Category: Legal Issues

When we accept a job with an employer, we always hope that things will operate smoothly and that we will have no problems with our bosses or coworkers. But sometimes we can run into legal issues on the job which can make work very stressful. Here are some of the main legal issues people can encounter on the job and how to handle them:

1. Disputes With Pay and Compensation

Of course, you want to ensure that you are being paid fairly for your work. The best way to ensure this is to carefully read your contract of employment before signing it. Your contract binds both parties and is the best line of defense if you ever have an issue with not receiving the correct pay. Make sure that the contract clearly sets out what deductions will be taken from your pay, such as Society Security and taxes withheld. In addition, if you are being paid a wage, ensure that it is not below the legal minimum wage requirements.

2. Harassment and Discrimination

Allegations of harassment and discrimination are very serious. It is important that workers understand exactly what constitutes harassment and discrimination and what does not. If you are faced with this type of situation, it is important to seek legal help. Before you do, ensure that you keep a record of the incident and note down what happened, what was said or done, and how frequently the incident has occurred. An attorney can discuss the facts with you and advise you if your complaint has merit and what you can do about it.

3. Whistle-Blowing

Whistle-blowing is also a very serious situation in the workplace, where an employee sees or hears something at the workplace that violates the law, such as insider-trading or unethical work practices. If this occurs, speak to an attorney to ensure that you are not making false accusations. Your company should have protections in place for whistleblowers, but if they don’t, you are free to report your suspicions to the police or a government official.

4. Unfair Dismissal

No one likes being terminated from a job, but when it happens it is important to make sure that you are being terminated justly and that all proper procedures, including any severance pay due to you, has been followed. The law will set out the circumstances of when an employee can be fairly terminated, so you should meet with an employment lawyer for advice.

Business owners face a wide range of legal problems. When running any type of business operation, you have to deal with different groups of people. Proper contracts must be established with your partners, suppliers, resellers, employees and customers. You may have to hire both temporary and permanent employees. You will face different types of problems with each type of employees. Establish legally binding contracts before dealing with all such business associates. The contracts must be drafted and verified by a lawyer specializing in the business laws.

You have to hire a lawyer depending on the type of legal problem you face. For example, if a customer files compensation claim against you, you will need services of a lawyer who has experience of defending businesses in such cases. Compensation claims can be filed even by victims of an accident. The accident may have been caused by you or your employee. An accident can happen due to poor infrastructure at your business place. In such claims, you will need services of a personal injury lawyer.

Employees file cases of harassment or discrimination. They bring cases against their employer demanding compensation for unfair treatment. They can allege discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, age or qualification. Problems often arise if your business involves dealing with partners, suppliers, resellers and customers. They can allege that you failed to keep your promise as required under the contract. You can be accused of not delivering goods on time by customers and resellers. A supplier can alleged not receiving payments. The customer can accuse your company of delivering faulty products. Your partners can accuse you of misappropriating the funds.

Make sure you establish effective contracts when dealing with all such business partners. It will help you avoid court cases in the future. You will be on the right side of the law and win compensation claim cases if you follow the terms and conditions of your contracts. At the same time, even after all the precautions and preventative measures, you can still face legal issues. In such a case, seek help of San Diego trial lawyers immediately. The legal expert will evaluate your case and give you a frank opinion. If you are in the wrong, you will be advised to negotiate the compensation claim. If you are right, you will be advised to stand up for your rights and fight the case.