An Employment Lawyer Deals with Overtime and Wrongful Termination Cases

Hopefully, you will never need an employment lawyer to help your work situation, but if you do run into a problem with your job, it is good to know which type of professional can assist you. For this reason, you are encouraged to find out what a legal representative like this typically does. This allows you to immediately contact someone should you experience any of the issues described below.

One of the most common problems is the question of whether you are entitled to breaks. Though the rules vary by jurisdiction, most employers are required to offer a paid break that lasts about 15 minutes when you work a four hour shift. If you work eight hours or more, you are entitled to at least one break, plus an unpaid lunch break. If your employer does not provide you to take any breaks during a shift that lasts four hours or more, you should talk to an employment lawyer to find out your options. In addition, recent laws now require employers to offer unpaid breaks to nursing mothers who need to express breast milk with a pump for up to one year after their baby's birth. They also have to provide a place for nursing mothers to do this, and a bathroom does not count. If your boss is not following these rules, you might have a case.

Lawyers are also helpful for preventing some businesses to take advantage of employees by requiring them to work without appropriate pay. For example, if you are working overtime without being paid extra, your boss is taking advantage of you, and you can talk to an employment lawyer to put a stop to this. Of course, the laws vary by state, and some companies are exempt from the requirement of paying extra for overtime, but an attorney can fill you in on these details.

Wrongful termination lawsuits are also commonly taken care of by an employment lawyer. If you feel you have been discriminated against, as you lost your job due to pregnancy or disability, for example, you should talk to an attorney. Such lawsuits are hard to win without lots of evidence on your side, especially if you are in a right-to-work state, in which you can quit or be fired for no apparent reason. However, if you have proof that your employer fired you for an inappropriate reason, then you probably have a case. You can be compensated for the amount you would have made at the job for several years, as well as pain and suffering, such as if you were humiliated or inconvenienced by the wrongful termination.

In general, if you are having problems at work, you need to talk to an attorney specializing in workplace conflicts. You should at least get a consultation to find out whether your boss is breaking the law, and whether you can do anything about it. Once you get some basic information, you can decide whether to proceed with a lawsuit, or just get a new job.