Leave/FMLA Violations
4. Disability Harassment/Discrimination
5. EEOC Mediations
6. Retaliation
7. Unemployment Benefits Appeals

Northern Illinois University

J.D. (2009) | Law

University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

B.A. (2006) | Pre-Law, Journalism and Spanish

Honors: President's Leadership Award

Activities: Spanish Tutor

Managing Attorney

Pietrucha Law Firm, LLC

2015 - Current

Liquor Commission

Village of Downers Grove

2016 - 2019

Purchasing Administrator

Village of Orland Park

2014 - 2016

Senior Contract Administration Specialist

API Healthcare

2011 - 2013

Site Licensing Contracts Specialist

American Medical Association

2010 - 2011

Legal Assistant

Law Offices of Joel Weisman, P.C.

2009 - 2010

Employment Termination: Employer Obligations and Workplace Considerations

Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education

June, 2022

Layoffs, Rescinded Job Offers, and Beyond – The Latest Trends and Best Practices, National Business Institute, Webinar

December 2022

HR Due Diligence: Tips From a Labor and Employment Attorney, National Business Institute, Champaign, Illinois

2019

Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace: Marijuana and Other Considerations, National Business Institute, Naperville, Illinois

2019

Starting Your Solo Law Practice as a Female Attorney, ISBA Standing Committee on Women & the Law, Chicago, IL

January 10, 2018

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)

Judge, Sports Law Sponsorship Agreements, National Sports Law Negotiation Competition, San Diego, CA

2015

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest and Other Illinois Ethics Violations, Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials Fall 2015 Conference, Lombard, IL

October 8, 2015

Illinois Associaton of Public Procurement Officials

Top Attorney Award

Avvo

2022

Selected as Top 40 under 40 Illinois Employment Lawyers

The National Black Lawyers

2017

Avvo’s Client’s Choice Award

Avvo

2017

Women's Bar Association of Illinois

Member

2021 - Current

Activities: Mentor/Mentee

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)

Labor and Employment Law Section Council Member 2023-2024, Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services 2020-2021, Law Student Committee 2007-2009

2006 - Current

DuPage Association of Women Lawyers

Board of Directors 2016-2017

2015 - 2017

Illinois

7th Circuit

• Credit Cards Accepted
  We accept all major credits and PayPal.
• Contingent Fees
  Our firm charges flat fees and contingency fees 35% to 40%.

Employment Law

Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Litigation

• Severance Agreements and General Releases
• Pregnancy Discrimination
• Breach of Contract

Q. Hello I went out on short term dis for throat cancer 4-6-23, and just received a letter saying I was fired, can you help

August 15, 2023

A: I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. My firm provides nationwide representation to individuals who are terminated while seeking medical care. We file FMLA interference and retaliation lawsuits. We have helped many individuals fired while getting cancer treatment. www.pietruchalaw.com

Q. At my work the boss installed a camera with audio recording I live in Illinois

July 28, 2023

A: My answer - NOT legal advice: This answer might surprise you, but this is okay to do in Illinois. In one of my Illinois jobs, I found out my boss was secretly listening to my telephone calls. Shady but not illegal. Telephone and video monitoring (and email monitoring) in Illinois workplaces is legal - as long as you're not in a private place at work.

Generally, video surveillance is legal in Illinois as long as all parties consent. What does consent mean? It means that all recorded parties have given permission. But there are also limits to this. The all-party consent rule only applies where a person can reasonably expect privacy. Would you reasonably expect privacy walking down the sidewalk? At a baseball game? In a school cafeteria? In a bar? In a hotel room? At work?

At your Illinois workplace, your employer can install video cameras and secretly videotape you as long as it's vital to the company’s operations. If confronted, all the employee has to do is say the reason for the video surveillance was more important and vital to business operations than the worker's expectation to privacy.

Where in your workplace would video surveillance be illegal? ... Read More

Q. My former employer in wisconsin is suing me. I live in another state now. Can they still sue me in wisconsin?

July 7, 2023

A: Yes it is possible for an employer to sue you in a state you do not reside in. Sometimes an agreement you signed with the employer will indicate what courthouse/the location where the employer can sue you. You will need to find an attorney who practices law in Wisconsin and can advise you on your options moving forward.

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