Standing Up For Employee Rights
Scott Law Firm represents employees when they have claims of unpaid wages, wrongful termination, and workplace discrimination. Protected categories include but are not limited to race, national origin, disability, age, military service, pregnancy, religion, and color, among others. Laws require that employees be paid minimum wage, as well as overtime, nor can employers retaliate against any employees that complain about any unlawful discrimination in their workplace.
Practice Areas
Scott Law Firm PLLC represents employees in many different employment disputes. Many of our cases wind up before federal and state agencies. These can include the Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Cases that don’t fall under the purview of those agencies often wind up in both state and federal courts, often as individual cases, but Matt Scott does represent workers in collective actions, class action, and complex litigation.
Discrimination
Discrimination isn’t just prohibited but prohibited multiple times by federal and state laws. This includes the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically Title VII. It’s also prohibited by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. With over 25 years of professional experience, it’s crucial to hire a lawyer before you file a claim with the EEOC or any other government agency. Matt Scott routinely represents employees in such matters.
Hostile Work Environment
It’s not legal for employers to allow a hostile work environment to happen. This is illegal per Texas laws, as well as federal ones. Typically, the definition of a hostile work environment happens when any employee experiences pervasive or severe harassment. For instance, if a supervisor sexually harasses one of their subordinates, then this can develop a hostile work environment that is illegal. Similar circumstances could be taunting disabled employees, demeaning the religious or spiritual beliefs of employees, or using racial epithets such as the ‘n-word’.
Sexual Harassment
Matt Scott is an employment lawyer that has dealt with many different sexual harassment cases. If you feel like you are being sexually harassed and you let someone in a higher position at work know about what is going on, they may have told you that you are being dramatic, silly or too sensitive. They may have tried to make you feel like you are crazy for even thinking that someone is sexually harassing you while you are at work, which is a form of manipulation that is commonly referred to as gaslighting. If this has happened to you, it is important to contact an experienced employment lawyer immediately.
Workplace Harassment
Workplace harassment and sexual harassment may be two separate things, although they are often closely related. If you feel like you are being harassed at work for anything such as age, gender, religion, race or sexual orientation, then you may have a workplace harassment case. It is important to notice the signs and speak with an employment lawyer as soon as you feel threatened. Don’t take any chances, and talk with Matt Scott to find out if you have a legitimate case. He would be happy to help.
Retaliation
It’s illegal for employers to retaliate against any employee for choosing to exercise their workplace rights. That can include specific retaliation for harassment, unpaid overtime, complaining about discrimination, workplace safety, and union organizing. Retaliatory acts might include pay cuts, failure to promote, and termination. Retaliation might also include bullying or harassment intended to dissuade any other employees from taking action or making complaints against their employer. Employees that are aware of government or financial fraud might be entitled to special whistle blower protections.
Wage Theft
Each year, employers across the United States wind up underpaying their workers by many billions of dollars. The majority of American workers are eligible for two things. The first is a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, and the second is overtime wages of 1.5x their normal hourly pay. It’s nearly always illegal for working off of the clock, either after hours or just over lunch. Only particular high-level administrators, managers, and professionals might get paid a salary instead of overtime. Any exceptions to this are very rare.
Family and Medical Leave Act
Employees that qualify for this kind of leave are entitled to as many as 12 weeks of leave. That leave can be for providing the care of a child, spouse, or parent. Employees are also entitled to take a personal medical leave for a serious medical condition of their own. It’s important to know that such leave can get taken as needed intermittently or in blocks. Employers can’t retaliate against their employees for seeking leave, taking leave, or coming back from leave. Once an employee takes leave, they have to be returned to either the same position or an equivalent one.
ADA/Reasonable Accommodation
The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, means that employers have to offer disabled employees reasonable accommodations when it would let an employee do the critical functions of their job. These can include the modification of work schedules, working from home, the adjustment of job duties, and short-term leave.
Contact
If you want to file any employment claim, then you should know that the deadline for filing can be tremendously short. If you have been fired, or you are currently experiencing difficulties in your workplace, then contact Scott Law Firm immediately. Scott Law Firm is here to help you with your employment and business law needs and requirements.