Beginning a new phase in your career is an exciting time. But prior to your first day, your signature is needed on a number of documents. Arguably the most important is your employment contract. While the document could be a simple page laid out in an easily digestible way, other contracts are lengthy and intimidating.

Contracts are often filled with vague and confusing legal terminology. Before signing anything, it’s beneficial to have a lawyer look over your employment contract. This way, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of what you’re agreeing to and, if necessary, you’ll be able to tactfully negotiate terms.

Workplace harassment, a form of discrimination, is something to be taken seriously. It’s generally referred to as a pattern of behavior that causes an employee to feel uncomfortable in their workplace. So why doesn’t HR always take it as seriously as they should? In 2018, there were 26,699 cases of workplace harassment filed according to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). But just because cases are reported doesn’t mean HR properly handled them.

Because of the definition of discrimination in the workplace, which revolves around an employee or prospective employee receiving subpar treatment based on their protected characteristics, there’s often the thought that it only applies to hiring and firing practices. This is not the case. When an employer, supervisor, or co-worker treats an employee unfairly because of their age, skin color, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or disability, they are committing an act of discrimination.

Being discriminated against in the workplace can make for a miserable experience. Employers need to understand that they have a legal obligation to treat all employees fairly. If that legal requirement is not met, they can be held liable for their actions or the actions of their other employees. You may be wondering if the mistreatment you’ve experienced is discrimination. We’ll go over how to know you’ve suffered from discrimination, common examples, and the effects.

As an employee, you have legal rights that outlaw discrimination in the workplace and prohibit unfavorable or unfair treatment based on a variety of established categories. Even with those rights in place, there were 84,254 individual charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2017.

If you believe you have been discriminated against, our West Virginia employment lawyers will fight for you. We understand how difficult it can be to pursue justice against your employer. We will do whatever it takes to get you the justice you deserve while making the process as easy for you as possible.

West Virginia employees are protected from mistreatment under state and federal employment laws. If you feel as though your employer has violated these laws, contact our West Virginia employment lawyer to find out about holding your employer accountable for their actions.

You may hear discrimination and harassment used interchangeably; however, legally they have their own significant meanings. If you feel as though you’ve been mistreated in the workplace, you’ll need to understand how you’ve been mistreated. We’ll go over the distinctions between discrimination and harassment so that when you’re ready to contact us and file your claim, you’ll have an idea of what to expect.

Losing a job is a scary prospect for nearly everyone. You’re worrying about your source of income, finding a new job, and the time it’s going to take to have everything settled again. There are some situations where you may understand why you lost your job, but this isn’t always true. You may wonder what led to your termination, and if it was a legal termination.

If you’re thinking your employer fired you illegally in West Virginia, a Charleston wrongful termination lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC may be able to help. We understand this situation is difficult and want to make your voice heard. Employers cannot wrongfully terminate their employees and not be held accountable for their actions.