Orlando Employment Law Attorney
There are a wide range of federal, state, and local laws that govern the relationships between Florida employers and their employees. From the initial hiring process to dealing with issues surrounding workplace conditions and even terminating an employee, there are laws designed to protect certain employee rights. So if you have dealt with an employer who is not respecting those rights, you do have options available to you for seeking compensation and other legal remedies.
The experienced Orlando employment law attorneys at Florin Gray, can advise you of your rights and help you develop an appropriate course of action for vindicating those rights. We only represent employees–never corporate employers–so our focus is on making sure you are treated fairly by the system. Whether your issue is potential workplace discrimination, a wage and hour dispute, or something else related to the terms and conditions of your employment, we can help you fashion a legal strategy that meets your needs.
What Does Florida Employment Law Cover?
For the most part, employment is considered “at-will” in Florida. In simple terms, this means you and your employer are free to enter into or end an employment relationship for any reason (or no reason). But there are a number of laws that modify the at-will rule. Some of the more common examples of employment law affecting your rights in an Orlando workplace include:
- Unlawful discrimination. An Orlando employer cannot discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of certain legally protected characteristics, such as sex, race, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. Unlawful discrimination covers all aspects of the employment relationship. For example, an employer cannot favor employees of a certain race or sex for promotions, or use layoffs as an excuse to target workers who belong to a certain ethnic group.
- Harassment. Harassment is considered a subset of unlawful discrimination. An employer cannot create–or allow–a “hostile work environment” that targets an employee or group of employees based on their membership in a legally protected group.
- Failure to accommodate. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees the right of workers with a physical or mental disability to request a “reasonable accommodation” for their condition in the workplace. While an Orlando employer is not required to grant all such requests, they must engage in an interactive good-faith process to identify a possible reasonable accommodation.
- Wage and hour violations. Florida law sets a statewide minimum wage. In addition, federal and state law guarantees non-exempt employees the right to receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular hourly wage. Employers can be held financially responsible if they fail to follow these rules.
- Wrongful termination. An employer cannot fire an employee for an illegal reason. For example, your company cannot fire you because you filed a complaint about illegal discrimination or because you belong to a protected group.
Contact Florin Gray Today
Employment laws are a fairly complex web of overlapping statutes and regulations. Indeed, many employees are often not even fully aware of what rights they can exercise under the law. That is why it is important to work with a skilled Orlando employment lawyer who can guide you through the process. If you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible, contact Florin Gray, today to schedule a free consultation.
