New York has a well-deserved reputation of being a worker-friendly state. The state’s employment laws are considerably stricter and offer more protection to employees than federal employment laws. However, data shows that employment law violations – wage and hour violations in particular – are common in New York. Every year, employers pay out millions to settle wage and hour claims filed by their employees.
At Levine & Blit, we have a team of award-winning New York employment lawyers who have more than 100 years of combined experience in handling state as well as federal employment law violation claims and lawsuits. Over the years, we have taken on some of the largest employers in the country – including Fortune 500 companies – and recovered millions in back pay and damages for our clients.
Workers in the state of New York are entitled to full protection under state and federal employment law. As such, the law firm of Levine & Blit provides legal counsel for cases that involved employment contracts, wrongful termination, violations of the fair labor standards act, and recovery of unpaid wages and overtime pay. We also handle cases involving sexual harassment, employment discrimination, employment agreements and workplace discrimination. Unfair labor practices have no place in the state of New York, and our law firm will fight for you in both state and federal court. Employment law matters, as do your rights. The best employment attorney you can work with can be found on the team of Levine & Blit. Our team of NYC employment lawyers deals with all manner of employment cases and unpaid wage law. In both state and federal courts we will fight to protect your rights.
If you are a victim of discrimination, harassment, or retaliatory action from your employer, we can fight for your rights, hold your employer accountable for their violations, and take appropriate steps to recover the benefits and damages you are entitled to receive. Our team of New York employment lawyers is experts in all aspects of state and federal employment law. Call us without delay and our legal team will immediately swing into action to help you pursue and achieve the best possible outcome.
Employee Rights in New York
As an employee in New York, your fundamental rights include:
- The right to earn the state-mandated minimum wage – which can be anywhere from $13.20 to $15 – depending on in which part of the state you are located.
- The right to earn overtime wages – which is 150% or one and a half times your regular hourly wage – if you put in more than 40 hours in a workweek.
- The right to take 30 minutes of uninterrupted lunch break.
- The right to take paid family leave (up to 12 weeks a year) – to care for your family members or to bond with your newborn.
- The right to be treated fairly at the workplace without being discriminated against based on your race, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin.
- The right to a safe and accommodating (in case you have a disability) environment.
- The right to complain to your employer about issues that concern you at the workplace, the right to file a complaint or lawsuit against them if necessary, and the right to disclose your employer’s unlawful activities to the government and not be retaliated against for doing so.
- The right to take time off work (one hour for every 30 hours you put in) to recover from injuries or a physical or mental illness, to care for a family member who is injured or ill, or to deal with issues related to domestic violence, sexual offenses, stalking, or trafficking.
Apart from this, New York also has a ‘ban the box’ law, which explicitly prohibits employers from asking applicants about their criminal history right at the start of the hiring process. The law also states that employers must consider a number of factors including the nature and gravity of the offense committed, the age at which you committed the offense, and whether or not the conviction is likely to have any impact on your ability to perform your employment duties before disqualifying your application. If they disqualify you just because you have a misdemeanor or felony conviction on your record – even though you are otherwise qualified for the job – it is against the law.
You can find a detailed list of all the rights and workplace protections you are entitled to here. If any of your rights are violated or infringed upon by your employer, you have the right to demand justice. With the help of a dependable New York employment lawyer, you can hold your employer responsible for their violations and make sure you are treated fairly at the workplace and compensated adequately for the work you performed.
Why It Is Important to Have an Experienced New York Employment Lawyer in Your Corner
New York’s employment laws are among the most comprehensive in the country. In the event of a violation, only an experienced lawyer can determine which laws were violated, to what extent they were violated, how the violations affected you, and what kind of damages you are entitled to under state and federal laws.
It should be noted that in a vast majority of cases, you might not have to file a lawsuit against your employer for violating your rights. Depending on the circumstances, your New York employment lawyer might be able to work with your employer’s attorney and negotiate a fair settlement for you. This is where your lawyer’s negotiation and litigation experience comes into the picture.
An experienced New York employment lawyer can negotiate aggressively with your employer’s attorney and make it clear that they will not hesitate to file a lawsuit if needed in order to recover the back pay, benefits, and other damages that you are entitled to receive.
In the absence of proper legal representation, you could be talked into accepting a low settlement offer by your employer’s lawyer. Similarly, if you are represented by a lawyer who does not have any litigation experience, they might convince you to accept whatever your employer offers as they might be hesitant to take the case to trial.
This is why it is important to hire a New York employment lawyer who not only has the legal expertise needed to handle your case, but can also take your case to court if necessary to protect your rights.
Assert Your Rights at the Workplace with the Help of Our New York Employment Attorneys
If you are facing discrimination or harassment at work or if you believe that your employer might be in violation of state or federal employment laws, you have the right to take legal action. The accomplished New York employment attorneys at Levine & Blit can provide you with the legal advice and guidance you need and help you get the compensatory benefits you deserve.
With over 100 years of combined experience, a thorough understanding of local, state, and federal employment laws, and a track record of winning high-profile cases, our lawyers are ideally suited to take up your case and get results that most other lawyers cannot.
To find out how we can help you with your employment law claim, call us today at (212) 967-3000 or contact us online and schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a seasoned New York employment lawyer from our firm.