The Chattanooga employment law attorneys of McKoon, Williams, Atchley & Stanley, PLLC, have decades of experience representing public and private sector employees throughout Tennessee. Our employment law attorneys in Chattanooga handle state and federal court litigation, including trials, appeals, mediations, arbitrations, and settlements.
Chattanooga Employment Law Attorneys Protecting Tennessee Employees from Wrongful Employment Practices
(FEHA) and federal protections are found in a number of different laws, including:
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Federal and Tennessee laws prohibit employment practices that discriminate against or harass employees based on protected categories, such as:
Age (over 40)
Disability
Race
National origin
Religion
Marital status
Sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions)
Sexual orientation
Gender identity
Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of these and other specified “protected categories,” including when making decisions about:
Hiring
Firing
Training
Promoting
Raising wages or salaries
Demoting
Disciplining
Scheduling
Assigning work
Providing benefits
Employers Must Prevent Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation
Our employment attorneys in Chattanooga have thorough knowledge of employment laws, and offer their expertise to anyone in need of assistance. Employers may not harass or permit other employees to harass on the basis of sex or any of the specified protected categories in the various federal and state laws, nor may employers, including supervisors and managers, retaliate against employees who complain of harassment or discrimination. In fact, employers have an affirmative obligation to prevent harassment and discrimination in the workplace and investigate any complaints.
State and federal law also prohibit retaliation against employees who assist in any harassment or discrimination investigations and any civil suits related to an investigation, as well as retaliation against employees who report any illegal activities of the employer to a government agency (also known as whistleblowers) or file claims.
A Chattanooga Employment Law Attorney Can Help Your Lawsuit
Employees who have been illegally discriminated against or harassed or whose employment has been illegally terminated have a number of different legal options, including filing a state or federal administrative claim or filing a state or federal civil lawsuit. Employees who bring a claim may be entitled to back pay, reinstatement, and money damages, as well as attorneys’ fees. It is important to act quickly in contacting an employment law firm in Chattanooga, however, because the time for bringing a claim is limited by law.
In addition, employees who are not being paid the minimum wage for all hours worked, or for overtime, or employees who are not allowed to take meal and rest breaks may also have a claim for damages under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
We Help Employees Who Have Been Wrongfully Terminated, Harassed, or Mistreated