Unpaid Wages and Overtime
In most circumstances, your employer is legally obligated to pay you: (a) at least minimum wage; (b) for all hours worked; (c) overtime for any hours worked over 40 in a week, and/or (d) for accrued vacation time upon separation. These are some of the common wage and hour issues that I may be able to assist with.
Wrongful Termination
With certain specific exceptions, Louisiana (and every other state in the country) recognizes at-will employment. At-will employment essentially allows an employer to terminate you for any lawful reason. On the flip side, an at-will employee cannot be fired any reason that is illegal under state and federal law. A few common examples of wrongful termination are when an employee is fired relating to discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. Employment discrimination can relate to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, and sexual orientation. Harassment, including sexual harassment, is also a form of discrimination that violates the law. Retaliation is a related concept where an employee is wrongfully terminated for reporting potentially illegal acts by an employer.
Other employment issues
Depending on your circumstances, I may be able to assist you with the negotiation of severance pay when your employer terminates your employment. Another common issue that can arise in an employment context relates to agreements with your employer, either at the outset or upon separation. Typically, these issues relate to non-complete, non-solicitation, and/or confidentiality clauses.
Even if you have an employment issue that isn’t covered by one of the topics listed above, contact me and I will let you know if I can help.