The most common question we get from concerned employees is, “Can they do this?”
They want to know if the actions and behaviors of their employers or supervisors are legal. When it comes to harassment, discrimination, unpaid wages, and medical leave, the answer is very often no—they cannot do that. If you believe your employer’s actions are breaking the law, contact Gibbons Law Group to find out if your suspicions are correct.
Types of Employment Law Cases We Handle
North Carolina employers are bound by a number of federal and state laws that provide basic worker protections. Depending on the company's size and earnings, employers are required to pay fair wages, refrain from discrimination based on race or gender, honor contracts, provide leave time, and more. We represent clients in the following kinds of employment law cases:
- Overtime & unpaid wages. If you work over 40 hours in a week and are eligible for overtime pay, your employer must pay you time-and-a-half for every hour worked over 40. Employers break this law by misclassifying employees or mislabeling tasks as non-work related. You could recover back pay, damages, and attorney’s fees in a successful lawsuit.
- Employment discrimination. If you are a member of a federally protected class based on your race, gender, religion, age, or disability and you believe you suffered an adverse action—such as not being hired or being fired—because of it, you might have a discrimination claim against your employer.
- Breach of contract. Your employer must honor any contractual agreements they have made with you. This includes your employment contract as well as severance packages, non-compete agreements, and more. We also represent employees who are being sued for breach of contract by their employer.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If you have worked at least half-time for your employer for over 12 months, and your employer has a minimum of 50 employees, you should be eligible for leave under the federal FMLA. This requires an employer to grant time off for your or a family member’s illness, childbirth, child adoption, and more.
- Sexual harassment. Overt forms of sexual harassment—such as a manager demanding sex in exchange for a promotion or unwanted physical contact—are pretty easily identified. However, more subtle forms are often tolerated unnecessarily by employees who aren’t sure if the law has been broken.
- Employee retaliation. If you have filed a complaint against your employer or reported illegal activity to the authorities and they have engaged in some form of retaliation against you, you have legal options.
If you believe your employer has engaged in any of these kinds of actions, contact the employment law team at Gibbons Law Group to find out what you may be able to do about it.
Questions to Ask an Employment Lawyer
You want to know you’re working with the best lawyer for your specific case. After a short stint representing corporations and employers early in his career, Attorney Phil Gibbons has exclusively represented employees since 2001. When you contact our office, we invite you to ask questions such as the following:
- Do I have a strong case?
- What will I gain by pursuing legal action against my employer?
- Do I have to continue to endure mistreatment while my case is pending?
- Have you successfully handled cases like mine in the past?
- How will you charge fees for my case?
- Will I have to pay anything upfront?
- Who will be working on my case?
- How often will I be updated?
We are happy to answer these questions and any others you have based on our many years of experience and hundreds of successful cases.
Gibbons Law Group Fights for Employee Rights
You might have been passed over for a promotion, or perhaps you've learned that others in your field earn higher salaries than you. Unfortunately, these are not usually cause for legal action against your employer. At Gibbons Law Group, we will not waste your time with false promises. We know what a strong employment law case looks like, and we will be honest about your situation. If you think you might have a claim against a North Carolina employer, contact our Charlotte office today.