Employment Laws And Your Rights: Do’s and Don’ts For Employees

If you are like most people, work is a huge part of your life. However, you may be unaware of your legal rights on the job. You may suspect your employee rights have been violated in situations such as the following:

  • You are a womanand notice that men have been promoted through the ranks of your teams but women have not (or vice versa).
  • You are the minority at your place of employment (national origin, race, etc.) and notice that others that are different from you have been promoted but those that are the same as you have not been promoted.
  • You believe you have been demoted or may be terminated because you made a claim pertaining to your race, religion or national origin.
  • Your employer regularly asks you to work off the clock before or after your work times or during lunch or rest breaks.
  • Your employer asks you to work overtime but does not pay you for it. They allege that you are an exempt employee even though your duties resemble those of hourly workers.
  • You are paid hourly but not paid time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a week.
  • Your employer is not paying you for all hours worked or has failed to pay at all.

So What Should You Do When Your Rights Are Violated At Work?

At The Spencer Firm, LLC, in Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland, we are committed to informing employees of their rights — and how to protect those rights. We will start here by offering a bit of free advice, regardless of the circumstances:

What To Do

  • Ask an attorney whether your employer has broken laws.
  • Find out how to protect yourself based on the specifics of your case.
  • Save pay stubs if you may have an overtime or unpaid wages case.
  • Be aware of statutes of limitations. File your complaint, claim or lawsuit in time to make a difference.
  • Consult with a lawyer as soon as you develop a concern, even if you don’t know whether you have a case. Our law firm has helped clients prevent being fired and resolve other challenges through early involvement.

What Not To Do

  • Do not file a complaint or claim without getting legal advice.
  • Do not say things or write statements that may hurt your case. A lawyer on your side can help prevent these risky actions.
  • Do not assume you have all the time in the world to file a discrimination case. The allotted time period to make a claim may expire and you will have no recourse.
  • Do not wait until the day before you must sign a severance agreement to consult with an attorney. Early legal counsel can preserve options; waiting until the last minute can leave you backed into a corner.
  • Do not quit your job in order to file a discrimination claim unless the proper circumstances are present. Your mental health is more important so we are not advising you to stay to your detriment. Quitting may hurt your ability to obtain damages in some cases and situations. Call us for more detail.

These Lists Provide A Starting Point. For Personalized Employment And Labor Law Advice, Contact Us.

At The Spencer Firm, LLC, we are prepared to guide you through all stages of your case — including determining whether you have a case. Email us, or call 301-683-7528 for help determining whether you have grounds to file a complaint, claim or lawsuit. Se hablaespañol.