Most Americans have felt the sting of losing a job, whether because they weren’t quite performing up to standards, the economy shifted, or they didn’t fit in with the business culture. Others still have borne the brunt of their employers’ prejudice, and while that may not have resulted directly in them losing their job, it absolutely played a role. All of this to say that sometimes you lose your job for perfectly permissible, albeit unfortunate reasons, but other times you’re treated unethically and illegally while employed and during your termination.
For situations fitting into this latter category, you can be left reeling, wondering what you can do to fight the injustice done to you. You can hire a labor attorney. While past experience is no guarantee of future success, hiring experienced employment rights attorneys is likely your best bet for getting your due.
Three Signs It’s Time to Hire a Labor Attorney
- Sex-Based Pay Discrimination
- Any Violation of Title VII Employee Laws
- Wrongful Dismissal Cases
Even though it’s 2014 and we supposedly live in a post-racial, post-sexist society, the fact remains that women working the same jobs as their male counterparts are typically paid less — for the same exact amount of work and experience! As the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission writes, this sort of discrimination is completely unacceptable, as outlined in the Equal Pay Act of 1963. If this is happening to you, don’t put up with it!
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of legislation for income and employment equality in the history of the United States. In summary, Title VII bars discrimination based on race, sex, religion, color, and national origin. Whether you’re losing your hours to another employee because of your race or your boss is demanding sexual favors in exchange for a promotion, know that you don’t have to take that kind of treatment.
As Nolo.com suggests, if you were fired in violation of written or implied promises or in breach of good faith or public policy, then your former employer may have acted in violation of wrongful dismissal law. However, it’s important to keep in mind that just because you were fired out of nowhere, that doesn’t constitute wrongful dismissal, especially if you were working under an at-will arrangement. A labor attorney can help you sort through the issue, fighting on your behalf if you were wrongfully terminated.
Remember, if you have been discriminated against in the workplace or terminated illegally, you’re not alone. An experienced labor attorney can help you fight for your rights as an employee and those you’re guaranteed as a citizen of these United States of America. For more information see this.