Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. The attorney featured above is licensed in Florida. For a full list of attorneys in your state please visit our attorney page.

Labor and Employment Lawyer in Palm Harbor

If you've been underpaid, misclassified, or denied overtime, we fight wage & hour theft to recover the compensation you’ve earned and hold employers accountable.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. The attorney featured above is licensed in Florida. For a full list of attorneys in your state please visit our attorney page.

    Florida Personal Injury Lawyers

    We’re proud to fight for our neighbors. Meet the attorneys from your community.

    While not all unfair treatment at work in Florida qualifies for legal action, you could be entitled to damages if an employer breaks the law and fails to pay you properly or discriminates against you.

    Morgan & Morgan’s labor and employment lawyers in Palm Harbor represent workers in all types of labor law violations, including but not limited to:

    • Workplace discrimination
    • Harassment
    • Wage theft
    • Wrongful termination

    Our attorneys can stand up to an unscrupulous employer and help you fight back. Contact us now to discover whether you have a case and could be entitled to damages. 

    Examples of Unlawful Labor Practices in Palm Harbor 

    Employees are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity and deserve to be free from discrimination and harassment. Moreover, it is unlawful to withhold wages from Florida employees or pay them less than they deserve. Nobody wins when employers fail to uphold their responsibilities. Unlawful labor practices, such as discrimination, harassment, and violation of wage laws, are illegal and can negatively impact employee productivity and morale. 

    Discrimination

    According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), discrimination includes any adverse employment action based on age, race, disability, sex, or another protected characteristic. Examples of workplace discrimination include:

    • Refusing to make reasonable accommodations for disabled workers.
    • Screening out certain protected groups during the hiring process. 
    • Passing over an older employee for a promotion in favor of a younger, less experienced employee.
    • Refusing to hire a person based on their skin color or race.
    • Denying female employees the same benefits and pay as male employees in the same position. 
    • Terminating or demoting pregnant workers 
    • Excluding specific employees from work meetings or trips 
    • Racial slurs or offensive comments

    The above list is not exhaustive, and there can be many other examples of unlawful labor practices in the workplace. Being a victim of discrimination can be deeply upsetting and have devastating consequences on the affected individual’s home and work life. 

    If you experienced discrimination or harassment, Morgan & Morgan is here for you. Our experienced Palm Harbor labor and employment lawyers can explain your rights, help you file a charge with the relevant state or federal agency, and move forward with a legal claim. 

    Wage and Hour Violations

    Federal and Florida wage and hour laws determine the standards employers must adhere to regarding overtime, minimum wage, and other issues relating to employee compensation.

    Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay

    The minimum wage in Florida is currently $10 an hour and is scheduled to increase to $15 an hour by 2026. Tipped employees in the state are entitled to a minimum compensation of $6.98 per hour. Moreover, employees are generally entitled to time and a half (one and a half times their regular pay) for any hours worked over 40 per week. 

    If your employer pays you less than the minimum wage or refuses to pay overtime, you could have a claim against them and receive back pay and other damages.

    Work Breaks

    Employers in Florida are not required by law to offer any work breaks. However, if an employer chooses to provide a rest break, as many do, short breaks of 20 minutes or less must be paid. Employers do not have to pay employees for meal breaks of 30 minutes or more.

    Medical and Family Leave

    According to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), most employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Employees can qualify for medical and family leave for various reasons, such as:

    • Giving birth 
    • Adopting a child 
    • Suffering from a significant medical condition or short-term disability
    • Having to care for a close family member with a severe medical condition 

    If you return to work after medical or family leave, you must be allowed to return to your former job or an equivalent position.

    Misclassification of Employees

    Certain employees are considered “exempt” and not entitled to overtime pay and some other pay provisions. Such positions typically include:

    • Company executives
    • Administrators
    • IT professionals
    • Outside sales professionals
    • Independent contractors

    However, employers in Palm Harbor may misclassify employees as exempt because they are misinterpreting the law or are trying to save money on overtime pay. If this has happened to you, you could bring a claim for missing overtime pay. 

    Illegal Pay Deductions

    Employers are only allowed to make certain deductions from an employee’s wage, such as taxes or court garnishments. However, many employers erroneously believe they can deduct various costs from employees’ paychecks without the worker’s authorization, including work supplies or uniforms.

    Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors 

    Independent contractors are self-employed and do not qualify for overtime pay and benefits. Some employers intentionally or unintentionally misclassify their employees as independent contractors. However, misclassified employees may be able to pursue damages by taking legal action.

    How a Morgan & Morgan Labor and Employment Lawyer Can Help

    Handling labor and employment violations can be challenging and complicated. In the first instance, victims typically have to report violations and file claims with the responsible state or federal agency before they may sue an employer. The deadlines for such claims can be prohibitively short in some cases. For example, you generally must file a discrimination charge with the EEOC within 180 days of the incident, or you could lose the right to sue. 

    An attorney from Morgan & Morgan can help in several ways, including:

    • Helping you understand your legal options and the next best steps
    • Filing a claim with the relevant agency
    • Ensuring all paperwork is filed before the applicable deadlines
    • Working for you on a “no-win-no-fee” basis
    • Preserving and presenting evidence to prove your case
    • Determining your damages such as back pay and benefits
    • Negotiating a fair settlement with an employer
    • Filing a lawsuit against your employer
    • Fighting strongly for what you deserve at trial

    Our labor attorneys can leave no stone unturned in fighting for the rights of Palm Harbor workers.

    100,000+ Five Star Reviews

    The reasons why clients trust Morgan & Morgan.

    Based on select nationwide reviews.

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    Great, the best Law Firm ever, the staff definitely know how to treat clients. They speak to you with much respect.
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    Highly recommended. Thank you!
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    I am very pleased with the service I received from Ryan Jacobs and Morgan and Morgan. I was kept informed of all aspects of my case and believe I received the best settlement possible considering the nature of my accident and the injuries sustained.
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    Morgan & Morgan employees kept me informed through out legal process, especially my case worker, Kathleen, who was very kind and very helpful in explaining the legal paperwork.
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    It's well known what Morgan & Morgan says they do. And that's exactly what they do. Period. They handled the process very well and I appreciate them very much. Thank you Morgan and Morgan.
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    Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

    How It Works

    Focus on your recovery. We'll take care of the rest.

    Step 1
    1

    Submit your free evaluation

    Tell us what happened with a free, no-obligation evaluation completed online, phone or text.

    Start your claim

    Step 2
    2

    Meet your legal team

    Once your case is qualified, you'll be matched with a dedicated lawyer and team working for you. They'll keep you updated and answer any questions you have.
    Step 3
    3

    We fight for more

    Your legal team will build your case, negotiate with the insurance company and fight for the best possible results.

    Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. The attorneys shown in these photos may not be licensed in your state. To find an attorney licensed in your area, please visit our attorney page.

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    We know your pain.

    John Morgan’s brother Tim was injured as a teen. Their experience with a lawyer was a nightmare. John spent 35 years building a firm to do better for families like his. And yours.

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    The attorney featured above is licensed in Florida. For a full list of attorneys in your state please visit our attorney page.
    Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.