Nassau County Employment Lawyers

Workplace Rights Attorneys Serving Nassau County and Surrounding Areas

Many employers in New York fail to comply with the rules governing the employer-employee relationship. Sometimes this failure takes the form of failing to protect a worker who is being harassed, while at other times it involves a failure to pay employees a minimum wage or the overtime that they deserve. At Phillips & Associates, our Nassau County employment lawyers handle litigation related to sexual harassment and all forms of employment discrimination. We also can represent you in claims based on violations of wage and hour laws, severance agreements, retaliation, and wrongful termination, among other disputes. If you have been harmed by misconduct at your job, you should not hesitate to discuss your options with a workplace rights attorney.

Grounds for Bringing an Employment Discrimination Claim

Among the laws that shield workers from discrimination in the workplace is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. You are protected from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex, among other enumerated characteristics. Title VII applies to private employers with 15 or more employees, as well as state and local governments that employ 15 or more employees. Under Title VII, it is illegal for any of these employers to make an adverse employment decision simply because of an employee’s membership in any of the protected classes. For example, it is illegal for an employer to refuse to hire an otherwise qualified female applicant because the employer prefers working with men. Similarly, a supervisor may not withhold a promotion merely because a worker is Muslim.

State and local laws in New York City also prohibit discrimination, and they protect a broader range of groups, including people with a certain citizenship status, disability, marital status, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, credit history, status as a victim of domestic violence or sex crime, and unemployment status. 
Sexual harassment is one form of gender discrimination. There are two types: hostile work environment and quid pro quo harassment. A hostile work environment exists when an employee is harmed because he or she is forced to confront unwelcome sexual advances, offensive jokes, and other sexually charged behavior so often that a reasonable person would be uncomfortable. Quid pro quo harassment exists if someone in a position of authority in the workplace requests sexual favors in exchange for making or not making particular employment decisions. For example, if your boss promises not to fire you provided you have sex with him or her, this is quid pro quo harassment.

Among the damages to which you may be entitled if you successfully bring a federal lawsuit for employment discrimination is back pay. This includes wages, fringe benefits, and pre-judgment interest. Usually, it is awarded from the time of the discrimination until the time of redress. You will need to show the amount of economic harm that you suffered due to the discrimination. You may also be entitled to emotional distress damages resulting from your termination or the hostile work environment you endured at your workplace.

Seek Guidance From an Employment Lawyer in Nassau County

If you suffer the results of employment discrimination or other misconduct in the workplace, you should consult a Nassau County employment attorney about your potential options. We are ready to advocate for you with the tenacity that you deserve. Call Phillips & Associates at (866) 229-9441 or complete our online form to schedule a free appointment with a wrongful termination lawyer or seek representation in another employment dispute.