Employment Lawyer: Know Your Rights

Both federal and state laws provide numerous rights for employees throughout Colorado and the United States. When an employer violates your rights, it can cause significant financial and emotional harm. Fortunately, the law allows employees to take legal action against their employers to recover for their various losses. At the law firm of Robinson & Henry, P.C., we stand up for the rights of employees in and around Denver, so please call to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your employment today.

Unlawful Employment Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation

Both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) prohibit discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on many protected factors, including the following:

• Race, color, and national origin;
• Religion or creed;
• Actual or perceived mental or physical disability;
• Sex;
• Marital status;
• Pregnancy;
• Age;
• Sexual orientation or gender identity;
• Genetic information.

Discrimination and harassment are against the law in every stage of employment, including advertising, hiring, promotions, pay increases, and termination. In addition, if an employee complains about unlawful discrimination or harassment, it is against the law to retaliate against that employee with any type of adverse employment action.

Wrongful Termination

Colorado is an “at-will” employment state, which means that an employer can generally terminate an employee for any reason or even no particular reason at all. However, the law does provide strict limitations on termination for certain specific reasons. Such reasons can include:

• Discrimination based on the above protected factors;
• Retaliation for complaining of unlawful activity (whistleblowing);
• Exercising a lawful right;
• Engaging in civic duty, such as serving on a jury or voting;
• Engaging in lawful activity outside of work.

If you have been wrongfully terminated, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses and even your position back if you so choose.

Wage and Hour Violations

Another common category of employment law violations involves fair compensation for the time your work. Many employers commit wage and hour violations under federal or state law either accidentally or intentionally. Some common wage and hour violations are as follows:

• Failing to pay the minimum wage in Colorado
• Failing to pay time-and-a-half for overtime for all eligible employees
• Taking unlawful deductions from paychecks
• Not paying employees for all time worked–including time spent setting up and cleaning up
• Not providing proper rest or meal breaks
• Child labor violations.

If you suspect you have been the victim of a wage and hour violation, we can help you seek proper financial recovery.

Consult With a Denver Employment Lawyer As Soon As Possible

If you believe your employer has violated the law in some manner and treated you wrongfully, you should never hesitate to discuss your rights regarding a potential legal claim with a highly experienced Denver employment lawyer. These cases can be complex and involve many different Colorado and federal laws, so it is essential to have a law firm on your side that is familiar with employment law cases. Please call Robinson & Henry at 303-688-0944 to learn more about how we can assist in your situation.