Fear of retaliation from their employers often keeps workers from reporting workplace discrimination and other common labor law violations. Fortunately, the federal government has created a variety of protections for workers who come forward. If you suffered an offense, an experienced Newton employment and labor lawyer can help you pursue compensation.
At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we understand the challenges faced by employees who have been mistreated by their employers. We are committed to protecting workers who have suffered violations and helping them recover damages. Reach out to our team today to schedule an initial case review with one of our experienced Newton labor and employment attorneys.
Types of Cases We Handle
At our firm, we can help you battle a variety of workplace violations. Our team in Newton is made up of:
- Employment discrimination lawyers
- Wrongful termination lawyers
- Workplace retaliation lawyers
- Wage theft and overtime pay dispute lawyers
For a free legal consultation with a Labor & Employment lawyer serving Newton, call (860) 999-9394
Workplace Discrimination
Federal law defines workplace discrimination as any discrimination based on an individual’s age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, religion, or classification as a member of another protected class.
Although the government has passed many laws designed to reduce incidents of workplace discrimination over the last several decades, it persists as a major problem in many workplaces throughout the country.
Workplace discrimination can cause significant emotional and psychological harm to members of protected groups while also making it difficult for them to earn a living.
Hiring Discrimination
When attempting to find a job, many people find themselves at a disadvantage due to discrimination in the hiring process of different companies. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know if discrimination was the reason you were not hired and even more challenging to prove that discrimination occurred.
If you believe that you were the victim of discrimination when seeking employment, an experienced employment attorney in Newton, MA, can help investigate the employer and attempt to establish that there is a pattern of discrimination in their hiring process.
On-the-Job Discrimination
There are many types of discrimination you can face while on the job. From harassment by your coworkers or supervisors to being passed over for promotions, workplace discrimination can create a hostile work environment and make advancing your career a challenge.
Fortunately, proving discrimination in these cases is usually easier than in hiring discrimination cases. Because the victim can observe the way they are treated in relation to the treatment their coworkers receive, it can be much easier for them to identify discrimination and gather evidence against their employer.
Firing Discrimination
If you were terminated from your position as a result of discrimination, a labor lawyer serving Newton, MA, can help you pursue legal action against your former employer.
When working to prove that you were fired because of discrimination, it is critical that you understand that Massachusetts is an at-will employment state. That means that an employer can fire an employee at any time for nearly any reason or no reason at all. One of the only exceptions is that an employee can not be fired because they belong to a protected class.
If no reason is given for why you are being let go, proving discrimination can be challenging. The best methods for proving discrimination in these cases are to show that you also faced discrimination during your employment or show that the company has a history of discrimination in their firing practices.
Newton Labor & Employment Lawyer Near Me (860) 999-9394
Wrongful Termination and Other Common Employment Disputes
Losing your job because of discrimination is only one form of wrongful termination. Another of the limited reasons you can not be terminated from your job in an at-will state is in retaliation for actions you took. Some of the most common reasons that employers fire employees in retaliation include if the employee:
- Blew the whistle on company misconduct or other illegal activity
- Filed a workers’ compensation claim
- Reported workplace discrimination
- Used legitimate medical leave
There are several other employment disputes for which you can pursue legal action. An experienced labor lawyer in Newton, MA, can help you recover damages if your case involves:
- Failure to pay the minimum wage
- Unpaid overtime
- Unlawful deductions
Failure to Pay the Minimum Wage
Minimum hourly wage requirements are set forth by both federal and state governments. Additionally, the city in which you work may have its own minimum wage requirements.
Unpaid Overtime
Federal law establishes that a standard full-time work week is 40 hours. If an employee works more than 40 hours for an employer in a single week, any additional hours must be paid at a rate of 1.5 times their normal hourly rate.
Unlawful Deductions
Deductions will be made from your paycheck for taxes. Additional deductions may be made for a variety of other things depending on your circumstances. However, employers can not simply make deductions at their own discretion.
If your employer violates any of these employment standards, you have grounds to take legal action to recover damages.
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An Experienced Employment Lawyer Can Help Ensure Your Lawsuit Is Filed on Time
The deadline for filing a lawsuit regarding a labor dispute will vary depending on the specific offense that occurred. The best way to protect your right to collect compensation and ensure that your paperwork is filed on time is by hiring an experienced attorney as soon as possible after suffering an offense.
Furthermore, by hiring a lawyer early, you can put them in the best position to build a strong case on your behalf. The sooner they can get started, the easier it will be for them to collect evidence that supports your claim.
At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we will get to work on your case immediately. Our experienced team can identify the deadline that applies to your case and complete and submit all the required documents on time.
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Get Help from an Experienced Employment and Labor Attorney Serving Newton Today
Hiring an experienced attorney is the best way to improve your odds of getting the money you need and deserve after suffering a workplace violation. At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, our experienced team will work around the clock to ensure a favorable outcome to your case.
Contact us by giving us a call or completing our online contact form today to set up an initial case review with a member of our legal staff.
Call or text (860) 999-9394 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form