There are laws that protect whistleblowers in the United States, and a labor and employment lawyer can help you if you have been fired or forced to endure a hostile workplace because of your actions as a whistleblower.
Have you ever worked for a company where management regularly used foul language or yelled at you over your performance? While anyone can slip up at work, repeated hostile behavior is considered harassment.
As an employee, you are entitled by law to have a safe and secure environment in which to work. Our capable labor lawyers can guide you through the steps to remedies and compensation if you fall victim to workplace violence.
It’s important to remember that your employer does not have the legal right to fire you or retaliate against you when you blow the whistle on their unscrupulous business practices. If you now find yourself in this difficult position, we may be able to help you fight for your rights.
Drug maker Pfizer Inc. has the distinction of paying the largest amount ever under the False Claims Act - $1 billion in 2009. A pair of whistleblowers in that case - who came forward with information about kickbacks and off-label marketing - was paid $51.5 million and $29 million.
Federal labor law or employment law is what legally oversees the “trifecta” relationship between employer, employee, and union. Labor laws exist to protect workers as well as employers from unfair practices.
According to labor laws, employers are required to provide a safe working environment. If adequate safety measures aren’t in place, then the employer may be fined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and also be subject to a worker’s compensation claim.
If you’ve tried to stop harassment by speaking to your boss or human resources department, keep copies of any emails or reports, and write down the details of all conversations. These will be useful if you need to take further action.
Have you been dreading turning in your notice or letter of resignation because you’ve heard about the underhanded things your company has done to others when they leave? When your company isn’t known for fair employment practices, you may need an attorney on your side.
If you are laid off, and your employer is staying in business, you may still be entitled to keep your health insurance through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), but you are required to pay for it.
Before we start the proceedings for any employment litigation, it's important to review the employee manual or code of conduct for your company. In some cases, these can become as binding as an employment contract.
For hundreds of years, it was legal for employers to pay higher wages to men. The argument was that most men were the heads of their households. It was not until 1963 that Congress recognized single mothers with the Equal Pay Act, making it illegal in most cases to pay men more than women for the same job.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 banned unions, private companies and state and local government from discriminating against people with disabilities in employment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was tasked with enforcing the act.
If you feel your workplace rights have been violated by your employer or a co-worker, the time you have to take action is restricted by your state's statute of limitations. When faced with such conditions at work, we recommend you consult with an attorney as soon as possible.
If you feel that you’ve been discriminated against in the workplace, know that you are protected by several federal laws. These include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the National Labor Relations Act.
Although we often think of sexual harassment as men harassing women, sexual harassment is not gender-exclusive; any employee can claim harassment, regardless of the harasser or victim's gender. The harasser can be a supervisor, fellow employee or even a client or customer, if it can be shown that the employer condoned the harassment.
Can my boss force me to sign a non-compete agreement if I leave the company? There is no law that gives you an absolute right to work anywhere. Businesses have the right to protect their trade secrets, client lists, and business practices. The law does generally allow that non-compete agreements are reasonable.
Did you know that a legal review is recommended for all employee handbooks and personnel policy documentation? Your lawyer will help ensure that your policies aren’t in violation of any laws concerning overtime pay, family leave, and/or occupational health and safety.
Before you contact an attorney, obtain a copy of your employer’s harassment and discrimination policies. Most employee handbooks will have a section on harassment as well as mission statement or statement of values.
If you're going to sue your employer for discrimination, remember that the law only provides for certain categories of discrimination. The boss who fired you without cause because they didn't like you doesn't necessarily fall under discrimination.
In the 1960s, the labor movement was spurred on by a great many socially conscious laws being put into place, including the Work Hours Act of 1962. For the first time in American history, this act allowed a worker to receive time-and-a-half pay if he or she worked longer than an 8-hour day or 40-hour week.
Did you know that you don’t have to accept the severance package your company offers when they eliminate your position? When you believe your years of dedicated service are worth more than the first offer, we may be able to help.
