TALLAHASSEE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAWYER

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in 2014 there were 7,528 reports of workplace discrimination in Florida, accounting for 8.5 percent all (EEOC) reports in the U.S. for that year.

Yet, each year, countless employee rights violations go unreported. Why? Because many employees are unsure or unaware their rights are being violated in the first place. If you are the victim of any of the following types of discrimination in the workplace, contact an attorney immediately:

• Race, color, religion, or national origin discrimination — Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers are prohibited from hiring, firing, demoting, or otherwise discriminating against an employee based on his or her race, color, or country of origin.
• Sexual discrimination — According to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 it is unlawful for an employer to pay men and women different wages if they perform the same type of work. Additionally, The Pregnancy Discrimination Act prevents discrimination against a female worker because of her pregnancy, childbirth or medical condition resulting from pregnancy.
• Age discrimination — Are you an elderly worker being discriminated against by your employer because of your age? Under The Florida Civil Rights Act, an employer may not discriminate against an employee based on age in regards to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of the employee’s age.
• Disability discrimination — The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities.

It is important to recognize that workplace discrimination is not always an obvious act. Rather, discrimination may occur in subtle ways over time and may be carried out by more than one actor. Our lawyers at Morgan & Morgan can investigate your case and quickly determine if it has merit and what your next course of action should be.

If your employer fired you and you believe you were wrongfully terminated, you may be able to file a lawsuit. However, you must first determine if your discharge was lawful or unlawful.

In the Sunshine State, you may have grounds for a wrongful discharge claim under the following circumstances:

• Discrimination — If you were laid off because of your race, color, origin, religion, age, disability, or sex, consult with a lawyer as soon as possible.
• Contract breach — In the event that you signed a contract guaranteeing you job security, it would be illegal for your employer to suddenly fire you. While workers in Florida are generally at-will workers, the signing of a contract grants you additional rights.
• Retaliation — It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for seeking worker’s compensation, reporting wage and overtime violations, and reporting other illegal activities.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, covered employees are guaranteed a minimum wage. While the federal minimum wage is $7.25, under Section 24 of Article X of the Florida Constitution, the current minimum wage in the State of Florida is $8.05. As such, if you are a covered employee in Florida, your employer must pay you a minimum wage of $8.05. Following are examples of employees who are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act:

• Independent contractors
• Seamen or women on foreign vessels
• Newspaper delivery workers
• Executives, administrators, and professionals who are paid a salary
• Certain farmworkers

If your employer is paying you less than $8.05 and you are a covered employee, your employer is violating your rights. A skilled employment law attorney can review your case and help you file a claim for compensation.

At Morgan & Morgan, we have a reputation for providing Florida employees with aggressive counsel. When an employer harasses or discriminates against you, or violates your rights in any way, you deserve compensation. To receive a free case evaluation, speak with an experienced lawyer today by calling (850) 329-6895 or contacting us online.