Palm Beach Gardens Employment Attorney

Employers are not dictators. While Florida is an “at-will” state when it comes to employment in most cases, there are still specific laws that all employers must follow. These include valuable protections regarding the minimum wage and overtime, as well as various anti-discrimination laws that protect workers and job applicants based on certain characteristics.

If you have dealt with a Florida employer who is not following these laws, you do not sit by and suffer silently. Our qualified Palm Beach Gardens employment attorneys can help you take legal action to assert your rights. At the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., we represent individuals who have experienced wage theft, workplace discrimination, and other forms of illegal abuse at the hands of employers. We can assist you in seeking compensation and other damages from an employer who acts as if they are above the law.

Asserting Your Legal Rights in the Workplace

Many Florida workers are not fully informed of their rights, which often leads them to believe there is nothing they can do in the face of employer abuse. Some of the more common employment law issues that we advise clients on include:

Wage and hour cases. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Florida law both impose certain minimum wage requirements on employers. Under a 2020 amendment to Florida’s constitution, the state minimum wage will increase to $15 by 2026. In addition, employers must normally pay overtime wages–i.e., time-and-a-half–if an employee works more than a specified number of hours per workweek.
Civil rights. Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act both protect certain classes of workers from unfavorable treatment in employment. This means that an employer cannot fire, discipline, or refuse to hire an employee based on traits like race, sex, religion, disability, or pregnancy status.
Workplace harassment. Civil rights laws also cover harassment based on a protected characteristic or trait. For example, an employer who creates–or fails to stop–an environment where sexual harassment is prevalent can be sued and held liable for violating the civil rights of the affected employees.
Employment contracts. While most employment is “at will”–meaning the employer or employee can walk away at any time from the relationship–some employers do sign contracts with their employees. These contracts may include certain restrictive terms, such as non-compete clauses, that can affect an employee’s rights even after their employment ends. Employers may also offer severance agreements that provide for a specified amount of severance pay, often in exchange for an agreement not to pursue any future legal action against the employer.

Contact the Sconzo Law Office Today

Many Florida workers are understandably reluctant to step forward and take legal action against a current, former, or prospective employer. They often fear doing so will just make their situation worse. But you should never allow an employee to think or act as if they are beyond the scope of the law. And the first step towards holding such employers accountable is to speak with a Palm Beach Gardens employment law attorney.

So if you have an employment-related legal problem and need someone to talk to, contact the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., today to schedule a complimentary consultation.