Ft Lauderdale Employment Lawyers Fight to Protect the Legal Rights of Workers
Both employers and employees have specific standards and expectations of one another in the workplace. However, sometimes an employer goes beyond the legal limits prescribed by state law and violates an employee’s rights. These illegal actions may take the form of employer retaliation, illegal termination, workplace harassment, and many other workplace violations.
Sadly, many employees aren’t aware that they have potential legal options that can protect them from illegal treatment on the job. For example, Florida has many employment laws in place to protect workers from discriminatory or illegal practices.
If your employer has violated your legal rights, you must speak with a qualified employment lawyer immediately. Time is of the essence when it comes to employment law matters, as evidence can quickly disappear and there are time limits to file a claim, making it challenging to prove your case.
Contact RTRLAW in Ft. Lauderdale by calling (954) 370-5152 or our toll-free number 1-833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787) for a free, no-obligation case review or schedule a consultation with a qualified employment law attorney who can review your case and answer your legal questions.
What Types of Legal Issues Does an Employment Lawyer Handle?
Florida employment laws have been implemented to protect both employer and employee rights in all aspects of the workplace. These laws are meant to prevent employers from using illegal tactics to terminate or discriminate against employees and to protect employers who follow the law in all hiring and employment matters.
An employment lawyer is qualified to handle the following types of legal issues:
- Employment and contract agreements
- Wage and hour claims
- Sexual harassment claims
- Employment discrimination claims:
- Age discrimination
- Disability discrimination
- Racial discrimination
- Religious discrimination
- Sexual orientation discrimination
- Gender or gender identity discrimination
- Pregnancy or parental status discrimination
- Other protected classes
- Wrongful termination
- Violations of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Whistleblower claims
Florida law has strict guidelines regarding what type of behavior is prohibited in the workplace. However, some employers try to skirt these laws to fire employees when they try to take advantage of programs meant to protect their rights.
For example, if your employer tries to terminate you because you have taken time off of work through the Family Medical Leave Act, you may be able to file a lawsuit against that employer. Our attorneys can evaluate and determine if your rights have been violated, and, if so, hold your employer responsible for their illegal actions.
Similarly, if you feel you’ve been the target of discrimination in the workplace based on your race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, you may also be entitled to file a lawsuit for employment discrimination against your employer.
The employment law attorneys of RTRLAW in Fort Lauderdale have extensive experience in fighting for employee rights. Contact us for a free, no-obligation case review or schedule a consultation with one of our employment lawyers who can provide you with more information about how we may be able to help.
What Is Considered to be Sexual Harassment?
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency ultimately responsible for enforcing federal laws regarding sexual harassment in the workplace.
The EEOC has defined sexual harassment as requests for sexual favors, unwanted sexual advances, or any other physical or verbal conduct that can be construed as being sexual in nature.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes provisions that protect both men and women from sexual harassment by those of the opposite and same sex in the workplace. Likewise, the Florida Civil Rights Act also protects employees from sexual harassment. Additionally, employees are protected against sexual harassment that may be perpetrated by third parties who interact with them, including contractors, clients, and customers. Therefore, if your employer is made aware that you are being sexually harassed, they have a legal obligation to prevent further harassment from occurring.
However, employees must understand that for sexual harassment to be considered unlawful, it must be severe or pervasive to the point that it alters their ability to complete their assigned duties.
If you believe you’ve been the victim of sexual harassment, the first preventive measure you must take is to tell the individual who is perpetrating the harassment to stop. Inform them their behavior makes you uncomfortable and will not be tolerated. If the individual continues with the same type of conduct, file a formal complaint with your employer and/or your HR department at your workplace.
It’s also vital that you document your experiences so they will be easy to reference later. If you file a complaint at a company and no one in management takes action to stop the unwanted behavior, you need to contact an employment lawyer such as the lawyers at RTRLAW in Ft. Lauderdale immediately.
For more information about sexual harassment and to find out your legal options in the workplace, contact RTRLAW. One of our knowledgeable employment law attorneys can answer your questions and help you receive the justice you deserve.
What Qualifies as Wrongful Termination?
Florida is an at-will state, meaning an employer may legally terminate, promote, hire, or demote employees for any reason or no reason at all, and is not obligated to give notice or a reason.
Even though Florida law does give employers a great deal of discretion when it comes to hiring and firing employees, they may not terminate an employee illegally.
Employees might have strong cases for wrongful termination if they were fired from their jobs for any of the following reasons:
- The employee was terminated based on race, age, national origin, color, marital status, pregnancy, religion, or disability. However, this law is only applicable if your employer has at least 15 employees or, in some counties, only 5 employees.
- The employee filed a workers’ compensation claim.
- The employee reported or objected to others participating in discriminatory practices.
- The employee took a leave of absence for illness or through the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and was terminated.
- The employee was owed unpaid wages or overtime.
- The employee was laid off because they were over age 40.
- The employee reported, threatened to report, or refused to engage in illegal activity.
Every situation is different and must be evaluated based on the unique facts and circumstances that surround the case. If you feel that you’ve been wrongfully terminated, one of the measures you can take to protect yourself is to hire an employment lawyer who can assess your case and help you obtain the legal remedies available to you.
How Can an Employment Lawyer Help Me With My Legal Issues?
RTRLAW understands that dealing with employment issues can be overwhelming and challenging to navigate independently. Many of the laws surrounding employment issues are complex and can be difficult to understand without legal training.
However, our full-service law firm is passionately committed to upholding the rights of our clients. All too often, employers have the upper hand because they have the financial backing to have teams of lawyers working hard on their side. The employment lawyers of RTRLAW are fearless in standing up for the rights of employees to ensure their legal rights are protected, and their voice is heard.
Our employment lawyers have a comprehensive understanding of what is necessary to win your case and help you resume your life. If we decide to take your case, our legal team will thoroughly evaluate the evidence and create a legal strategy to help you obtain a favorable outcome for your legal issues. Our legal staff will also work diligently to ensure you are well-informed and updated on any changes or progress in your case.
For your convenience, you may contact us in Fort Lauderdale by calling (954) 370-5152 or our toll-free number, 1-833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787) for a free, no-obligation case review, or to schedule a consultation with a qualified employment law attorney to find out more information.