Whether you are an employee or an employer, you deserve quality representation to help resolve legal issues. Hiring an employment lawyer will ensure that someone is looking out for your rights.
1. Wrongful Termination
When an employee is fired or laid off, he or she may feel that they were wrongfully terminated. Employees have certain rights to prevent employers from indiscriminately firing their staff. However, your rights depend on where you live and the type of employment you have.
The two primary types of employment are contract employment and at-will employment. At-will employees have limited protection. As the name implies, at-will employees can be fired for any reason, if the reason does not violate federal or state anti-discrimination laws.
Contract employees may be fired for violating the terms of their contract. Whether you are an at-will employee or a contract employee, an experienced lawyer can review the situation and help determine whether or not your rights were violated.
2. Harassment or Discrimination
For at-will employees, harassment and discrimination are the only situations that may constitute wrongful termination. However, harassment and discrimination do not always result in the employee being fired or laid off.
It is the employer’s responsibility to help protect their staff from harassment and discrimination. If you believe that your employer neglected these responsibilities, you may have a legal case against them. You may also choose to seek legal counsel if you feel that harassment or discrimination prevented you from obtaining a promotion or performing your job duties.
3. Contract Violations
When a contract employee believes that they are wrongfully terminated, they need to prove that they did not violate their employment contract. Employment attorneys that specialize in employment and labour laws have experience with these contracts and can help review the details.
If you did not violate your contract, you may have the right to seek legal damages from your employer for wrongful termination.
4. An Employee Filed a Lawsuit
When employees file lawsuits related to wrongful termination, harassment, or contract violations, the employer also has the right to legal representation. If you feel that the employee’s case is without merit, you deserve to defend your business.
Attorneys can assist you with the case and help determine the best course of action. In many situations, the issue can be resolved outside the courtroom through negotiations and settlements.
5. Review Employee Rights
Employers may also need to hire an attorney that specializes in employment law to comply with various state and federal labour laws.
For example, if you plan to lay off multiple employees or make changes to pension plans, you may need legal assistance. An experienced lawyer can review your plans to ensure that you are not violating employee rights.
Attorneys can also assist in the drafting of employment policies, employee handbooks, and any other business procedures that may require compliance with labour regulations.
Employers and employees may occasionally require legal assistance to review their case and determine if any rights were violated. These are some of the most common reasons to hire an attorney that specializes in labour laws. To avoid surpassing the statute of limitations for filing a complaint, discuss your situation with an experienced attorney.
