Have you recently been terminated and require an employment attorney in Jacksonville? Or possibly your career search is being hobbled by a non-compete clause you signed with your previous job. No matter what you are going up against, a reputable attorney can assist you to analyze your legal dues and duties.
The employment law concerns tackled by Jacksonville employment attorneys include anything from contract conflicts and prohibited job discrimination to sexual harassment and non-compete requirements, among others. Whether you are the employee seeking shelter from your employers unlawful acts, or a company requiring guidance in a staff member conflict, you can locate the help you need.
A number of federal and state regulations safeguard employees from illegal career discrimination. Some forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on character differences, facial hair, weight, and other elements, are allowed in most areas. But discrimination that is based on an individual’s membership in any one of several protected classes– race, national origin, gender, religion, age, citizenship, disability, pregnancy, military position, bankruptcy, HIV\/AIDS situation, or genetic details– is barred in Florida by federal and state regulation.
The Age Discrimination Act of 1967 prohibits discrimination against any individual based on age. Other classes, such as race, gender, ethnicity and religious affiliation are defended by the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) and federal Civil Rights laws. Handicap discrimination is covered by both the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Different protections exist for those affected by HIV or the AIDS virus.
In addition to the above-described federal protections, Florida also bans discrimination against any employee because of marital situation. A good employment attorney in Jacksonville is equipped to shepherd you through these regulations.
There are two departments that handle individual complaints of prohibited job discrimination in Florida: the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). In advance of court proceedings, a claimant must file a complaint with one or both of these offices. A Jacksonville employment attorney can be helpful in navigating these bureaus, which have specific target dates and bureaucratic procedures.
Once an office examination is concluded, the individual can either seek remedies from the relevant department or file suit in court. Seeking remuneration under the department could result in receiving back pay, being returned to your function, or being paid damages; however, a civil court case may result in much greater damages or settlements.
Sexual harassment cases arise when an employee is targeted by a superior or colleague with constant, unwanted abuse based on his or her gender. These types of conducts are outlawed under both state and federal laws. Even if the conduct to which you are subjected is not openly sexual in nature, if you are being targeted based on your sex, you are entitled to protection and reparation under the law.
Jacksonville employment attorneys also resolve breach-of-contract concerns. Although many staff members in the state of Florida do not work under a contract, there are some lawsuits where a staff member might be constrained by a non-compete or a collective bargaining agreement. Instead, employees are “at will,” meaning they can be fired for any reason, as long as it’s not illegal discrimination.
Breach of contract problems come up when the employer and former worker disagree on the cause for the firing, or the legitimacy of the cause. If you find yourself dealing with a contract you feel has been breached, you should speak to an employment lawyer to make sure your interests are represented.
Florida is a popular area for so-called non-compete clauses, which prohibit employees from working for the competitors of companies they’ve recently left. Although the contracts must be specific in scope, duration, and industry, the courts do sometimes side with the job in lawsuits where a staff member leaves for a company which may represent a competing interest. A dependable attorney will be able to review your contract, and shepherd you on its enforceability and legality.
No matter what side of the table you’re on, employment law is a puzzling and involved subject. Your best step in grasping your role and responsibilities is to find a Jacksonville employment attorney to review your action.