When it comes to conflicts in the workplace, many employees find themselves too afraid to file a complaint or speak with their Human Resources representative, especially when the complaint is against his or her direct supervisor.
While not all workplace conflicts or situations may call for the need to file a formal complaint, there are several circumstances that do, such as the following:
Discrimination
Whether it is due to your age, gender, race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, all employees are protected under the federal law from being discriminated against. If you know or feel that you have been discriminated against because of these reasons, especially when you were hired, during a promotion or demotion, or when being let go during the firing process, then you must report this issue. However, it is critical that you go through the appropriate reporting process, which should be outlined in your employee handbook.
Wage & Overtime Theft
If you have noticed that you are missing wages, or are not being paid correctly, it is important to report these issues immediately. However, be sure that you understand if you are an exempt or non-exempt employee, since this will make a difference in the manner in which you are paid for regular and overtime hours. Exempt employees are salaried, which means that they are paid a set amount each payday, and are typically not paid for any overtime hours. Non-exempt employees are not salaried and should be paid for the hours they worked, including overtime pay.
Retaliation
Retaliation is illegal in the workplace, especially when an employee is trying to improve their working conditions, or in the event that they have filed a legitimate complaint. Often times, retaliation will come in the form of wrongful termination, so it is important to understand if you have been wrongfully terminated due to retaliation.
If you feel that you have been a victim of any of these workplace violations, contact the employment attorneys at Maduff & Maduff immediately.