Tennessee Expanded Employment Law Information
If you have been harassed, suffered discrimination, or wrongfully terminated because of your race, sex, handicap, age, pregnancy, or other condition unrelated to your job performance, the law firm of Terry, Terry & Stapleton can provide excellent representation and forceful advocacy on your behalf. We have helped our clients recover some of the largest legal settlements or courtroom verdicts in East Tennessee and the Southeast, including Hamblen, Hawkins, Greene, Sevier, Knox, Washington, Sullivan and Cocke counties.
Tennessee Employment Law
Tennessee law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, veteran status, disability, age or maternity status. These categories are known as an employee's "protected status" because they represent attributes or conditions that are protected under employment law. The law also protects employees from harassment, such as sexual harassment and workplace retaliation. Retaliation occurs when an employee is fired purely to "get back" at the employee; usually for speaking out about unethical or illegal practices, or for filing an injury-related claim that may cost the company money.
Many lawyers are new to the field of workplace retaliation, but our attorneys have handled cases involving both whistleblowers and injured workers terminated for filing Workers' Compensation claims. We understand the complexities of Tennessee employment law – and we have the resources to protect the rights of wronged employees.
Discrimination comes in all forms, and while employees may know they have been treated unfairly or fired for improper reasons, without skilled legal representation they have limited options. Some of the scenarios which can constitute a violation of Tennessee employment law include:
- Hourly employees forced to work overtime without appropriate pay
- Hostile work environment including discriminatory or harassing behavior
- Sexual harassment – including statements, behavior and a hostile or dangerous environment
- Being passed over for promotion or demoted because of race, gender, disability or age
- Corporate policies that promote hiring younger people instead of qualified individuals over 40
- Breach of contract – withholding benefits, vacation time or other policies stipulated in writing that are owed to the employee
- Retaliation – firing or demotion for exposing corruption or filing an injury claim
- Invasion of privacy – such as cameras in employee restrooms
- Failing to promote employees who have taken maternity leave or because they intend to have children
- Medical leave violations – such as penalizing an employee for taking unpaid medical leave to care for a sick spouse, parent or child
It is important to remember that the law does not protect all instances of termination that may seem unfair. Employers may choose to fire workers for many reasons, and it can be difficult to prove that termination or discrimination was based upon the worker's "protected status" or was motivated by retaliation. Only an experienced attorney who understands how to effectively investigate and argue an employment law claim will succeed in recovering significant damages for a client.
With a family tradition of legal service since 1960, the Morristown, Tennessee employment law attorneys of Terry, Terry & Stapleton are committed to protecting workers' rights. We know Tennessee employment law and we understand how to prove difficult cases of discrimination, retaliation and hostile work environments. If you need legal assistance with an employment law claim, or to schedule an evaluation of your case, contact us by calling 1-800-518-3779.
