Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act both prohibit discrimination or workplace harassment based upon race, ethnic origin gender (including pregnancy), religion, disability and age.  This means that you cannot be subject to different terms and conditions in employment than your counterparts if that difference is based upon any of the protected categories listed above. 

It is important to note that these two statutes are not fairness statutes but, instead, state that an employer may not take into account these designations in making employment decisions.  It is always important to consider the employer’s intent in assessing a discrimination claim and also the timing of any such adverse employment decisions, i.e. did an employee receive her first ever negative performance review after she announced she was pregnant?