Contract Disputes

Employment contract disputes arise frequently, especially for businesses with large numbers of employees. Whether you are an employee or an employer, an employment contract dispute can be very disruptive to your business and your life. It is in everyone’s interest to resolve the dispute quickly. Let DGAA Law LLC manage contract disputes.

Hostile Work Environments

A hostile work environment exists where an employee is subject to pervasive harassment or unfair treatment to the extent that he or she feels intimidated and threatened at work. Either discrimination or sexual harassment could give rise to a hostile work environment if the offensive behavior is severe and pervasive enough.

Wrongful Termination

Wrongful termination occurs when an employee is fired for engaging in some type of protected activity such as filing a workers' compensation claim, engaging in union organizing activities, or complaining about sexual harassment or discrimination. Employers are prohibited from terminating an employee in retaliation for reporting illegal conduct, or whistleblowing. If you have been wrongfully terminated from your job for whistleblowing or engaging in some other protected activity, you need to consult an employment attorney.

Family Medical Leave Act

Most employees at medium or large companies are covered by the Family Medical Leave Act after 12 months of employment. This allows them to take unpaid leave without being fired in order to receive medical treatment for a serious illness or to care for a close family member. If you're facing termination for taking leave to address a family medical emergency, the FMLA may protect you. If you are an employer with 50 or more employees, you may need advice regarding FMLA and how it affects your employees needing leave.

Harassment

Federal, state and local laws prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. Unwelcome sexual advances, comments, physical harassment, and quid pro quo requests for sexual favors are unlawful in the workplace whether they originate from a supervisor or fellow employee. Both men and women are protected under these laws. Consult with a skilled employment attorney right away to learn how you can prevent these unwelcome attacks and be compensated for damages that you have suffered.

Severance Agreements

If you have been offered a severance or separation agreement or if you need to approach an employer and request one, an employment lawyer will assist you in reviewing the agreement, recommending changes, or drafting an agreement for you. Severance agreements often require employees to waive important rights. If you are going to sign a severance agreement, it is important that you understand the rights that you are giving up and the benefits that you are going to receive.

Job Discrimination

Several federal, state and local laws prohibit discrimination in employment based on characteristics such as race, age, gender, religion, national origin, familial status, pregnancy, and sexual orientation. Generally, these laws prevent employers from denying employees or applicants jobs, promotions, or other employment-related benefits for discriminatory reasons. You don't have to tolerate employment discrimination.

Unlawful Practices

Federal and state laws, including the Illinois Minimum Wage Act, require that certain employees be paid a minimum wage and that they be paid overtime for hours that they work over 40 hours in a single work week. Some employers attempt to avoid the requirements of the law by misclassifying employees as independent contractors, or they simply refuse to pay minimum wages or overtime wages where the law requires.