How to Find the Best Labor & Employment Lawyers in Alpharetta

When you are at work, you deserve to feel safe and secure. But not every workplace is perfectly safe, unfortunately. 
 
Some employees work in unsafe, unfair, or illegal conditions, and many workers are unaware of their rights in the workplace. If an employer is unscrupulous or corrupt, workers may feel afraid to speak out. But no employee should have to accept a dangerous or abusive workplace.
 
The United States has labor regulations in place to protect workers. Businesses and corporations are legally obligated to maintain safe and fair environments for their employees.
 
Discriminatory or illegal labor practices can take many different forms. If you have experienced a workplace violation, contact the best labor & employment lawyers in Alpharetta, GA. Contact Morgan & Morgan.
 
Our skilled legal team has plenty of experience advocating for the rights of workers. You should not have to keep silent about workplace violations or hostile office environments.
 
When you need premier legal representation from labor & employment lawyers in Alpharetta, GA, reach out to the firm at Morgan & Morgan. Complete our simple contact form online to schedule a no-cost legal consultation.

How Labor & Employment Lawyers in Alpharetta, GA, Can Help

If you are involved in a dispute with your employer, you might be wondering how an attorney can help you. Sometimes, employees think that they can manage their disputes alone or use internal complaint departments at their company.
 
However, some types of disputes require a more robust response. Certain types of workplace violations entitle the victim to significant financial compensation. 
 
This is especially true if you have been the victim of wrongful firing or workplace discrimination. 

A skilled legal professional will understand the relevant labor laws in your situation. They will work hard to get justice for you while ensuring that your rights as a worker are protected. 

But even if you know that you need legal representation, you may be unsure about how to find skilled labor & employment lawyers in Alpharetta, GA.

Finding the Right Attorney for You

One of the best ways to find a trustworthy employment attorney is by word of mouth. Asking your friends and family for recommendations is an excellent place to start.
 
However, people in your immediate network might not have dealt with a legal case that involved a workplace violation. You might need to take other steps to find the best legal representative for your specific needs.

Online Research

Online research is very useful for finding the best labor & employment lawyers in Alpharetta, GA. Many review websites provide assessments from law firms’ previous clients. 
 
Reading reviews from former clients can help you to know whether a labor attorney is reliable and effective. 

Make sure to read reviews from a wide range of online sources. Never rely solely on the curated testimonials on the firm’s own website. These reviews are chosen to provide the best picture of the firm and its attorneys.
 
It is important to remember that even the best lawyers in the world will have a few negative reviews. However, you should only hire an attorney if the majority of their former clients report positive experiences.

Initial Consultation

Most attorneys will provide new clients with a free case evaluation. Once you find a lawyer or firm that seems reputable, schedule a consultation to learn more.
 
This initial meeting is a great opportunity to ask questions regarding your workplace dispute. A knowledgeable attorney will understand the state and federal labor laws that apply in your case.
 
When you schedule your consultation, make sure to write down any questions you have. This will help you to ensure that you use time in the meeting effectively.
 
Some potentially relevant questions include:

• How long have you practiced law?
• Do you believe I can win this case?
• Have you handled labor and employment cases before?
• How are your attorneys’ fees handled?

These are only a few examples. Take this opportunity to learn as much as you can about your case and the attorney.

During your initial consultation, if you feel uncertain for any reason, look for another law firm. You should never hire a legal representative that you do not have full confidence in.

Common Types of Workplace Violations

There are many different worker protection statutes with which companies must comply. Violations of labor laws can happen in a wide variety of ways.
 
If you have questions regarding labor laws in Georgia, contact a knowledgeable lawyer to discuss the facts of your case. 

Some of the most common types of workplace and labor law violations include:

Wrongful Termination

Most jobs are categorized as “at will” employment. That means an employee can be fired for any reason at any time, within certain limits.
 
For instance, firing an employee in breach of a written or implied agreement is illegal. If you have a written agreement that guarantees a certain length of employment, you cannot be legally fired. 
 
Other instances of wrongful termination include firings that:

• Violate public policies or regulations
• Exemplify discriminatory practices
• Breach good faith or fair dealing
• Are used as retaliation against the employee
• Are fraudulent

Some worker protection regulations also defend whistle-blowers against firing. If you reported illegal or harmful activities and your employer fired you, you may have a valid wrongful termination claim.

Workplace Discrimination

When an employer discriminates against workers based on the following protected classes, they can be held accountable:

• Race
• Color
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• National origin
• Age
• Religion
• Disability

In cases of workplace discrimination, it is important that you attempt to resolve the issue internally first. If your employer or business does not resolve the issue, contact labor & employment lawyers in Alpharetta, GA.

Harassment

No employee should have to face abuse or harassment in their working environment. Sexual misconduct and hostile working environments both constitute workplace harassment. This is unacceptable.
 
Sexual harassment involves unwanted and repeated advances. Those who engage in sexual harassment should be held accountable.
 
Sometimes, sexual harassment takes the form of “quid pro quo.” This term refers to circumstances when business decisions are conditioned upon a worker providing sexual favors or attention. 
 
When a supervisor or manager threatens to fire a subordinate if they do not submit to sexual advances, that is an example of quid pro quo.
 
General workplace harassment is also grounds for legal action. If a superior is behaving in a threatening or bullying manner, employees should seek legal remedy.
 
While it can be difficult to pursue compensation for harassment that is not based on a protected category (i.e., sex, race, etc.), a skilled legal professional can help. A knowledgeable employment attorney will formally inform the employer that harassment is unacceptable. 
 
Common examples of general harassment include:

• Using racial epithets or other slurs
• Making negative comments about a worker’s sexual identity
• Speaking badly about a coworker’s religious identity
• Joking or making negative comments about a coworker’s age
• Making unwelcome statements about someone’s body or appearance

If your employer does not respond appropriately when they are informed of the potential legal consequences, a workplace lawsuit may be necessary.

Unfair Labor Practices

Businesses and corporations who engage in unfair labor practices can be held legally accountable. Unfair labor practices violate the National Labor Relations Act. 

• Some common unfair labor practices include:
• Unequal pay
• Tip pooling
• Discrimination based on unionizing activity
• Denial of overtime
• And more

If you believe that your employer is engaging in unfair labor practices, speak with a legal professional.

Minimum Wage and Overtime Violations

The federal minimum wage is currently set at $7.25 per hour. Some states have passed legislation raising the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour.
 
Businesses are required to abide by federal and state labor laws when compensating employees for their labor. Unfortunately, some businesses attempt to cut costs and increase profits by violating their workers’ rights.
 
Underpaying for labor hours is illegal and is known as “wage theft.” Some typical examples of wage theft include:

• Paying less than the federal minimum wage requirement
• Providing more time off in lieu of overtime pay
• Requiring tipped workers to pool tips with others
• Offloading business costs for equipment or tools onto workers

Wage theft is a serious problem that is prevalent in many types of private industry. The goal of private corporations is to increase their profits and offset their costs. This can often lead to the violation of workers’ rights.
 
As a worker, you do not have to allow your employer to engage in such practices. Contact a trusted labor attorney to pursue the compensation that you are owed.