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Rockford, IL Employment Lawyers

Serving Clients in Illinois, Florida, New York, Colorado & Throughout the U.S. 

USA Employment Lawyers offers personalized employment law representation for clients across the nation. Based in Rockford, IL our dedicated attorneys have extensive experience navigating everything from class-action wage and hour disputes to misclassification of job titles under the FLSA, and Biometric Privacy Rights (BIPA) violations. 

Whether you are a tipped worker whose tip pool is not allocated properly, you are an hourly employee not getting paid proper overtime wages, or you are earning less than the correct current minimum wage, USA Employment Lawyers can help you fight for a swift, favorable resolution to your issue.

At USA Employment Lawyers, every client is our top priority, and we take each lawsuit personally. By limiting the kinds of cases we accept, we are able to excel in specific areas of the law, providing our clients with the benefits of our experience utilizing proven strategic tactics to further their goals. 


If you are facing an employment-related dispute, contact our employment law attorneys by phone at (800) 483-0998 or online and request a confidential case evaluation.


Words From Our Former Clients

Great firm. Great attorneys. You guys are the best. I highly recommend USA Employment Lawyers. They will handle your case efficiently and effectively by keeping in constant contact with you and handling your legal matters with your best interest in mind. Thank you for all your help. Keep up the great work. The world needs more attorneys like all of you.

Our Awards

These awards are given to attorneys and law firms who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers, and by their clients.

  • BL Ones to Watch 2023
  • AV Preeminent Rating 2023
  • AV Preeminent
  • AV Distinguished 2021 Highest Level Professional Excellence
  • AV Distinquished 2021 High Professional Achievement
  • Super Lawyers Rising Star 2020
  • AV Distinguished 2020
  • Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters
  • Super Lawyers Jordan Richards
  • Avvo Clients' Choice Award 2016

We Help Employees

Our team is dedicated to protecting people treated illegally by their employer.
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Offering an Innovative Approach

Laws governing employment in the United States, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), continue to change. It is crucial that you have legal counsel with an employment law attorney who is experienced in this complex area of law.

USA Employment Lawyers is a law firm focused on employment disputes, and our clients can benefit from our extensive experience in this field.  We have aggressively represented thousands of individuals in state and federal courts throughout Illinois, as well as in Florida, New York, New Mexico & Colorado. We work to swiftly resolve disputes and achieve the unique goals of every client.

Once you have retained us to represent you, we will zealously prepare your case and conduct any legal research or other investigation necessary to help bring about your desired outcome. Incorporating research into our strategy allows us to anticipate any potential legal issues that could arise—and prepares us to respond accordingly. At USA Employment Lawyers, we believe that knowledge is power. Our employment lawyers in Rockford, IL provide outstanding communication to our clients and work to keep you informed every step of the way.


Browse our practice areas to learn more about how our employment attorneys can help, or call (800) 483-0998 to schedule a no-cost case evaluation with our team today.


  • Quick & Methodical Results
  • Open Communication with Clients
  • Led by a Former Prosecutor
  • Personalized Representation
  • Free & Confidential Case Evaluations
  • Utilizing an Ethical Approach
  • Jordan  Richards, Esq. Photo
    Jordan Richards, Esq. Managing Partner
    Jordan Richards, Esq. is a Rockford, IL-based employment law expert and seasoned collective and class action litigator. At USA Employment Lawyers, he strives to provide his clients with personalized attention, innovative legal strategies, and aggressive advocacy in trial.
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  • S S
    Sarah Schaefer, Esq. Attorney

    Sarah M. Schaefer is a Junior Associate Attorney and a recent addition to the devoted team of attorneys at USA Employment Lawyers. Her compassion and dedication to every one of our clients is what makes her an invaluable member to our team. Sarah works closely and personally with our clients from start to finish to help them achieve the best possible outcomes.

    Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law in Davie, Florida, where her strengths as a law student led her to receive various academic honors, including placement on the Dean’s List for Academic Achievement, and serving as an Editor for the ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law. Sarah’s legal article and analysis, A Comparative Analysis on the United States and Bolivian Prison Conditions and the Implications of Human Rights on Prison Detainees from Both Countries, was published in Volume 29 of the Summer 2023 Edition of the ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law.

    Prior to becoming an attorney at our firm, Sarah was a Law Clerk for USA Employment Lawyers, as well as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Stacey Schulman in the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida.

    During her free time, Sarah loves spending time with family, friends, and her new puppy, Chai.

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Employment Law FAQ

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Employment Law

If you are employed in the state of Illinois, Florida, New York, Colorado, or any other state, you likely know that you have certain rights. However, not all workers know the full extent of their legal rights. At USA Employment Lawyers, we believe that the more informed you are, the better prepared you are to take action when your rights are violated. Browse our employment law FAQs to find answers to commonly asked employment law questions, or reach out to our firm to schedule a free case evaluation with an employment law attorney in Rockford, IL. We are happy to discuss the details of your case and help you devise a personalized plan of legal action.

  • A collective action is a multiple plaintiff lawsuit that is filed when there is an alleged violation of employees’ right to federal minimum wages or federal overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). Under the FLSA, any employee who is a victim of wage theft can file a collective action against a current or former employer for themselves and for those “similarly situated” to them who join the case. Employees who wish to be part of the collective must opt-in to the lawsuit by submitting a consent-to-sue form that will be sent to them upon the court's conditional certification of the lawsuit. The FLSA protects plaintiffs by forbidding defendants from threatening or otherwise retaliating against them for participating in a lawsuit.
  • A class action only requires one representative to be filed. A class representative is an individual who has been harmed, believes others have experienced similar monetary injuries from the same action, possesses a desire for that action to end, and wishes to be remunerated for any monetary damages incurred by the wrongful actions. The class representative will help represent the suit as the “lead plaintiff” and they, along with the attorneys, represent the interests of the class. The claims or defenses of the other plaintiffs must be typical of the lead plaintiff. The common issues between the class and the defendants must predominate the proceedings.
  • Overtime wages are available to employees who work more than 40 hours in one week. These workers are entitled to receive overtime wages of one and a half times their normal hourly rate of pay. However, there are certain exceptions to overtime, and not all employees are entitled to receive overtime wages.

  • In most cases, all employers in the state of Florida must pay their employees the highest applicable minimum wage which, in this case, is the state’s minimum wage of $12.00 an hour. One exception to this involves tipped employees. Employers may pay tipped employees less than minimum wage if they choose to apply the “tip credit.” In such cases, it is assumed that the employee will make up the difference in tips. The tip credit in Florida is $3.02 an hour, meaning employers may pay tipped employees as little as $8.98 an hour.
  • Even though each US state has its own employment laws, employment is generally considered at-will. That simply means that an employer may fire an employee for any reason at any time, as long as the basis for firing is not discriminatory, retaliatory, or otherwise illegal in nature. There is usually no burden on employers to prove "just cause," although some states allow for exceptions.
  • Yes, it is possible to sue your employer if he or she has acted illegally. Prior to taking legal action, however, it is important that you understand your rights as an employee. Federal and state employment laws make it illegal for your employer to discriminate against you based on certain protected classes. It is also illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for speaking up for your wage rights under the FLSA or other applicable laws.

    If you believe your rights have been violated, you can take legal action against your employer. It is important that you speak to an experienced employment law attorney who can help you navigate this process. Contact the team at USA Employment Lawyers for a free case evaluation today.

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