Workers who face unlawful practices committed by their employers frequently fail to come forward due to concerns regarding retaliation. However, what workers need to understand is that they have several rights and protections under the law, including protection against retaliation. An experienced Lowell labor and employment attorney can help you file a claim.
At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we are well aware of the challenges that mistreated workers face. Our team of experienced Lowell labor and employment lawyers will take every action available to ensure our clients recover the compensation they deserve. Get in touch with us today to schedule a free case evaluation with a member of our team.
Workplace Discrimination
Federal law prohibits any form of discrimination against individuals based on their religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, race, disability, or classification as a member or another protected class. Although numerous efforts have been made to eliminate workplace discrimination, it remains a widespread issue throughout the country today.
Facing discrimination in the workplace can make it difficult for members of protected classes to earn a living as they can have trouble finding and retaining employment, and when they do, it can be challenging to advance their careers. Additionally, they can suffer severe emotional and psychological harm.
Hiring Discrimination
One of the most frequent yet most difficult to prove types of workplace discrimination is hiring discrimination. It can be incredibly challenging to detect and prove discrimination in the hiring process, as workers rarely receive any feedback regarding why they were not chosen for a position.
However, if you believe you were passed over for a position as a result of discrimination, you should reach out to an experienced employment lawyer serving Lowell, MA. Your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into the hiring practices of the company to attempt to establish a pattern of discrimination.
On-the-Job Discrimination
While working for an employer, you can face a variety of different types of discrimination. One of the most common issues workers face is harassment from coworkers and supervisors. Furthermore, members of protected groups frequently struggle to advance their careers as they are passed over for promotion time and again.
People working in hostile work environments can face daily challenges as well as find it difficult to achieve their career objectives. Fortunately, proving on-the-job discrimination tends to be far easier than proving discrimination in the hiring process. Workers have the opportunity to observe how they are treated in comparison to their coworkers.
Additionally, they have the time to collect and document evidence of the discrimination they suffered and observed in the workplace.
Firing Discrimination
When pursuing a claim for firing discrimination, you need to understand that Massachusetts is an at-will employment state. What this means is that employers in the state can fire employees at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. However, there are a limited number of exceptions to this rule, including that discrimination-based firings are unlawful.
If you believe you lost your job because you are a member of a protected class, an experienced employment attorney serving Lowell, MA, can help you file a lawsuit to recover compensation.
Proving discrimination in these cases can be difficult, so any evidence you have of discrimination you faced while employed can be crucial. Beyond that, you can expect your lawyer to investigate the hiring and firing practices of the company, looking for a history of discriminatory practices.
For a free legal consultation with a Labor & Employment lawyer serving Lowell, call (860) 999-9394
Wrongful Termination
One of the other big exceptions to an employer’s right to terminate any employee for any reason in an at-will employment state is that they can not fire an employee as a method of retaliation. Some of the most common retaliation-based termination cases we see at our firm include employees who were fired for:
- Reporting workplace discrimination
- Blowing the whistle on company misconduct or other illegal activity
- Filing workers’ compensation claims
- Using legitimate medical leave
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Other Common Labor Disputes an Experienced Lowell Employment and Labor Attorney Can Handle
There are many other types of labor disputes a labor lawyer serving Lowell, MA, can handle. Some of the cases we most frequently handle include issues of:
- Unpaid overtime
- Unlawful deductions
- Failure to pay the minimum wage
Unpaid Overtime
The standard full-time work week in the United States is 40 hours. Any employee who works beyond the 40-hour mark for a single employee in a week must be paid at a rate of 1.5 times their typical hourly wage for any additional time they work.
Unlawful Deductions
When you receive a paycheck, you will see deductions taken out of your pay for taxes. Additionally, money may be deducted and put into a retirement account. You may also have your wages garnished for a variety of other lawful reasons.
However, this does not mean your employer can make deductions at their own discretion. All deductions from your pay must be in compliance with federal and state laws.
Failure to Pay the Minimum Wage
There are minimum wage requirements at both the state and federal levels. Furthermore, some cities have their own standard for minimum wage requirements that employers must meet.
If your employer violates any of these or other employment laws, you have the right to file a lawsuit against them to recover damages.
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Be Careful to File Your Lawsuit in Time
When attempting to recover damages after a labor dispute, certain deadlines must be met. The amount of time you will have to file your claim will depend on the type of labor dispute.
The best way to ensure you know the exact filing deadline for your case and protect yourself from losing your right to pursue compensation because of an unexpected deadline is by hiring an experienced labor attorney in Lowell, MA, as early as possible. Hiring a lawyer early will have the added benefit of putting them in the best position to build a strong case on your behalf.
At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we will determine the exact filing deadline for your case and ensure that all of your paperwork is completed and submitted well in advance of the cutoff date.
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An Experienced Employment & Labor Lawyer in Lowell Can Help Get You the Money You Need
Securing the services of an experienced attorney will significantly improve your odds of recovering favorable compensation. At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we will work tirelessly to ensure you get the money you need and deserve.
Contact us by completing the contact form on this website or giving us a call to set up a free initial case review with one of our attorneys today.
Call or text (860) 999-9394 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form