Experienced Employment Attorney in Florida/
Employment law covers all facets of the relationship between employer and employee β from the hiring process and conduct in the workplace to layoffs and termination. Federal and state governments have created thousands of statutes, administrative regulations and judicial decisions in an effort to protect and empower employees.Β The Feldman Legal Group employment attorneys in Florida have experience using these statutes and regulations to help clients get the justice they deserve.
Contact a skilled employment attorney in Florida
Our Florida employment lawyers represent employees who have suffered discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other unfair treatment at work. Our trial attorneys have decades of combined experience handling employment litigation, practicing in state and federal courts.
Employment Law Overview
Employment law covers all facets of the relationship between employer and employee β from the hiring process and conduct in the workplace to layoffs and termination.
Employment Discrimination
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1991 outlaw unequal treatment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Our attorneys help clients by investigating employment discrimination and obtaining a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC. We stand up for workersβ rights against discriminating employers. If necessary, we are prepared to take matters to court.
If a case is successful, workers can expect placement, advancement, reinstatement and, in some cases, monetary compensation for back pay, front pay and emotional damages.
Sexual Harassment
Also under Title VII, it is illegal for employers to make sexual advances or engage in other offensive conduct that creates a hostile work environment.
We represent clients in quid pro quo and hostile work environment claims. Sexual harassment in the work place is unacceptable. We make sure that all claims of misconduct are taken seriously and that clients get justice for their mistreatment.
Victims of harassment may collect back pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages and front pay.
Age Discrimination
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)Β prohibits the unequal treatment of workers based on their age and applies to workers over 40.Β This type of discrimination is far too common in the workplace. Our attorneys aggressively pursue cases of age discrimination.
A successful claim can result in financial compensation and reinstatement at your job.
Disability Discrimination
Disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) refers to a refusal to hire or refusal to make reasonable accommodations in the workplace. We offer case evaluations to find out more about your issue and provide you with possible legal options.
If we accept your case, we will make sure that a discriminating employer will be held accountable for the damages you have suffered. We will build your case and, if necessary, take it to court. If successful, you can expect to be employed or receive compensation for back pay, front pay or damages.
Family Leave Discrimination
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act was passed to prevent the unfair treatment of women in the workplace because of pregnancy, childbirth or maternity leave.Β There are several ways in which an employer may violate family leave policies. The Family Medical Leave Act covers many employees, guaranteeing up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to take care of their own or a family memberβs serious medical condition.
We will conduct an investigation on your behalf and prepare a case that will hold your employers responsible for any discrimination. Successful outcomes may include back pay, front pay, reinstatement and compensation for other damages.
Wrongful Termination
Employees are fired every day. Some are let go for legitimate reasons while others are terminated improperly under state and federal laws. The place of business has become a litigation battleground.
At the Feldman Legal Group, we represent clients who have been involved in many different types wrongful termination cases. We aggressively pursue these cases to make sure that our clients get reinstated at their jobs and receive adequate compensation for damages they have experienced.
Whistleblower Claims
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA), it is unlawful for companies to retaliate against or get even with workers who file a complaint regarding their employer’s alleged unlawful policies.
If an employer has retaliated against you for speaking out about fraud, abuse or waste in the workplace, you have the law on your side. We will investigate the facts and defend your rights as a whistleblower. You can receive compensation or reinstatement if your employer has retaliated against you for reporting claims of fraud, abuse and waste.
Wage and Hour Claims
Is your pay correct?Β Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay minimum wage and overtime to eligible (nonexempt) employees.
The employment law attorneys at the Feldman Legal Group have secured millions of dollars in wages for our clients. We will take all necessary legal actions against reluctant employers to make sure you get the payment you are owed.
Find out moreΒ about wage claims.
Employment Agreements
Enforcing employment agreements includes litigation of non-compete agreements and other employment contracts that create undue burdens on employees’ hiring contracts, non-compete contracts, wages and hours and severance packages.
