Employment discrimination claims
Federal Discrimination laws make it illegal for employers with fifteen or more employees to discriminate against their employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Washington State discrimination laws go even further by extending the protected classes above to honorably discharged military status, sexual orientation, sensory mental or physical disability, and use of service animal for persons with disabilities, and applies to employers with eight or more employees.
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Professional and non-professional employees often times sign employment contracts when they are hired. Even more often, employees are offered severance with they leave. Because severance agreements typically require former employees to give up most legal rights in order to claim their severance, it is a good idea to consult an attorney before signing. In many cases, an attorney can improve upon what is being offered by the employer.
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Sexual and non-sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful termination
A tort is simply defined as a civil wrong. Torts happen in the workplace, just like they do in every day life. We specialize in workplace specific torts such as wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, all varieties of harassment, as well as workplace assaults or batteries.
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Federal and Washington State wage laws allow workers to bring civil legal actions against their employers that do not pay employees for hours worked, underpay workers for hours worked, do not pay employees overtime for hours worked in excess of 40 in a week, or who deprive workers of legally required break and meal periods.
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Wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation claims for protected leave such as FMLA and PFML
Many people do not realize that FMLA is protected medical leave, and discriminating or retaliating against an employee who takes protected medical leave is illegal discrimination. In addition to the Federal FMLA statute, in Washington State workers are protected by WFLA and a domestic violence leave act. Additionally, in the City of Seattle, workers now accrue paid safe and sick time, and it is equally illegal for employers to discriminate or retaliate against employees who use this type of leave.
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Small businesses don't have the huge in-house legal departments that large corporations do. These businesses benefit greatly by finding and developing long-lasting professional relationships with private lawyers that are knowledgeable about their issues, and reasonably priced. We provide the full suite of employment services to small businesses including contract drafting and negotiation, severance agreements, and as defense counsel in lawsuits.
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