There are many federal, state and local laws that affect workplace issues. Some of these laws are administered by government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees laws that cover wages and hours worked, workplace safety and health standards, employee benefits and more. Other agencies, such as the EEOC and the NLRB, enforce laws that protect employees’ rights in the workplace.
Both employers and employees need advice when problems arise in the workplace. For example, if an employee files a claim of discrimination or harassment, an employment lawyer can help. Or, if an employer plans to lay off a large number of workers, change a pension plan or terminate a certain type of employee benefit, it’s smart to run these changes by an employment attorney to ensure the company is not facing legal pitfalls.
An experienced employment attorney can also help with other workplace-related legal issues. For instance, some states and cities have laws that allow employees to “whistle blow” or complain about unlawful wage and hour policies, violations of workplace safety regulations and more without fear of retaliation by their employers. An employment lawyer can help an employee determine whether he or she is entitled to overtime pay under federal and state wage and hour laws.
Choosing an employment law attorney to represent you or your business can be tricky. Check Nolo’s article How to Find an Excellent Lawyer for tips on how to narrow your search. In addition, ask potential attorneys if they have experience handling the kind of employment issue you’re dealing with-for example, if you’re filing a wrongful termination lawsuit, you want an attorney with extensive litigation experience in that area. Some lawyers offer a free initial consultation, and others take cases on a contingency basis or will include their legal fees in any settlement you win. Employment Law advice