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Austin Employment Law Lawyer

What is employment law?

Put simply, employment law is a collection of laws in place to protect employees from unfair treatment in the workplace. Unfair treatment can mean being wrongfully terminated, harassed, discriminated against, paid unfairly, and many other things. There are federal and state laws that protect employees from this unfair behavior committed by employers.

Employment laws exist to regulate the relationship between employers and their employees. These laws cover all stages of the employment process including hiring, firing, and promotions. Employment laws exist to protect employees from wrongful conduct by employers or even fellow employees. While these laws can be very complex, they are in place for the benefit of the individual employee.

What kind of discrimination is illegal in the workplace?

Employers cannot discriminate against an employee or potential employee on the basis of:

An employer cannot refuse to hire someone or fire someone on the basis of any of the above. If you feel you have been discriminated against for one or more of the above, you should contact an employment law attorney.

What are all the specific areas of employment law?

While employment law is a vast field, some of the areas include:

If you think you are a victim of any of the above, you should contact an Austin employment law lawyer as soon as possible.

What is the EEOC?

The EEOC is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC plays a huge role in employment law. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal discrimination laws in the workplace. These laws apply to all kinds of employment situations including hiring, firing, promotions, training, harassment, wages, and benefits.

The EEOC investigates charges of discrimination against employers who are covered by the law. Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered.

Filing a charge with the EEOC is one of the first thing most people need to do to begin to assert the rights in the process of a discrimination or harassment claim. Whenever possible, you should consult with an employment attorney before filing a charge with the EEOC.

What is the TWC?

The TWC is the Texas Workforce Commission. Similar to the EEOC, the TWC may also play a major role in enforcing employment law. While the EEOC covers enforcing federal laws, the TWC enforces state employment laws in Texas. The two agencies have overlapping jurisdiction in most cases, and generally only one will take the lead in investigating your claim.

In many cases of discrimination or harassment, you can have the option to file your claim with the EEOC or the TWC. Like the EEOC, the TWC investigates your claims. Both of these commissions provide a vital role in the employment law process. While the process may not end with the TWC or EEOC in all circumstances, it will serve as a first step in investigating the claims you brought forward.

What does it mean to be an at-will state?

At-will simply means that employers in the state of Texas can fire an employee at any time for nearly any reason. Actually, the employer does not even have to give the employee a reason for firing them. While this may sound scary, most at-will employees do still have the right to be free from discrimination and harassment.

What are the relevant federal laws governing employment law?

There are a handful of federal employment and labor laws. These include:

These are very complex laws and difficult to fully understand, which is why it is best to contact an Austin employment law lawyer for any potential issues in the workplace as soon as possible.

How do I know when to contact a lawyer?

If you feel that you are a victim of unfair or unjust treatment in the workplace, you may want to look into contacting an Austin employment law lawyer. While you may or may not have a case, you can still get legal advice on how to proceed in your situation. If you do have a case, your lawyer will walk you through the process and explain the next steps to get you justice.

You do not have to put up with unfair treatment in the workplace. You do not have to work for someone who is breaking the law. Take a stand, use your voice, and stop this behavior!

How common are employment law violations?

Very common! Unfortunately, misconduct happens in the workplace everyday and it happens to a lot of people across Texas. We encourage people to come forward and pursue claims to end this type of behavior. It is not acceptable and needs to be stopped. If you think you may be experiencing some improper conduct, it is better to be safe than sorry. Get legal advice and see how to go forward.

How Can We Help?

Client Testimonials

Austin was impressive and able to accomplish the results in my case. Like me, he is goal oriented, and his approach to my case was not only efficient but extremely effective. If you are looking for a lawyer that will provide personalized attention and help you accomplish your goals efficiently, I highly recommend Austin.

— Richard, Unpaid Overtime (FLSA) / Retaliation

I am a female C-level executive in technology.  I was in a contract dispute with my former employer and needed assistance to recover compensation and benefits that were withheld.  Austin did a great job explaining the law, laying out all my options, understanding my goals, and fighting to achieve them.  The Firm kept me fully informed and up-to-date, and there was always someone available when I needed them.  I highly recommend this firm.

— P.M., Executive Severance

Austin Kaplan was indeed, very helpful in resolving a dispute I had with a restaurant, and his team helped as well to connect the dots in order to make this procedure an easy-going succession of discussions with the other party.  From our first meeting, I knew Austin was a trustworthy man who carefully listened and guided me through the steps – a great lawyer who chooses just causes.  Justice was served.

— Sam, Unpaid Wages

If you have a tough unpaid overtime case like I did, I recommend hiring Kaplan Law Firm.  Austin worked closely with me throughout my case to make sure I knew what to expect, and to make sure we were both fully prepared.  Austin made sure I was always in the driver’s seat.  He was always professional and dedicated to my case.  We set goals together at the beginning of the case, and by the end, he made sure each of them were met.  If you need a lawyer for a tough case, I recommend Kaplan Law Firm.

— A.E., Unpaid Overtime (FLSA)

Mr. Kaplan is highly professional and provided me with a great deal of confidence regarding my employment issue.  I highly recommend him.

— Tim K.

It was an absolute pleasure working with Austin Kaplan and his staff.  They are very personable, easily available for questions and procedures, incredibly knowledgeable, and they made a terrible employment experience easy to deal with.  I cannot say enough great things about the Kaplan Law Firm.

— Shelby L.

Kaplan law firm was recommended to me by an attorney friend based on their professionalism and dedication to detail – I wasn’t disappointed, the recommendation was the best I could hope for.

I worked with Mr. Kaplan directly, and he made sure that he understood all the details of my case, he communicated extremely well during the duration of our engagement and got me a very favorable outcome during a stressful time of my career. When you go through an employment dispute you want a good and competent lawyer on your side, and I felt represented extremely well by Mr. Kaplan.

In addition to his representation in my labor dispute Kaplan also provided very good professional advice and I would ask him to represent me again in any labor dispute I might have in the future.

— Otmar F.

I had the most positive experience working with Austin Kaplan. He was extremely knowledgeable and took care of us from start to finish. He will go above and beyond making sure you understand all the aspects of your case. Extremely professional, well versed in employment law, and overall excellent attorney! Highly recommend him!

— Clint H.



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