Experienced Legal Counsel for Employees In Need of Strong Advocacy
All workers have labor rights and freedoms that must be protected. The Camden County employment law attorneys at Burnham Douglass have more than 70 years of combined experience defending those rights for all workers in New Jersey. We work diligently to protect the right to privacy, to fair compensation, and to work in a place free of discrimination.
Camden County is located in the South Jersey bordering Philadelphia and is the ninth-most populous county in the state. Many of its 523,000 citizens reside in townships like Cherry Hill or Pennsauken, or the borough of Haddonfield. Historic Camden County is best represented by the hard-working, blue-collar families who call it home.
We Have Reached Successful Outcomes in Many Different Employment Law Cases
The dedicated team at Burnham Douglass has years of experience expertly handling a range of employment law cases with successful results:
Discrimination
Workplace discrimination comes in many forms and is prohibited under federal and state law. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee based on their age, gender, race, sex, religion, national origin, or disability. These are referred to as “protected classes.” Discrimination in the workplace occurs when an employer negatively acts against an employee because of one or more of these protected classes.
A few examples of workplace discrimination can include:
- Age discrimination: Age discrimination occurs when adverse action is taken against a worker over the age of 40 years solely based on their age. An example of this can include an employer only hiring younger people, an older employee is not given a raise or promotion, or an employee is pushed to retire.
- Disability discrimination: This occurs when a person is discriminated against, not hired, terminated, or harassed in the workplace because of their disability.
- Race discrimination: Race discrimination occurs when an employee or prospective employee is adversely treated because of their race. This could mean they are not hired, not promoted, harassed, or not given a raise based on their race.
It may seem difficult to prove workplace discrimination, which is why many instances of discrimination go unreported. However, our employment law attorneys are ready to act on your behalf and can help build your case successfully.
Employment Contracts
Some employees may be asked to sign a contract when first hired, created either individually based on the employee’s role, or a boilerplate contract may be used for all employees across the company. There could also be oral agreements, and sometimes no written or oral agreement at all; the behavior of both employer and employee can be treated as an implied contract.
If the terms and conditions of your employment contract have been violated by your employer, regardless of if it is a written or oral agreement, you need an experienced employment contract lawyer by your side. We can help resolve contract disputes, review, and negotiate contracts on your behalf, and advise on non-compete agreements.
Hostile Work Environment
It is illegal to repeatedly harass or offend a worker with unwanted abusive actions, whether it be physical or verbal. This creates a hostile work environment, and employees are protected from this under federal and state law. Furthermore, anyone in the workplace can create a hostile work environment, not just the employer. However, a worker who is experiencing the harassment can hold their employer accountable if they do not take corrective action to stop the harassment.
A hostile work environment can include offenses such as sexual harassment, discrimination against the protected classes, offensive language, or physical threat or violence. Filing a hostile work environment lawsuit begins by first reporting the issue with your employer. If the employer fails to stop the harassment, the next step is to consult with an experienced employment lawyer about your options.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment happens in two ways: creating a hostile work environment through unwanted actions, or quid pro quo. Inappropriate comments, unwanted touching, or assault are just a few examples of sexual harassment creating a hostile work environment. “Quid pro quo” is when one employee requests sexual favors in exchange for an employment action, such as a promotion or increase in salary.
If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you must first directly ask the offender to stop. If their conduct continues, go to a supervisor and file a sexual harassment claim. Carefully document the incidents and call an employment lawyer right away. An attorney can guide you through your next steps and help strengthen your case.
Wage & Hours
Federal and state laws protect employees from their employers violating their right to earned wages. Some wage dispute examples include an employer withholding earned pay, failing to pay overtime, or failing to pay earned bonuses.
Whistleblower Retaliation
Workers who notice that there are illegal activities or policies in their workplace are protected when reporting unlawful activity. It is illegal for an employer to take negative action against a whistleblower, though retaliation can come in many forms. A few examples of an employer retaliating are reducing the whistleblower’s hours, demoting the employee, terminating their employment, or excluding the individual from outings or meetings.
New Jersey has a whistleblower law called the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). This protects employees who wish to speak out against an employer’s unlawful actions.
Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination occurs when an individual loses a job for an unlawful reason, such as firing a worker because they reported sexual harassment, or dismissing an employee because of their age, or firing an employee because they took FMLA leave.
New Jersey is an at-will employment state, which means an employer can terminate a working relationship without reason. However, at-will employers are not above the law, as an employer cannot fire you for unlawful reasons, such as discrimination, retaliation, reporting an illegal behavior.
Burnham Douglass Provides Trusted Employment Law Representation in New Jersey
Our professionalism and experience have helped countless residents of New Jersey. We offer knowledgeable and consistent feedback and will always address your needs promptly and with empathy. We understand that your case is unique, and we will provide the proper guidance as we reach the best possible outcome for your case.
- We work with you on an individual basis and deliver top-notch legal representation customized to your needs.
- We have over 70 years of combined legal experience.
- We offer after-hours and weekend consultations by appointment.
- We are focused on providing our clients with the best quality service.
Contact our experienced employment attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation. Call Burnham Douglass at 856-751-5505 or inquire online to get started.
With our offices located in Marlton and Northfield, we serve all clients of Marlton, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Trenton, Northfield, Linwood, Atlantic City, Pleasantville and surrounding towns in Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, and Mercer County.