Our attorneys review your agreements, prepare a case that reflects how your employer failed to live up to their promises and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Class Actions β When Employees Band Together/
We not only assist individual workers who have been treated unfairly by employers, we also handle class actions to ensure that groups of workers get justice. Class actions are cases in which groups of people with similar experiences band together against a single company to seek compensation. There is strength in numbers, and these cases can help benefit the individuals involved in addition to serving an even greater purpose of creating safer, fairer workplaces.
To learn more about joining a class action lawsuit, we encourage you to visit our Pending Cases to find out about our ongoing legal actions. Our attorneys will meet with you to discuss the details of your case and find out whether your case would fit in with a class action.
Infographic: When Do You Need an Employment Lawyer?
Employment Law FAQ/
Yes. You can sue your employer if it acts illegally regarding:
- Race
- Sex
- Religion
- Retaliation
- Sexual harassment by the employer or an employee if the employer does not take action against the harassing employee
- Failure to allow mandated breaks
- Failure to pay overtime wages
Some of the common forms of harassment include requiring a sexual favor for a promotion or raise (quid pro quo), employers or other employees making inappropriate jokes and / or comments about your appearance, religion, sex, race and / or age, not promoting you because of your race or religion and inappropriate touching.
Yes. An at-will employment state means that an employer does not have to have a reason to fire you or lay you off. However, the two exceptions to this rule are unlawful discrimination and retaliation.
While your employer can fire you or lay you off for no reason, there are some exceptions. You can also quit without giving your employer a reason. However, your employer wrongfully terminated you if it fired you or laid you off for:
- Refusing to participate in illegal actions
- Illegal reasons
- Filing a claim against the company
- In violation of public or company policy
- In violation of a written contract
If you suspect your employer is conducting illegal activity, you can file a whistleblower complaint against your employer. Always speak to your attorney prior to filing a whistleblower claim to ensure that your employer does not violate your rights. A couple of common types of whistleblower claims include employers overcharging customers and employers who work for the government stealing from the government.
When an employer or co-workers make jokes and comments or touch you constantly β even if the touching seems innocent, and that interaction is not welcome, you have a hostile workplace, especially if you asked those violating your space and your wishes to stop. Also, intimidation, threatening, and other negative behavior could also create a hostile workplace.
Being stressed or unhappy at work does not mean you work in a hostile workplace. You must have unwanted behavior that violates your rights aimed at you.
Unless you are waitstaff, your employer cannot pay less than minimum wage. In Florida, the minimum wage is $8.65, which is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. If waitstaff employers choose to take the tip credit of $3.02 per hour, they can pay waitstaff $5.63 per hour.
Contact Us For Strong Employment Law Representation/
A strong attorney can help you enforce your legal rights against powerful interests. No matter how complex your case is, our lawyers are able to present an effective argument on your behalf even in numerous large-scale matters, including class and collective action litigation in state and federal court.
We put our motto to practice: we get “justice for workers.” Contact our employment lawyers in Florida today for a case assessment with a knowledgeable employment law attorney. Give us a call for a consultation to learn if you have a case.
IN OUR CLIENT’S WORDS
Mitch counseled me on a difficult Florida employee-employer matter. At a number of points in the process if it wasn’t for Mitch’s sound advice and thorough follow-up by him and other members of his law firm I would have let the matter die. In the end Mitch and his firm, in my opinion, were able to draw water from a rock. This provided me with a sense that justice had prevailed, and greatly helped me to finally resolve the issue both professionally and personally. Mitch is a hardworking, no non-sense lawyer that I have known and worked with for over 12 years. He has a proven track record, and his long-term success as an attorney provides further testimony to this.
~ Benjamin J. Miele, CPA
Learn More About Our Employment Law Services
Are you being properly paid for all hours worked at the correct overtime and wage rates? We will provide a case evaluation regardless of the city or state you reside in.