Palm Beach Gardens Employee Rights Attorney
All Florida employees have certain basic rights in the workplace. Of course, many employers either ignore these rights or act as if they do not understand their obligations under the law. Indeed, in many cases the employees themselves may not fully appreciate their own rights and often fail to take action when there is a violation.
This is where a Palm Beach Gardens employee rights attorney can help. At the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., our team specializes in helping workers assert their rights in the workplace. So whether you are dealing with illegal discrimination, a wage and hour violation, or some other legal issue affecting your employment, we can offer skilled, compassionate representation.
Some of the more common employee right issues we assist clients with include:
- Discrimination and Harassment. Both the federal government and the State of Florida have strong laws forbidding discrimination in the workplace based on a number of characteristics or traits, such as sex, race, and disability. This means you cannot be fired or disciplined at work based on such traits. Additionally, you cannot be subject to harassment–i.e., a hostile work environment–based on a protected characteristic. These rules also apply to job applicants.
- Minimum Wage and Overtime. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets a baseline minimum wage for all workers. Florida law actually provides for a higher minimum wage than the FLSA, which is what employers in this state must follow. The FLSA and Florida law also mandate overtime pay equal to at least 1.5 times an employee’s normal wages, for hours worked in excess of 40 in a given work week.
- Family and Medical Leave. Florida law does not require employers to offer any form of paid sick leave or vacation time. But the federal Family and Medical Leave Act does authorize certain qualified employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a serious illness or care for a new child. This includes time off for helping to care for a spouse, parent, or child with a serious medical condition.
- Contractual Rights. Most employees are considered “at will” in Florida, meaning they can be fired at any time with or without cause. But certain key employees may have written contracts specifying additional rights. And in some cases, even a written “employee handbook” may be sufficient proof of a written employment agreement to grant employee’s additional rights beyond what the law requires.
Contact the Sconzo Law Office Today
Taking legal action against a current, former, or prospective employer is not an easy decision. But sometimes it is the only way to vindicate your rights under the law. So if you have reason to believe that an employer is not playing by the rules and you need to note what steps to take next, our Palm Beach Gardens employee rights attorneys are here to advise you. Contact the Sconzo Law Group, P.A., today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
