Employment Lawyers Bethesda handle disputes between employers and their employees, from the start of the original claim through any necessary appeal. They ensure that employees are treated fairly and that their rights are protected. For employers, they help ensure compliance with the law and help prevent costly claims from being filed against the business.
One of the most common types of cases handled by Employment Lawyers Bethesda is a discrimination claim. Most of these take the form of age, race, or gender discrimination. Increasingly, other types of discrimination such as pregnancy or sexual orientation discrimination are being recognized. Discrimination can result in not being hired, poor performance reviews, being passed over for promotions, or being wrongfully terminated. Discrimination is illegal according to federal and state law. An employer found guilty of illegal discrimination could be liable for lost wages and benefits as well as significant punitive damages.
Harassment is another area of practice for Employment Lawyers Bethesda. Harassment can occur on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, or almost any other reason. It can take the form of inappropriate comments, jokes, or other verbal acts or it could be physical touching or other inappropriate contact. An employer is responsible for ensuring that their workplace is free from harassment, whether it is among peers or committed by a supervisor against a subordinate. An employer who fails to do so could be held responsible for creating a hostile working environment and damages could even include lost wages while the victimized employee looks for a new job or works in one with lower pay to escape the harassment.
Severance pay is another common practice area. Often, employees and employers will enter into complicated agreements where an employee is paid a fixed or variable amount upon leaving the company based on a variety of factors. In many cases, the amount to be paid may come into dispute as both sides disagree on a reason for termination, whether a termination was valid, or whether other criteria were met. An employment law attorney will review the agreement, advise the client of their rights, attempt to negotiate a settlement, and bring a claim in the appropriate court if necessary.
