Workplace discrimination and other violations of your rights can affect your earning ability as well as cause significant emotional and psychological damage. Unfortunately, workplace offenses are often difficult to prove. Your best chance of recovering compensation is by hiring an experienced Cambridge labor and employment attorney.
At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we understand the difficulties that an employment offense can create. Our team of experienced Cambridge labor and employment lawyers will do everything in their power to secure compensation on your behalf. Reach out to us today to set up a case review with a member of our legal team.
Workplace Discrimination
Under State and Federal law, any type of discrimination against a person based on their age, race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or classification as a member of any other protected class is prohibited.
Unfortunately, despite many efforts to decrease the prevalence of workplace discrimination, it remains a widespread and lingering problem throughout the country. The challenges that arise from workplace discrimination can make it difficult for victims to earn a living while also causing emotional trauma.
Discrimination is present in every stage of the employment process, from hiring to firing.
Hiring Discrimination
When seeking employment, many people face significant obstacles due to discrimination by those in charge of the hiring process. Unfortunately, proving that you suffered discrimination at this stage can be incredibly challenging. Unless the discrimination is overt, you might not even know it occurred.
The best thing to do if you suspect that discrimination may have prevented you from obtaining employment is to secure the services of an experienced employment lawyer in Cambridge, MA. Your attorney can investigate the hiring practices and history of the employer to potentially prove that a pattern of discrimination in the hiring process exists.
On-the-Job Discrimination
Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms. Whether you are dealing with harassment from your coworkers or a supervisor or facing challenges advancing in the company due to bias, you have the grounds to take legal action.
In these cases, proving discrimination can be far more straightforward than in hiring discrimination cases since the victim has more time to observe the way they are treated compared to the treatment of their coworkers. They are also in a better position to collect evidence to use in their case.
Firing Discrimination
If you were let go from your job because of discrimination, a labor attorney serving Cambridge, MA, can help you file a claim against your former employer.
When attempting to prove discrimination in a wrongful termination case, you need to keep in mind that Massachusetts is an at-will employment state. That means your employer can fire you at any time for nearly any reason or without any reason at all. One of the only exceptions to this is if the reason they are firing you is because of discrimination.
In order to prove that discrimination was the reason for your firing, you will likely need to show that you suffered discrimination at other points during your employment or prove that the company has a history of discriminatory hiring and firing practices.
For a free legal consultation with a Labor & Employment lawyer serving Cambridge, call (860) 999-9394
Wrongful Termination
Getting fired because of discrimination is not the only form of wrongful termination. Another common type of wrongful termination in Massachusetts is firings made in retaliation for actions taken by employees. Retaliation-based firings are frequently made against employees who:
- Blow the whistle on company misconduct or other illegal activity
- Report workplace discrimination
- File workers’ compensation claims
- Use legitimate medical leave
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An Experienced Employment Attorney Serving Cambridge, MA, Can Help You File Your Lawsuit on Time
Whatever type of employment lawsuit you are filing, the lawyers at Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard can help ensure you get all your paperwork submitted before the filing deadline.
The statute of limitations for filing an employment lawsuit varies depending on the offense that occurred. An experienced lawyer can help identify the lawsuit that applies to your case and ensure all the required paperwork is completed and filed on time.
Hiring an attorney early not only ensures that you will meet the filing deadline but also helps put them in the best position to build a strong case on your behalf. The earlier they can get started, the easier it will be for them to collect evidence supporting your claim.
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Other Employment Disputes that Can Lead to Legal Action
There are a variety of other offenses your employer can commit against you for which you can take legal action. An experienced labor lawyer in Cambridge, MA, can help you pursue compensation in cases involving:
- Unpaid overtime
- Failure to pay the minimum wage
- Unlawful deductions
Unpaid Overtime
Under federal law, a standard full-time work week is 40 hours. If an employee works more than 40 hours for an employer in a single week, they are entitled to a pay rate of 1.5 times their normal hourly rate for any work they put in beyond the 40-hour mark.
Failure to Pay the Minimum Wage
In addition to the federal minimum wage, each state has its own minimum wage requirement. Additionally, some cities have further minimum wage requirements. Employers must pay their employees hourly wage at a rate that meets or exceeds the minimum wage requirements for the area in which they do business.
Unlawful Deductions
When you receive your paycheck, it will show deductions for taxes. Additionally, there may be other deductions that are taken from your pay for a variety of reasons. However, any deductions from your paycheck must comply with legal regulations. Your employer can not make arbitrary deductions at their own discretion.
If your employer violates any of these standards, you may be able to pursue financial compensation.
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Reach Out to an Experienced Cambridge Labor and Employment Attorney Today
Hiring an experienced lawyer can be critical for ensuring you recover the compensation you need in a labor dispute. At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we have helped countless workers win legal claims against employers.
Our team will work tirelessly to help ensure a favorable outcome for your case. Contact us today by completing our online contact form or giving us a call to schedule your case review with one of our attorneys.
Call or text (860) 999-9394 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form