Every employee should be able to work in a safe environment free from discrimination and retaliation. When employers violate laws protecting employees, employees may have a legal right to bring a claim for compensation against their employers. It’s essential that employees understand their rights and how to protect themselves when employers engage in unlawful actions that cause them damage.
Dallas Employment Attorneys Fighting for Workers’ Rights
The lawyers at Rochelle McCullough help victims of workplace harassment and wrongful termination get their lives and livelihood back on track. If you suspect that you were terminated from your employment based on your age, sex, race, religion, national origin, disability, or for seeking workers’ compensation benefits, we may be able to help. Don’t delay; contact Rochelle McCullough to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about your legal rights and options.
Types of Employment Cases We Handle
Multiple state and federal employment laws protect employees from unfair, discriminatory, and harassing treatment in the workplace. Unfortunately, employees continue to be subjected to unfair treatment and hostile work environments in Dallas and elsewhere. The experienced litigators at Rochelle McCullough have fought for employees in many employment law cases. We have a proven track record of holding employers accountable when they violate the law.
Discrimination in the Workplace
Employers in Texas cannot discriminate against employees for unlawful reasons. Specifically, employers cannot discriminate against employees based on the employee’s age, race, religion, National origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Examples of discrimination may include favoritism, unequal pay, and exclusion from training or opportunities. Additionally, employers cannot refuse to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Retaliation for filing a discrimination claim is also unlawful. For example, if an employee files a claim with the human resources department related to being discriminated against, the employer cannot fire the employee in retaliation.
Wrongful Termination
Texas is a right-to-work state, and employers can terminate employment for any reason. However, employers cannot terminate employees for unlawful discriminatory reasons. Employees may have a valid legal compensation claim when they terminate employees in violation of their employment contracts or the employee handbook. Employers may try to look for legal loopholes to fire employees or make excuses for unlawfully firing an employee. For example, an employer may try to claim that they are laying off a group of employees because of economic challenges. In reality, the employer may be discriminating against a protected class of employees, such as pregnant employees.
If you believe that you have a valid claim for wrongful termination, it’s crucial that you keep documentation related to your case. Find a copy of your company’s policies and make sure you have a copy of any employment agreements you signed. Discussing your case with an employment attorney as soon as possible can help you pursue a wrongful termination case.
Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environments
There are two main types of unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace. Quid pro quo sexual harassment involves an employer retaliating against an employee for refusing a sexual advance or proposition. For example, suppose an employer or manager offers an employee a raise for engaging in sexual activity. Doing so would be an example of unlawful quid pro quo sexual harassment, and the employee would have a right to pursue a claim against his or her employer.
Similarly, employers cannot create or allow a hostile work environment for employees. Sexual harassment can involve sexually based messages, videos, interactions, and any other unwanted or uncomfortable behavior that is sexually motivated. Even a subtle case of a co-worker or manager making seductive or sexually suggestive facial expressions in meetings could be considered a hostile work environment.
If you believe that you have been subjected to quid pro quo sexual harassment or that you are in a hostile work environment, it’s important that you speak to an attorney. An attorney can help you develop a legal strategy to stop the harassment and recover any damages you may have incurred.
Workplace Harassment
Many instances of workplace harassment involve sexual harassment. In addition to sexual harassment, there are many other ways employees can be subjected to harassment. When employers fail to take action to stop harassment based on an employee’s age, sex, gender identification, national origin, race, or disability, the employer can be held accountable through legal action.
We handle the following types of cases:
- Age Discrimination
- Sex Discrimination
- Gender Identification Discrimination
- National Origin Discrimination
- Race Discrimination
- Disability Discrimination
Wage and Hour Violations
Employees have a right to be paid on time and in accordance with minimum wage laws. The attorneys at Rochelle McCullough have represented employees in a wide range of cases involving wage violations. Federal and local laws protect employees from the following:
- Failure to pay an employee overtime
- Failure to pay for all of the hours an employee worked
- Failure to properly pay an attorney tips
- Misclassifying an employee as an exempt employee
If you’ve signed an employment contract, your employer must pay you following your contract. If they fail to abide by the terms of your contract, you may have a right to bring a legal claim for breach of contract against your employer.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
If you’ve experienced a workplace injury or developed an illness due to work conditions, you may have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation benefits provide medical expenses and compensation for some of an employee’s lost wages when they’ve experienced a qualifying work-related injury. If your employer is not working with you to provide the workers’ compensation benefits you need, working with an attorney can be beneficial.
If you were injured in a workplace accident that wasn’t your fault, you might have a right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against your employer or another third party. Before you agree to accept workers’ compensation benefits, it can be beneficial to speak to an attorney and determine whether that’s the best strategy for recovering compensation in your case.
Discuss Your Case with a Dallas Employment Attorney
If you have experienced workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, you may have a valid legal claim against your employer. Additionally, if you were the victim of unwanted workplace harassment which forced you to leave your employment against your will, you may be entitled to compensation. Navigating employment law claims can be challenging, but the skilled attorneys at Rochelle McCullough are here to help you navigate the process. We will handle your claim from start to finish while advocating for you the entire time.
Contact Rochelle McCullough to schedule a consultation and learn more about your legal rights.