Regardless of how you feel about your job, you go in every day to earn an income that will support you and your family. While there, you never expect to experience harassment, discrimination, wage disputes, or other legal issues. Unfortunately, these matters arise regularly in the workplace. Employers do not always want to uphold the rights of employees, and sometimes they may go so far as to engage in wage theft or discrimination. If you feel as though you have been treated unfairly while at work, it is critical that you speak to a Chillicothe employment law attorney as soon as possible.
All employees in the United States have the right to be protected from discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination that is based on a person’s religion, race, age, gender, or other protected class is against the law under both state and federal law. Discrimination against a protected class can take many forms, including wrongful termination, or a refusal to hire or promote people of a certain class. Employers are expected to treat all workers equally. When an employee discriminates against a co-worker in a protected class, employers are also required to take action to stop it.
Just as it is illegal for employers to discriminate against employees in protected classes, it is also against the law for employers to discriminate against disabled workers. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers are prohibited from considering an employee’s disabilities when hiring, promoting, or firing workers. Employees who suffer from a disability also have the right to request reasonable accommodations for their condition. Upon receiving a request, employers must provide them unless doing so would cause the employer substantial harm.
Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), certain workers have the right to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from their job if they suffer from a medical condition. Eligible workers can also take the same amount of leave if they have to care for a family member who suffers from a medical condition. Employers must allow eligible workers to take this leave and cannot retaliate against them for requesting or taking the leave.
All states throughout the country, including Ohio, are considered at-will employment states. At-will laws state that employers can hire and fire workers at any time and for any reason, and likewise, employees can quit at any time and for any reason. Still, there are times when employers do not have the right to fire employees, such as when the reasons are discriminatory or the termination comes before the employment end date outlined in a contract.
If you believe your employer has treated you unfairly and broken the law while doing so, our Chillicothe employment law attorney at Marshall Forman & Schlein can help you take legal action and recover any damages you are entitled to. Call us now or connect with us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
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