Work is a big part of our life – it is, after all what allows us to live our lives in the manner (or as close to) that that we wish to. So when we get disputes at work, they can not only be very stressful and worrying, they can affect almost every aspect of our lives.
And it is not only employees that can be seriously be affected by workplace disputes, employers and businesses can also suffer. A labor or employment lawyer is a lawyer who is specialized in employment law and can help to resolve disputes between employers and employees – from either side.
Unions
When an employee is part of a union, they are often given legal help to assist with their employee rights, and a labor lawyer can be used by an employer to be able to fairly negotiate with them. Likewise, if there is a threat of a strike or other major disruption, an employment attorney can help to settle these disagreements.
As an Employer…
For employers, you should consider consulting a labor lawyer if:
You are being faced with an unfair dismissal lawsuit
Your workers are threatening a strike
You want to dismiss an unsatisfactory union worker
As an Employee…
For employees, you should consider consulting a labor lawyer if:
You are wanting to file a lawsuit against your employee for any reason such as – unfair dismissal, overtime laws, unfair labor practices, breach of employee rights, breach of federal labor laws such as discrimination
You are contemplating strike action and are looking to try to negotiate terms
You feel that you have been wrongfully discharged
Not all workplace disputes end up in court and part of the job of an employment lawyer is to explain what options you have – regardless of which side you are on. It is possible to settle disputes out of court if done in the right way.
Meeting an Employment Attorney
Once that you have decided that you need an employment attorney, you should make an appointment to see one. Whilst you are making the appointment make sure that you first check what you need to bring with you.
These things might include identification documents, work history, a statement explaining why you contacted them in the first place, and useful information such as employee handbooks and a list of people who would be able to back up your claim.
Try to dress smartly to show that you mean business and it is a good idea to bring a list of questions that you would like to be answered. By showing that you are prepared, willing to offer information and enthusiastic, the more likely the lawyer will be to want to help you, and the more motivated they will be – it’s hard to get excited about someone else’s situation if they aren’t themselves, after all!
It is vital that you are completely honest with your lawyer, to enable them to put the best case forward for you, and unless you are telling them that you plan to do something illegal, what you tell them is absolutely confidential.
Workplace disputes are fairly common, but there are times when a lawyer needs to intervene. This can actually be very beneficial as it means that the dispute can be resolved once and for all. So if you have a problem with either an employer or employee, why not get in touch today?