Have you lately been fired and need an employment attorney in Jacksonville? Or perhaps your career hunt is being hampered by a non-compete contract you signed with your past employer. No matter what you are experiencing, a reliable attorney can assist you to sort out your legal dues and responsibilities.

Jacksonville employment attorneys handle a wide variety of actions, from contract regulation and wrongful firing cases, to harassment and whistle-blower lawsuits. The problems are a concern to both employee and workplaces, and employment lawyers deal with a multitude of obstacles, sometimes representing either side of the coin in separate lawsuits.

There are many different state and federal protections for workers in actions of discrimination. While not every situation is safeguarded (such as weight, tattoos, and other differences), there are many cases in which you are protected from discrimination for being a member of a “protected class.” But discrimination that is based on an individual’s membership in any one of several protected groups– race, national origin, sex, religion, age, citizenship, impairment, pregnancy, military position, bankruptcy, HIV\/AIDS status, or genetic details– is prevented in Florida by federal and state regulation.

Age discrimination is forbidden by the Florida Civil Due Act of 1992 and the federal Age Discrimination Act of 1967. Discrimination based on race, sex, national origin or religion is banned by the Florida Civil Rights Act and Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act. Impaired persons are shielded from discrimination under both Florida state laws, and certain federal protections. Additional Florida law bans discrimination based on workers’ HIV\/AIDS status.

In Florida, state regulation prohibits some additional types of workplace discrimination not covered by federal law, including discrimination on the basis of marital status. A quality employment attorney in Jacksonville is equipped to supervise you through these laws.
The EEOC and the FCHR are two agencies that resolve grievances for unfair firing based on State and federally-protected classes. An employee claiming discrimination must record a complaint with either of these bureaus in advance of taking any steps in court. Your employment attorney in Jacksonville can help you comprehend the requirements of these filings, and any time frames or procedures you require to be aware of.

Once the agency has ended its examination, the claimant can pursue a case, or seek remedy directly from the involved bureau. Seeking remuneration under the department could result in receiving back pay, being brought back to your job, or being paid damages; however, a civil court proceeding may result in much larger damages or settlements.

Sexual harassment claims arise when an individual is targeted by a superior or co-worker with persisting, undesirable abuse based on his or her sex. Both federal and state regulations forbid this behavior and provide victims with remedies. The nature of the harassment doesn’t have to be sexual in order for it to be prohibited, as long as it’s based on the sufferer’s gender.

In many claims, a Jacksonville employment attorney can help you with contract concerns as well as discrimination or harassment. Most Florida employees don’t work under contract, with the exception of executives and union staff members. In most claims, however, employees are considered “at will” – which means either party can end the working arrangement for any reason not banned by regulation.

Breach of contract concerns come up when the employer and former employee disagree on the cause for the firing, or the legitimacy of the cause. When you are endured with a contract issue on the career, it is in your best interest to find a qualified Jacksonville employment attorney to review your case.

Florida is a popular area for so-called non-compete clauses, which forbid staff members from working for the competitors of employers they’ve recently left. Although the agreements must be specific in scope, duration, and industry, the courts do sometimes side with the job in suits where a staff member leaves for a company which may represent a rivaling interest. Figuring out when and if these agreements are enforceable can require the assistance of a great attorney.

Employment law can be confusing, regardless of whether you’re an employer or employee, and knowledge is important. A quality Jacksonville employment attorney will know the regulation and how to use it your advantage.