My name is Danielle Diaz. One of the things I've learned in life, both inside and outside the courtroom, is that it is important to not see others as your enemy. Even though you may see the prosecutor as your enemy, he or she is just trying to do a job. It may be possible that you can get a prosecutor or the judge to be sympathetic and get him or her on your side. In order to accomplish this, you need to understand the law. I feel that most individuals do not understand the law, which is why I was motivated to create this blog.
Douglas Thompson
Getting a job for the first time as a young adult is often a great achievement that creates a feeling of independence. It isn't uncommon for a graduate fresh out of high school to apply for jobs working in restaurants or take on other entry-level positions. One of the downfalls of working at a young age is that some employers will try to take advantage of you by scheduling hours that are not paid in full. If you discovered that your employer has been withholding wages that you worked for, you have the right to obtain them based on the labor laws in your state. As you will learn below, hiring an employment lawyer from a firm such as John H. Haskin & Associates, LLC is a great step towards the right direction to getting justice against your employer.
Discuss Your Concerns to Learn Your Rights
How did you discover that your employer has been withholding a portion of your wages? Do you have check stubs to prove that you were not paid for the actual hours that you were clocked in to work? You will have to discuss all of your concerns with the lawyer so he or she will know if you have a good chance of producing solid evidence to prove your claim. Don't worry about not being able to prove everything, as a lawyer can actually do some investigating to possibly collect evidence on your behalf. For instance, he or she might actually discover that other employees have been experiencing the same thing.
File a Claim with the State Labor Department
Before taking your case to court, a lawyer will help you file an official claim with the state labor department. The claim will basically be reviewed to determine if you have the right to be compensated for wages that were unfairly not paid. If the labor department disagrees with your claim, it doesn't mean that you have no rights. A lawyer can contest the denial and take the case to court if it is necessary to be done. However, he or she will ensure that enough evidence is provided to the labor department to support your claim.
Fight to Prevent Wrongful Termination
Employment termination might be threatened after you seek legal action against your employer. However, you cannot be terminated simply for filing a claim, as it is illegal in most states. If you get threatened with termination, a lawyer can work on your behalf to ensure that you are able to keep your job without being harassed by your employer.