Top Employment Law Attorneys
Employment law is some of the most important in the country. Employment laws are designed to protect both employees and employers, but especially to prevent employers from discriminating against, harassing, or otherwise mistreating those they pay.
Unfortunately, despite laws on the books against harassment and discrimination, many employees suffer at the hands of their employers in one form or another. If you or a loved one believe that you have been mistreated, you could have sufficient grounds for a successful employment lawsuit.
To maximize the success of your lawsuit and the compensation you could receive, you need to speak to employment law attorneys. Read on to learn more about employment law attorneys, what they do, and how they can help with your case.
What Are Employment Law Attorneys?
Put simply, employment law attorneys are legal experts who specialize in employment law: those are laws and statutes surrounding employment conditions, termination guidelines, and more.
For example, if you are unjustly terminated from your position at work by your employer, you might need to speak to an employment law attorney to learn about your options. With their assistance, you could potentially file a lawsuit against your former employer and recover compensation to cover the cost of sudden termination and more.
Cases Employment Law Attorneys Can Assist With
Employment law attorneys can assist with a wide range of different employment lawsuits and other legal claims. Here are a few examples.
Wrongful Termination
American labor laws require employers to follow very specific processes if they wish to terminate an employee. If you are terminated for an illegal reason like whistleblowing, retaliation, or discrimination, you should reach out to an employment law attorney right away. You can potentially recover unpaid wages and other possible compensation.
Workplace Harassment
Workplace harassment can include:
- Sexual or otherwise inappropriate jokes
- Being called a racial slur
- Coworkers or bosses commenting on your body
- Experiencing ridicule
- Hearing snide comments about your religion, ethnic background, or other protected class
- And more
All workplace harassment is illegal. If you face continual illegal harassment at work, you could sue coworkers or your employer depending on the circumstances of your case.
Workplace Discrimination
Similarly, employers are not allowed to discriminate against employees or potential employee candidates based on protected classes like race, sex, gender identity, disability status, and more.
If you believe that you were denied employment, were fired, or were mistreated because of a protected class, you could have sufficient grounds for a successful lawsuit. Note that discrimination cases can also include instances of “ageism,” which can occur if, for example, you are terminated for being too old despite your work performance showing you are able to fulfill your workplace duties.
Wage Theft/Overtime Disputes
Employers are never allowed to require labor from an employee without paying them. However, wage theft is unfortunately very common, and it happens to all types of workers, including sales agents, waiters, mortgage brokers, delivery drivers, and more.
Wage theft can include:
- Your employer paying you less than the federal minimum wage
- Your employer offering you paid time off instead of overtime if you work over 40 hours per week
- Requiring tipped workers to pool all of their tips together and share tips with those who do not receive tips, such as managers or supervisors
- Labeling workers as exempt from overtime pay if they aren’t doing the job that would exempt them from overtime pay, such as managers
Retaliation from an Employer
Retaliation can include any negative action in response to a perceived slight from an employee, such as:
- Demoting or firing an employee
- Lowering an employee’s wages or salary
- Assigning an employee to a lower-ranked position
- Giving an employee new hours that may disrupt their life outside of work
Retaliation is strictly illegal, though it can be hard to prove. With the assistance of employment law attorneys, you can gather the right evidence and present it in court compellingly so you recover compensation for lost income, withheld overtime pay, and much more.
You can also sue your employer for retaliation if you are a whistleblower about negative actions or harmful conduct your employer facilitates (e.g., your employer illegally terminates an employee, and you tell the press).
How Can Employment Law Attorneys Help?
Depending on your needs, employment law attorneys can help your case in a variety of different ways. For example, a employment law firm can:
- Gather evidence on your behalf. This can be invaluable if you are injured or if you need to work, go to school, or take care of your family instead of doing legwork by talking to coworkers, collecting documents at your former workplace, etc.
- Break down your legal options and provide sound legal counsel. If you aren’t sure what’s best for your family or your finances, employment law attorneys can guide you to the best possible decision
- Represent you in court. Not every employment law claim goes to court or trial, but some do. If that occurs, your employment law attorneys can represent you so you don’t have to deal with the stress of putting together your own court case
- Negotiate with the other side and their attorneys in a dispute. If you don’t want to speak to your employer because of previous discrimination, harassment, or abuse, your attorneys can do so for you
Given these benefits and more, you should certainly speak to employment law attorneys right away. Whether you wish to sue your employer, pursue arbitration, or make any other legal claim, the right legal firm will make the entire process smoother and more successful.
FAQs
Should you always have an attorney for your employment law claim?
Absolutely. Even if you believe your employment law claim is an open and shut case, new details may come to light, your opponent may have a skilled legal team, and you may have to deal with other things aside from filing your lawsuit.
The right employment law attorneys can take a lot of work off your plate. More importantly, they can provide you with a full range of your legal options, explain the lawsuit process, and support you both in court and out. Don’t try to file an employment law claim without knowledgeable attorneys at your side.
Can I still file an employment law claim if I quit my job?
Yes. After all, if you are unjustly terminated from your position, you can and should file an employment claim against your former employer.
Your employment status does not impact your ability to file an employment claim if your employer has mistreated you in some way. Furthermore, even if you voluntarily quit, you may still have grounds for an employment lawsuit.
For example, if you quit your position because of harassment, assault, or other illegal activities on behalf of your employer, they could still be liable for damages and compensation. Employment claims focus on constructive discharge: when a court or jury determines whether an employee in your same setting had no other reasonable choice but to quit or face continued harassment, retaliation, or discrimination.
Simply put, if you believe quitting was right for your physical or mental health, you may still have sufficient grounds for a successful lawsuit. Contact the Law Brothers today to learn more.
How likely is it for my employment law claim to settle before going to trial?
Very likely. The vast majority of all lawsuits settle before going to trial, mostly because lawsuits are costly and time-consuming, particularly for the at-fault party. If you accuse your employer of unjust discrimination or other activities, and you have a legal team helping you with your lawsuit, your employer may very well come to you with a settlement offer.
Of course, whether or not you accept a settlement offer can depend on things like:
- The amount of the settlement
- Whether you believe the settlement is appropriate based on your mistreatment
- Whether you wish to make a statement with your court case
Again, your attorneys can advise you one way or another whether it’s a good idea to accept a settlement offer from a former employer.
How long do I have to file an employment law claim?
The short answer is that it depends. Different employment law claims have different statutes of limitations, and the statute of limitations is the max on time and that you have to bring a claim to court based on a previous damage or injustice.
Depending on the nature of your employment claim, you may have six months, a year, three years, or even more. For more information, speak to the Law Brothers at the earliest opportunity, and we can determine how long you have to file an employment claim once you explain the nature of your case.
Is it legal for my employer to dock my pay as a disciplinary action or punishment?
No, not under any circumstances. If your employer docks your pay as any sort of disciplinary measure, you could have sufficient grounds for an employment lawsuit.
Contact The Law Brothers Today
Everyone deserves the right to fair, safe, and comfortable working conditions. If you or a loved one are terminated or otherwise mistreated in the workplace, contact the Law Brothers today for assistance with your employment law claim.
We’re the best people to contact for those in your situation. We have extensive experience, and we’ve recovered over $400 million for our collective clients over several years. Even better, we don’t charge you a dime unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
