New Jersey Employment Attorneys
If you are dealing with a conflict at your place of work it is important to speak with an experienced employment lawyer in New Jersey as soon as possible in order to protect your rights.
Federal, state, and local laws provide protections against discrimination, hostile work environments, unequal pay, and many other types of harm.
The different types of unlawful discrimination against workers can include discrimination based on different characteristics, including but not limited to: gender, age, race or national origin, sexual orientation, religion, or physical or mental disability. Employers can also discriminate against their employees through retaliation after a complaint is made.
Hostile work environments, retaliation, and other forms of discrimination may affect one’s ability to be productive while completing their job. However, not all negative work environments are considered illegal. An experienced employment law attorney can help you determine when you might have a valid claim against an employer.
New Jersey Employment Law Attorneys at Console Mattiacci Law, LLC
The lawyers of Console Mattiacci Law, LLC have been recognized for their dedication to helping New Jersey clients receive compensation for wrongfully denied back and future pay, mental anguish, liquidated damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs for nearly three decades.
Our lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of those who have been victims of an employer or coworker’s illegal practices, including discrimination, and retaliation.
For your convenience, we have an office in Moorestown, New Jersey. Contact the employment lawyers of Console Mattiacci Law, LLC. Call 856-854-4000 today for a no-obligation consultation.
We Can Help – Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Discrimination & Hostile Work Environment Claims
The term “discrimination” covers a wide variety of actions and behaviors that can affect your experience in the workplace. Federal laws ensure protection against discrimination based on a number of characteristics, including sex, race, color, religion, or national origin. Most states offer further protections for age, disability, sexual orientation, and pregnancy. In addition to specific instances of conduct, a general indifference toward discrimination can lead to a hostile work environment that may entitle you to compensation.
Sexual Harassment
No one should have to put up with unwanted or unwelcome sexual behavior in the workplace. If you’ve ever experienced unwanted advances from a coworker or superior, or have been the subject of crude treatment you may have been sexually harassed. If you have been fired, refused a promotion, demoted, given a poor performance evaluation, reassigned, or experienced any negative employment action because you rejected a sexual advance you may be able to receive compensation. An experienced New Jersey employment lawyer can help you understand your choices and help you to obtain damages for mental distress, medical expenses, and lost wages. In some cases, punitive damages could be awarded.
Wrongful Termination
Most employees are hired “at-will,” meaning they can quit—or be fired—for nearly any reason or no reason at all. But there are some exceptions. An employer is never allowed to fire you because of your sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, or other factors protected by law. If you believe you’ve been wrongfully terminated, you may have a claim to damages, including lost and future pay, emotional distress damages, and attorney fees and costs.
Wage and Hour Claims
Most employees must be paid for all of the hours they work, including overtime pay if working more than 40 hours per week. Unfortunately, some employers misapply the exemptions available to them, unlawfully depriving some employees of their overtime wages in the process. If you have been improperly paid by a current or former employer, contacting a New Jersey employment attorney can help you make sure you’re getting paid for the hours you work.
Employer Retaliation & Whistleblower Rights
If you’ve ever noticed unlawful behavior committed by your employer, choosing to disclose it can be a difficult choice. Fortunately, New Jersey state and federal laws protect you against employer retaliation for reporting discrimination or other illegal conduct by the employer. Whistleblowers who expose fraud against the government may also be protected by federal and New Jersey state law. In those cases, you may even be entitled to a percentage of the damages awarded.
Defamation
Your reputation is one of your most important assets, and unfortunately, it’s all too easy for a coworker or supervisor to make a false accusation that damages your reputation. Defamation occurs when someone makes an objectively untrue statement, not just an opinion. If your reputation has been damaged by false accusations or claims that have cost you your job or more, hire a New Jersey employment lawyer right away.
Employment Contracts & Release Agreements
Although most employees are “at-will,” some employers require employment contracts that may include terms outlining pay, benefits, performance expectations, and who owns the work product you create. An attorney can help you understand the employment contract and negotiate the best possible teams.
Some employers also require a release agreement, a contract that may offer money or benefits if the employee agrees to release the employer from liability under an employment contract. Whether entering into a release agreement or navigating a termination, hiring an experienced New Jersey employment attorney can help you. If you are dealing with a contract, and your employer has breached it, an attorney will assist you in enforcing the contract and collecting the damages you have suffered.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Suffering through severe medical trauma or becoming a parent shouldn’t be a situation that ruins your career. The FMLA secures the right to qualified employees to take leave and be free from any retaliation from their employer. If you took a medical or family leave and returned only to be demoted or otherwise retaliated against, you may have a claim.
Workforce Reduction
Frequently called “downsizing,” companies can reduce their workforce for a variety of reasons. When they do, they have to consider the effects it will have on their employees, including how it affects their retirement plans or other benefits, and under federal law, they must provide advance warning of mass layoffs. If you’ve lost your job unexpectedly due to layoffs, compensation may be available.
Class Action Lawsuits
If you’ve experienced discrimination, harassment, or have been deprived of overtime pay by your employer, you may not be alone. In some cases, a class action lawsuit is more appropriate than an individual claim. Because of the strict deadlines and requirements of class actions, don’t delay in seeking advice from a New Jersey employment attorney.
New Jersey Resources
EEOC – Visit the website of the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to learn more about the laws that protect employees in the workplace.
New Jersey Courts: Civil Division – The Superior Court of New Jersey, Civil Part, is of general jurisdiction under the direction of the Civil Presiding Judge. Visit this website to find out more information about the civil part of the county court.
New Jersey’s Wage and Hours Laws – Visit the website of the State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to find labor and employment laws and regulations for wage and hour regulations. New Jersey State Labor Laws are enforced by the New Jersey Division of Wage and Hour Compliance. Those rules and regulations concern methods of wage payment, minimum wage, overtime wage rates, unpaid or withheld wages, and mandatory overtime restrictions for health care workers.
Finding an Employment Lawyer in New Jersey
Experienced legal counsel can make a significant difference if you are seeking recovery after an employer violated your rights. If you assert your rights correctly, you might be entitled to receive compensation for your damages and for back pay owed to you.
It’s important to act quickly, as some employment claims have a strict 180-day deadline. Our attorneys can help you understand your employment protections under the laws of New Jersey and federal law and we will help protect your rights. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. Call us at 856-854-4000 or contact us online to set up a consultation to discuss your potential claim.