Cynthia Pietrucha

For all of your employment disputes, contact our firm at (630) 344-6370

Our firm focuses on breach of contract, FMLA medical leave and wrongful termination.

Employment Law

Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, Wrongful Termination

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Litigation

Arbitration & Mediation

Business Arbitration

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

• Credit Cards Accepted
  We accept all major credits and PayPal.
• Contingent Fees

Illinois

7th Circuit

Managing Attorney

Pietrucha Law Firm, LLC

2014 - 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

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

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)

Member

2006 - Current

Activities: Labor and Employment Law Section

Employment Termination: Employer Obligations and Workplace Considerations

Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education

June, 2022

ISBA Standing Committee on Women & the Law, ISBA Standing Committee on Women & the Law, Chicago, IL

January 10, 2018

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)

Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials Fall 2015 Conference, Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials Fall 2015 Conference, Lombard, IL

October 8, 2015

Illinois Associaton of Public Procurement Officials

Q. In illinois, does unpaid medical leave make you eligible for unemployment benefits?

May 21, 2021

A: I'm sorry to hear about your injury. If you haven't already, you should ask your employer for a light duty assignment supported by a doctor's note indicating the need to do work that does not require standing for long periods of time. The employer would then have the duty to explore alternative job changes you might be able to perform. If you can no longer perform the core duties of your job, because standing is essential to your job, you may no longer qualify to do your job - which would not be your employer's fault. While unpaid medical leave does not automatically make you eligible to collect unemployment benefits, note the following law: o Voluntary Leave: Voluntary Leaving Disqualification An individual will be ineligible to receive benefits if he has left work voluntarily without good cause attributable to his employer. The disqualification continues until the individual has become reemployed and has had earnings equal to or in excess of his current weekly benefit amount in each of four calendar weeks which are either for services in employment, or have been or will be reported pursuant to the provisions of FICA. (Section 601)  There are seven exceptions that exempt the worker from disqualification even though he has left work voluntarily without good cause attributable to the employer: • 1. When the worker is deemed physically unable to perform his work by a licensed and practicing physician, or where the worker leaves work upon the advice of a licensed and practicing physician that assistance is necessary for the purpose of caring for his spouse, child, or parent who is in poor physical health, and such assistance will not allow him to perform the usual and customary duties of his employment. In either instance, the worker must notify his employer of the reason for leaving before the exception will apply. (Section 601B1

Q. With Biden's new executive order, may I keep my unemployment benefits if I quit my job due to fear & medical reason?

February 12, 2021

A: Here are some IDES FAQ you may find helpful: 3/16/2020 COVID-19 and Unemployment Benefits - IDES https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/COVID-19-and-Unemployment-Benefits.aspx 2/3 What if I‘m temporarily laid off because the place where I work is temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 virus? An individual temporarily laid off in this situation could qualify for benefits as long as he or she was able and available for and actively seeking work. Under emergency rules IDES recently adopted, the individual would not have to register with the employment service. He or she would be considered to be actively seeking work as long as the individual was prepared to return to his or her job as soon the employer reopened. What if I quit my job because I am generally concerned over the COVID-19 virus? An individual who leaves work voluntarily without a good reason attributable to the employer is generally disqualified from receiving UI. The eligibility of an individual in this situation will depend on whether the facts of his or her case demonstrate the individual had a good reason for quitting and that the reason was attributable to the employer. An individual generally has a duty to make a reasonable effort to work with his or her employer to resolve whatever issues have caused the individual to consider quitting.

Q. What all can an employer legally disclose to a 3rd party in my personnel file?

December 14, 2020

A: In Illinois, the governing law for personnel records is: 820 ILCS 40. This Act may be cited as the Personnel Record Review Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1324.) See the law and how you can file a complaint about violations here: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/legal/Pages/personnel-records-review-act.aspx