Have you lately been terminated and need an employment attorney in Jacksonville? Or maybe your job hunt is being interfered with by a non-compete clause you signed with your past company. Whatever your issue, a great employment lawyer can shepherd you through the legal web you ‘ll likely be enduring.
The employment law concerns tackled by Jacksonville employment attorneys include everything from contract conflicts and unlawful job discrimination to sexual harassment and non-compete requirements, among others. Whether you are the employee seeking safeguards from your companies wrongful acts, or a job needing guidance in a worker dispute, you can find the help you need.
There are numerous state and federal protections for employees in lawsuits of discrimination. While not every class is safeguarded (such as weight, tattoos, and other differences), there are many situations in which you are shielded from discrimination for being a member of a “protected class.” But discrimination that is based on a worker’s membership in any one of a number of protected classes– race, national origin, sex, religion, age, citizenship, disability, pregnancy, military status, bankruptcy, HIV\/AIDS situation, or genetic information– is barred in Florida by federal and state law.
Age discrimination is prohibited by the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 and the federal Age Discrimination Act of 1967. Discrimination based on race, gender, national origin or religion is banned by the Florida Civil Rights Act and Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act. Impairment discrimination is covered by both the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Separate protections exist for those affected by HIV or the AIDS virus.
In Florida, state law prohibits some additional types of workplace discrimination not covered by federal law, including discrimination on the basis of marital status. A quality employment attorney in Jacksonville is equipped to steer you through these laws.
The EEOC and the FCHR are two departments that manage complaints for wrongful termination based on State and federally-protected classes. An staff member claiming discrimination must record a grievance with either of these agencies in advance of taking any action in court. Your employment attorney in Jacksonville can help you understand the requirements of these filings, and any cutoffs or processes you need to be aware of.
Once a bureau investigation is concluded, the individual can either seek remedies from the relevant department or file suit in court. Seeking remedy under the office could result in acquiring back pay, being restored to your function, or being paid damages; however, a civil court case may result in much greater damages or settlements.
Sexual harassment cases arise when an individual is targeted by a superior or co-worker with prolonged, unwanted abuse based on his or her sex. Both federal and state regulations prohibit this conduct and provide targets with remedies. Even if the treatment to which you are subjected is not overtly sexual in nature, if you are being targeted based on your sex, you are entitled to protection and settlement under the law.
Jacksonville employment attorneys also manage breach-of-contract concerns. Although many workers in the state of Florida do not work under a contract, there are some claims where a staff member might be constrained by a non-compete or a collective bargaining agreement. In most claims, however, employees are considered “at will” – which means either side can end the working association for any cause not banned by regulation.
When a breach of contract dispute arises, it’s usually because a workplace terminated a staff member and claimed “good cause” to do it; the worker, on the other hand, claims the workplace didn’t have good cause. If you find yourself handling a contract you feel has been breached, you should speak to an employment lawyer to make sure your interests are represented.
Florida is a popular area for so-called non-compete clauses, which forbid workers from working for the competitors of workplaces they’ve recently left. Although the contracts must be specific in scope, duration, and industry, the courts do sometimes side with the company in suits where a worker leaves for a company which may represent a rivaling interest. A dependable attorney will be able to review your contract, and guide you on its enforceability and legality.
Employment law can be confusing, regardless of whether you’re a company or employee, and knowledge is important. Your best step in understanding your role and obligations is to find a Jacksonville employment attorney to review your lawsuit.