(740 ILCS 92/40)
Sec. 40.
Retaliatory discharge; remedy.
An employee who is discharged,
demoted,
suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against
in the terms and
conditions of employment by his or her employer because of lawful acts done by
the employee
on behalf of the employee or others in furtherance of an action under this Act,
including
investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action
filed or to be filed under
this Act, shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole.
That relief shall
include reinstatement with the same seniority status the employee would have
had but for the
discrimination, 2 times the amount of backpay, interest on the backpay, and
compensation for
any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including
litigation costs and
reasonable attorney's fees. An employee may bring an action in the appropriate
court for the
relief provided in this Section. The remedies under this Section are
in addition to any other
remedies provided by existing law.
(Source: P.A. 92-233, eff. 1-1-02.)
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