The Law Firm Western New York Employees Can Count On
Our attorneys stand up for those who have been mistreated at work
Under federal employment laws, you have certain rights and legal protections as an employee. If you haven’t been paid for all hours worked, are a victim of illegal discrimination or harassment, or have been fired or retaliated against for exercising your legal rights, then you have recourse under the law.
However, actually protecting your rights and pursuing legal action can be an uphill battle. Employers often have resources and teams of attorneys focused on protecting their interests. You need a proven fighter on your side to protect your rights and pursue justice on your behalf. Contact Nilges Draher LLC. We can help.
Our experienced employment law attorneys handle all types of federal cases in western New York, including:
Our employment lawyers represent workers throughout Western New York, in Buffalo, Rochester, Elmira, and throughout the region. From Chautauqua County to Wayne County and everywhere in between, we stand up for Western New York workers when their rights are violated.
Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with a member of our legal team. Our conversation is fully confidential and there is no obligation to hire us. When you meet with us, you will simply get answers to your questions and an explanation of your rights and legal options. Give us a call or contact us online to find out what we can do for you.
Most workers in New York are employed “at will,” which means your employer can fire you for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all. However, they cannot fire you for an illegal reason. They can’t fire you because of a protected characteristic, such as your race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age (if you are over 40). They also cannot fire you in retaliation for exercising your rights, such as:
- Reporting harassment or discrimination in good faith.
- Filing a workplace safety complaint with OSHA.
- Requesting leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- Requesting a disability accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Requesting a pregnancy accommodation under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).
- Talking about wages, benefits, working conditions, or unionization with your coworkers.
- Cooperating with an EEOC investigation.
If you were fired for an illegal reason in Western New York, we can pursue recourse under federal employment laws. This may include reinstatement if you want your job back, as well as various types of financial compensation, including back pay, front pay, and compensatory damage.
Give us a call today to find out what our wrongful termination lawyers can do for you. A member of our legal team can explain your rights and options.
Federal law protects employees in New York from discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics. Your employer cannot treat you differently in any aspect of employment – including hiring, work hours, assignments, pay, promotions, layoffs, and more – because of a protected characteristic, including:
- Race, color, ethnicity, or national origin
- Religion
- Sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation
- Pregnancy
- Disability
- Age (if over 40)
- Genetic information or family medical history
Unfortunately, many employers don’t follow the law. But proving discrimination can be difficult. Our work discrimination attorneys can level the playing field with a thorough investigation. We will listen to your story, explain your options, and get right to work building a strong case on your behalf. If you believe you have been discriminated against at work in New York, we can help.
Western New York employees have the right to a workplace free of unlawful harassment. Employers need to shut down sexual harassment, whether it takes the form of a hostile work environment or quid pro quo harassment from a supervisor or manager. They also need to maintain a workplace free from harassment on the basis of religion, gender, race, and other protected characteristics.
Workplace harassment is a serious matter that not only affects victims’ careers, but also their physical and mental health. If you are the victim of unlawful harassment at work in Western New York, our workplace harassment lawyers can help. We would be honored to listen to your story and explain your rights and options. Give us a call today for a free, confidential case evaluation.
You should be paid for all hours worked. That’s your right under federal wage and hour laws. You should be paid for every activity that is part of your job – including travel time if that is part of your job responsibilities. Your employer can’t require you to work off the clock. They also can’t pay you less than the legal minimum wage. They can’t misclassify you as an independent contractor to get out of paying overtime and benefits. And unless you meet the criteria to be considered exempt – which the vast majority of workers do not – then you should be paid time and a half for all hours in excess of 40 in a workweek.
When employers don’t follow the wage and hour laws, that is money taken right out of paychecks. That’s not right – and that’s why we fight back. Our wage dispute lawyers have extensive experience representing workers who were not paid correctly for their time, including overtime violations, minimum wage violations, misclassification as exempt, and other unlawful pay practices.
If you aren’t being paid correctly for all hours worked, you have rights. Our wage and hour attorneys have the experience and resources to pursue justice for Western New York employees. Contact us today to speak with a member of our legal team about your options.