Employment Law
Tackling Your Claim With Skill and Dedication
If you are hesitant to report an employer’s unlawful activities and violations for fears of retaliation or losing your job, you are not alone. Unfortunately, men and women everywhere grapple with similar decisions every day, weighing the right thing to do against their very livelihood. Thankfully, you are safe from repercussions by a plethora of laws designed specifically to protect workers in every workplace in the country.
Employers must abide by all federal, state, and local laws regarding how they run their businesses and how they treat employees. As frightening as it may seem, speaking up for yourself or others when an employer violates your rights or engages in unlawful practices benefits all present and future employees of that company or business.
When your employment rights are being violated in your workplace, our legal team of dedicated Cherry Hill employment lawyers at Burnham Douglass will fight tirelessly for your rights and to recover potential damages you may deserve for the mistreatment you have experienced!
What Should I Do if I Think I am Being Discriminated Against for My Race?
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission establishes that it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against any employee on the basis of race, gender, age, sexuality, disability, national origin, or religion. If you have experienced, mistreatment, harassment, demotion, loss of promotion, or termination based on any one of these protections, it is imperative that you contact an employment attorney to hold your employer accountable and protect your rights against any further discrimination.
New Jersey extends protections under the Law Against Discrimination, which also prohibits employment discrimination based on gender identity, domestic partnership, marital status, ancestry, military status, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, in addition to the aforementioned rights of protection.
Laws against race discrimination were first enacted during the 1880s with the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and a sweeping reform during the 1960s, most notably by enactment of Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. Both laws prohibit employers from discriminating in the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, demoting, promoting, or terminating of any individual on the basis of race or color. In addition to these federal laws of protection, each state also has its own anti-discrimination laws.
Discrimination based on race occurs when an employer’s conduct and actions are intentionally discriminatory to employees of a particular race or multiple races. This includes workplace policies that excludes particular races or appears to be neutral, but negatively impacts members of certain races and not others. For instance, holding job recruitment fairs in locales with less minority candidates, or employment-related testing which scores specific minority races lower than candidates of the racial majority.
If you believe you were unlawfully discriminated against due to your race, you may be able to file a discrimination claim under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and the Conscientious Employee Protection Act. Contact the skilled Cherry Hill employment lawyers at Burnham Douglass to discuss your options today.
What Other Areas of Employment Law Can Burnham Douglass Help Me With?
Our skilled Cherry Hill team of employment attorneys are knowledgeable and carry many years’ experience handling cases in many other areas of employment law, including:
Wrongful termination
Employers are not legally permitted to terminate their staff for race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, national origin, or disabilities. It is also unlawful for an employer to terminate an employee as retaliation for reporting violations or illegal activity in the workplace, or to assert their protected rights, such as filing a workers’ compensation claim for benefits.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace can happen to both women and men by an employer, manager, supervisor, coworker, client, or customer. Forms of sexual harassment including fondling, unwanted advances, display of sexually graphic materials, sexual language or jokes, and various other forms of sexual harassment. It is against a myriad of state and federal laws of employee protection from sexual harassment and violations should be reported immediately. If you have experienced sexual harassment in your place of employment, contact one of our experienced employment law attorneys to advocate for your rights against your employer.
Wage and hour disputes
Workers in New Jersey are entitled to overtime pay for any work performed longer than 40 hours per week, at a rate of time and one half per hour under the State Wage and Hour Law, which establishes the state’s minimum wage and overtime rates for all workers. If your employer is refusing to pay overtime for work you have already performed, our Burnham Douglass seasoned employment law attorneys will represent you in enforcing your rights and ensuring your employer not only compensate you for your earned wages but does not continue to violate wage and overtime laws.
Hostile work environment
If you are having difficulties performing your job duties because of repeated harassment or other acts of hostility in your workplace, you should consider filing a claim against your employer for condoning a hostile work environment.
Retaliation
It is understandable if you are not reporting your employer’s unlawful activities or unfair treatment of yourself, other employees or clients for fear of being harassed, demoted, or fired. You are not alone – many workers experience the same fear and trepidation. However, it is against the law to be terminated for reporting your employer, thereby violating your rights as an employee, and you should speak with our top-notch team of employment attorneys about enforcing your rights and regaining your job.
Whistleblowers
In the United States, the federal government has taken great actions to protect workers who report their employers for violations and unethical and illegal activities under the False Claims Act. At Burnham Douglass, we know how frightening taking such action can be and the even greater courage it takes to stand up for what is right for all employees and others affected by your employer’s actions. We will stand with you when you do and make sure your rights are protected at the same time.
Employment contracts
Many employees find themselves in dispute with employers over their own employment contract or feel pressured to sign employment-related documents the do not feel comfortable signing. Our knowledgeable team of employment lawyers can help you review the contracts and your options, advise you, negotiate on your behalf, and help resolve disputes that protect your best interests and rights of employment.
Burnham Douglass’ top-notch attorneys have served clients with employment law matters throughout Cherry Hill and the state of New Jersey for over 70 years. We deliver customized legal representation with each individual client, and we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality of service, including after-hours and weekend consultations when necessary.
What Should I Expect if I Hire a Burnham Douglass Cherry Hill Employment Law Attorney?
At Burnham Douglass, you can expect the highest level of representation from a seasoned team of first-rate negotiators and litigators who will stop at nothing to protect your rights of employment. Each member of our team of employment attorneys has many years of experience representing clients in asserting their rights and ensuring employers maintain compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. If you are experiencing any of the following, contact one of our attorneys today:
Some violations have time limitations related to reporting and filing a claim, so you should contact an attorney immediately if you have experienced, or are experiencing, any of the above. This is even more applicable if what you experienced was a one-time offense as opposed to an ongoing situation.
Cherry Hill Employment Law Attorneys at Burnham Douglass Represent Clients Fighting Back Against Employment Violations
Experiencing workplace harassment, discrimination, unlawful termination, or witnessing illegal and unethical activities in the workplace can be frightening and emotional. Standing up against your employer to make them accountable for their actions can be equally difficult, but you do not have to do so alone. Our skilled Cherry Hill employment lawyers at Burnham Douglass will fight tirelessly to protect your employment rights and hold your employer accountable. Call us today at 856-751-5505 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Marlton and Northfield, New Jersey, we serve clients in Atlantic City, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Trenton, Northfield, Linwood, Pleasantville and Burlington County, Atlantic County, Camden County, Gloucester County and Mercer County.
