Employment law focuses on protecting the rights of workers or employers, depending on the side being practiced. Employee-side employment law focuses on the rights of employees and the obligations and responsibilities of employers to their employees. Attorneys in the field may work with clients facing issues due to wrongful termination, discrimination or wage concerns.
By law, employees and those interviewing to become employees of an employer have rights afforded to them. They, for instance, have the right not to face discrimination and to be paid at least the minimum required by law. On top of federal laws, employers must also abide by statewide laws that could affect employee rights.
Common issues employees deal with that attorneys handle include cases involving discrimination, wage and hour discrepancies, wrongful terminations and sexual harassment.
One common example is discrimination in the workplace. Whether you’re female, male, have a different religion or are disabled, there’s no place for discrimination in the workplace. Those who face discrimination or harassment due to their religions, country of origin, sex or other issues need to be protected and are protected by law.
Wrongful terminations are another issue some people come across. Perhaps they’re let go because of their gender or because they’re the oldest in the workplace. If that’s the case, there’s a good chance that the worker can file a wrongful termination claim and seek compensation for his or her losses.
Your rights should never be compromised. As an employee, you should feel secure and safe at your place of employment. If you’re discriminated against, it’s your right to fight back.
Source: FindLaw, “What is Employment Law (Employee-side)?,” accessed April 17, 2018