Florida Employment Law

Published on: November 22, 2012

Defending Against Employee Wage and Hour Claims

Both state and federal laws require employers to follow certain guidelines regarding minimum wage and overtime pay. A highly effective way in which to comply with these laws is by maintaining complete and accurate records of all employee compensation, including hours worked, meal and break times, vacation days, holidays and other relevant information.No matter how detailed a company’s records may be, employees still file wage and hour claims. Perhaps the employee feels wronged and decides to seek the assistance of an attorney or government agency to find out more about his or her legal options. Overall, the employee has the right to pursue a claim with the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor or to file a state or federal lawsuit against his or her company. Regardless of what the employee ultimately chooses to do in this regard, dealing with wage and hour claims can be time-consuming, costly and result in serious legal consequences.

Having an experienced and skilled employment defense attorney on your side is crucial when dealing with a wage and hour claims. Specifically, a skilled attorney will investigate the facts underlying an employee’s allegations and develop effective counterarguments and affirmative defenses to protect an employer’s legal interests. A lawyer needs to prove that the employer acted in good faith, the employee qualified as exempt under the applicable wage laws, or the employee waived his or her rights.

Failure to comply with the federal and state wage and overtime guidelines can subject employers to stiff fines, penalties and expensive lawsuits, depending upon the nature of the alleged violation. Moreover, employers can also be forced to reimburse employees for any unpaid wages. The best way for a business to avoid these issues is to keep as accurate a set of records as possible and ensure all managers responsible for personnel thoroughly understand applicable wage and hour laws.

Published on: November 12, 2012

Steps Employers Should Take When Accused of Sexual Harassment

By Mavrick Law Firm

For employers who have been accused of sexual harassment, it is very important to proceed with extreme caution. Specifically, what employers say and do may be used against them if an employee ultimately decides to file a lawsuit. The following are some useful tips employers should consider when faced with a sexual harassment claim:

Don’t try to get the last word in with potential accusers. Treat them objectively and do not become angry or vengeful towards them.
Don’t second guess an employee who reports an incident of sexual harassment. Take the information very seriously and advise them that immediate action will be taken to address the situation.

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Published on: November 8, 2012

Defending Against Workers’ Compensation Discrimination Claims

By Mavrick Law Firm

Under Florida law, if an employee is injured on the job, the first remedy that he or she must seek is to file a workers’ compensation claim with their employer. Once an employee files such a claim, the employer is prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against them. When employees sue for employer reprisal or discrimination in this regard, they typically allege one or more of the following:

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