Employment Law is the collection of laws that regulate relationships between employees and employers. Employment laws cover all phases of employment. These regulations are in place to keep employees safe, ensure fair treatment, and protect employers.

All employees are entitled to fair pay, equal opportunity for promotions, and a safe and comfortable working environment free of harassment and discrimination. Both federal and state regulations protect these rights from being violated.

If you believe your employer has violated your rights as an employee, you may be eligible for an employment lawsuit. Even if you are unsure about your working conditions and treatment, you may qualify for a claim. Your first step should be to contact an employment attorney to discuss your specific situation.

Wrongful termination means that you were terminated for illegal reasons. An employer cannot legally terminate an employee based upon their religion, race, gender, skin color, sexual orientation, age, medical condition, or disability. In addition, you cannot be fired for filing a complaint about harassment, unsafe working conditions, or discrimination, among other actions. Usually, there is a one-year statute of limitations from the date of termination to file a wrongful termination claim. However, always check your state’s policies or contact a wrongful termination attorney to learn more about your rights.

Discrimination is harassment or disparate treatment because of one’s religion, race, sexual orientation, skin color, nationality, gender or gender identity, age, military and veteran status, marital status, physical or mental disability, or various other attributes. Workplace discrimination includes an unfair allocation of duties, discrepancy between promotion and demotion procedures, exclusion or unjust discipline, and harassment directed at a particular person.  If you believe you are experiencing discrimination at work, contact an employment attorney.

No. Your employer cannot withhold your paycheck for any reason. Even if your employer believes that you owe the company money, they cannot deduct any amount from your paycheck. However, there are few circumstances in which your employer can deduct funds from your paycheck. So, if your employer is withholding any amount of your paycheck, contact an attorney.

Yes, there are several questions that an employer may not ask an applicant or employee. An employer may not seek inappropriate medical information or ask about one’s race, religion, family status, or age. However, an employer may describe the duties of a job to an applicant and ask if the applicant can perform those duties, either with or without reasonable accommodation.

Pregnancy discrimination occurs when an employer mistreats an applicant or employee because she is pregnant, has given birth, is breastfeeding, or has a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. Employers are prohibited from making work decisions based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. Pregnancy discrimination is illegal in all aspects regarding employment, including hiring, termination, wages, promotions, and benefits. Also, employers cannot refuse to provide time off or reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees. However, each state enforces different laws regarding pregnancy regulations.

No. The Americans with Disabilities Act, defines a disability as any mental or physical impairment that limits your daily life. Employers with 15 or more employees must accommodate, and may not discriminate against employees with disabilities. As long as you can perform the essential functions of your position, with reasonable accommodations, your employer cannot fire you based on your disability.

Yes. Under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, all employees qualify for overtime except for exempt employees. Any work over 8 hours a day should receive time and a half. After 12 hours, employees are paid double time. Even if you do not work more than 8 hours on any single day but work over 40 hours a week, you are entitled to overtime pay. Additional laws may be enforced by each state. If you feel that you are owed overtime pay, consult an employment lawyer to discuss your situation.

Non-exempt employees are guaranteed at least one 30-minute meal break for every five hours of work in a day. They must also receive a 10-minute rest break for every four hours of work. Similar to overtime laws, exempt employees are not given the same entitlement. However, if you are not receiving a break or mealtime or you are being asked to skip your breaks, contact an employment lawyer.

Workers’ compensation is awarded to employees who are injured at work or acquire a disease or illness due to working conditions. An employer cannot terminate you just because of your workers’ compensation claim. However, they can still fire you for justifiable reasons unrelated to your claim.