Part of knowing when to contact an employment attorney is recognizing the complications that can occur in the relationship between an employer and an employee, which can include the following:
- Wage disagreements.
- Workplace safety issues.
- Discrimination claims.
- Incidents related to wrongful termination.
An employment attorney can play an important role in helping both parties navigate the legal environment, so they can come up with a fair and balanced solution. They can provide legal counsel to employers and employees who are dealing with workplace-related issues, which can include a variety of services. Employment attorneys will usually focus on one side or the other (whether it’s an employer or an employee), but some will take clients on either side.
What a Texas Employment Lawyer Does
An employment law attorney in Texas can help employers and employees come up with an equitable solution if there’s a problem. This person will also make sure employers follow employment laws and their employees are treated fairly. Here are some of the specific things that an employment lawyer can do:
- Give legal advice — Employment lawyers can offer legal counsel about the rights and responsibilities outlined in federal and state employment legislation. This includes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). They can also help employees determine if their rights have been violated and decide if they want to take legal action.
- Create employee handbooks and agreements — Because of their experience in dealing with legal issues related to employment, they can write or review employee handbooks and workplace safety policies to make sure they comply with labor laws and regulations.
- Negotiate and review employment contracts — These attorneys can negotiate, write, and review employment contracts and independent contractor agreements to make sure all the terms are legal and fair. They can look at the terms and conditions related to severance contracts, as well as non-compete and non-disclosure agreements. They can even look at executive compensation packages.
- Advise independent contractors — Employment attorneys can help independent contractors understand how they’re being classified and how their rights might differ from an employee’s.
- Monitor regulatory compliance — These attorneys can help businesses stay in compliance with labor and employment regulations as well as state and federal employment law. They can also help prevent any non-compliance issues that can otherwise lead to litigation.
- Help with litigation and administrative proceedings — Employment lawyers can represent parties on both sides during an employment litigation as well as in front of employment-related boards and agencies (such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board).
- Provide representation in disputes — These lawyers can represent their clients during court proceedings. They can resolve disputes involving a number of employment-related issues (such as discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, breaches of contract, as well as wage and hour issues).
Sometimes, employers need to speak with an employment attorney about their business and employees, but there may also be a specific employment-related issue.
How a Texas Employment Lawyer Can Help Employees
Here are some of the ways that an employment law attorney in Texas can be beneficial to employees:
- In cases of wrongful termination — A number of laws have been put in place to make sure your rights as an employee are protected. But when those rights have been violated, a good employment attorney can help you use these laws as a foundation for a lawsuit.
- When you believe you have been treated unfairly — You can be mistreated at work in a number of ways. You may feel like your boss “has it out for you” or is treating you differently from other employees. An employment lawyer can help you build a case, which can involve collecting data related to specific incidents.
- When you get hurt or sick on the job — Workers’ compensation cases are some of the most common issues that employment attorneys must address. So if you get hurt or sick at work, they can help you file a claim so you can get paid over the long term.
Employment attorneys can also be helpful in other areas related to the following:
- Investigations into a toxic work environment — This issue is more than just a matter of law. It’s also a serious health problem and the fifth leading cause of death in the workplace. Having a lawyer to help you in these cases can not only prove that a workplace is toxic but can also make sure you’re fairly compensated in the process.
- Claims related to sexual harassment and racial discrimination — These types of cases need to be handled with vigilance, and you can only do it if you have an employment lawyer by your side.
If you’re looking for an attorney in Corpus Christi to help you with a case related to Texas employment law, be sure to reach out to Gale Law Group.