Facing employment issues and discriminatory conduct in the workplace is a stressful experience no one should have to endure alone. The Minnesota employment lawyers of Madia Law can help ensure your rights are defended and your voice is heard.
For years, our civil litigation lawyers in Minnesota have successfully assisted people from all walks of life through issues related to wage and hour violations, medical or family leave interferences, wrongful termination, and more.
We recognize the disruption and uncertainty these situations can cause in your life. This is why our services are provided with empathy, care, and clarity from day one. You have our commitment to investigating thoroughly and advocating aggressively on your behalf.
What Is Employment Law?
Employment law governs the relationship between employers and employees in the workplace. It protects employees from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on characteristics like race, gender, disability, or age.
Laws address topics like wages and hours, medical leave, family leave, workplace safety, and hiring and firing practices.
Major laws include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) standards.
Here is a brief description of what these laws and regulations address:
- Title VII prohibits discrimination in hiring/firing, promotions, and pay based on protected classes.
- ADA mandates accommodating disabilities and prohibiting related discrimination.
- FMLA entitles unpaid leave for medical/family reasons up to 12 weeks.
- FLSA requires minimum wage and overtime pay of 1.5 times the regular hourly rate after 40 hours.
- OSHA protects the health and safety of workers by regulating workplace hazards and establishing safety standards
Whistleblowers and Workplace Retaliation
Employment lawyers in Minnetonka can also help you if you’ve experienced workplace retaliation. Some examples include:
- Being transferred to a less desirable job or location
- Denial of opportunities or promotions
- Wrongful termination
- Verbal or physical abuse
- Demotion
When you are facing any type of employment matter that you believe violates employee rights, it’s a good idea to seek legal help. Our experienced employment lawyers can review the details of your claim and help you understand your legal rights in your specific circumstances.
For a legal consultation with a employment lawyer serving Minnetonka, call 612-349-2729
Identifying and Proving Employment Discrimination
Rarely would a company admit that discrimination played a role in a worker’s termination. In most cases, employers will make up a new reason for firing an employee if they were treated unfairly because of their age, color, handicap, gender, or sexual orientation.
The company might say the worker was let go because of poor performance on the job, as one example. But in order to win a claim for wrongful termination or discrimination in court, you’ll need to show that your employer’s statement was only a pretext to cover up the real cause for your departure.
In unfair workplace situations, our Minneapolis-based attorneys use a variety of tactics to uncover the underlying motives on behalf of our clients. The first step is to show that the business owner’s reasoning is flawed and present evidence.
How an Employment Law Attorney in Minnetonka Lawyer Can Help Prove Your Claim
Our attorneys have effective strategies for challenging an employer’s rationale in discrimination cases.
- We present contradicting evidence, such as outstanding performance reviews
- We create factual disputes for juries by presenting legal arguments and evidence
- We highlight inconsistencies in the treatment of comparable employees to undermine the stated reason
Our team can gather statements, documents, and other evidence to substantiate unfair treatment based on protected class. We work to show employees promptly alerted management, but no corrective actions were taken. This can help demonstrate employer negligence and strengthen your claim.
Minnetonka Employment Lawyer Near Me 612-349-2729
How Long do I Have to Take Action?
Statutes of limitations imposes deadlines for bringing workplace misconduct claims in Minneapolis.
Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation Lawsuits
Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims have short deadlines of one year under state law and only 300 days under federal law.
For federal claims, you must first file a complaint with the EEOC within these deadlines. Your deadline then pauses until you obtain a right-to-sue letter, at which point you have 90 days to file a lawsuit.
Wage Claims
Minimum wage, overtime, and unlawful deduction claims have a two-year statute but three years if the violation was willful. However, the look-back period for recovering damages is only two to three years, so it’s best to act quickly.
Delay means losing the ability to recover further wages. Filing immediately allows recovering the full period rather than a portion if waiting longer before suing.
Workman’s Comp Claims
Workers’ compensation retaliation claims have a six-year deadline under Minnesota law. Provided the suit is filed within six years of termination or other alleged retaliation, the claim falls within the permitted time frame.
Strict adherence to statutes of limitations is vital for successfully pursuing workplace misconduct claims in court. Given the statute of limitations, you need to act fast. An employment lawyer can handle these timelines, ensuring your case is filed correctly and on time.
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Reach Out to a Minnetonka Employment Lawyer Now
The lawyers at Madia Law have helped many Minnesotans who’ve dealt with tough situations at work. Dealing with legal issues on top of everything else creates added stress, so it’s important for you to know that we’re committed to fighting hard for your fair treatment.
While nothing is certain, you have our word that we’ll explore every possible way the law might help get you the justice you deserve based on your own unique experience. Contact us today to learn how we can help you find a resolution that gives you closure and gets things back on track.
Call 612-349-2729 or complete a Case Evaluation form