Though many think the law is written to protect businesses, there are numerous protections in place to ensure employees are protected while in the workplace. Unfortunately, there are several ways someone can be mistreated on the job, but the laws ensure workers can bring these issues to light. If you believe your rights as an employee are being violated, you don’t have to stay silent. A New York employment lawyer can help get you the justice you deserve to protect your rights in the workplace. Keep reading to learn the most common employment law violations and how an attorney can help protect your rights.
Understanding the Most Frequent Employment Law Violations
Like any law, those protecting employee rights can, and often are, violated by employers. Understanding what these violations look like is crucial to understanding whether or not you have a valid lawsuit on your hands.
One of the most common violations surrounds wage and hour laws. This includes misclassifying employees to prevent paying them overtime or paying them less than minimum wage. If your employer requires you to work off the clock or pays you under the table, they are violating the laws protecting your rights.
Similarly, discrimination in the workplace is often a source of contention, as employers will violate the rights of workers. Protected classes include race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Your employer cannot cut your hours, reduce wages wage, fire you, or create a hostile work environment because you fall into one or more of these categories.
Unfortunately, another common violation surrounds the Family and Medical Leave Act, or FLMA. Under this act, employees can take up to 12 weeks of medical leave per year. This allows employees the opportunity to take time off work for their health issues or to take care of a sick family member. However, many employers will deny or ignore these requests to prevent their workers from taking time off. Similarly, it is illegal to retaliate against an employee by firing or demoting them when they return from their FLMA leave.
If My Rights Are Violated, What Should I Do?
If you believe your employer has violated your employment rights, you must contact an attorney as soon as possible. Unfortunately, what starts as one violation can quickly turn into a hostile work environment in which your employer regularly abuses their power.
You should start documenting and collecting evidence of the violations that occur in the workplace. This includes your hours worked if it’s a wage dispute or instances of discrimination.
When working in unfair conditions, you shouldn’t let your employer get away with it. At Mirza Law, we’re dedicated to ensuring that your employer is held accountable for any employment law violations they commit. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn how we can help.