Employment Law Attorney for Workplace Disputes & Employee Rights

 

If you’re dealing with wrongful termination, unpaid wages, harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, you may be searching for an employment law firm or an employment law attorney new york. This guide explains what employment lawyers do, when to call one, and how to prepare—especially for New York/New Jersey “near me” searches, with federal protections that apply across the U.S.

1) Common workplace problems an employment lawyer can help with

Employment law covers many issues, but most cases fall into a few buckets:

Wrongful termination

Not every unfair firing is illegal—but some terminations are unlawful, especially if tied to:

• discrimination (race, sex, age, disability, etc.)
• retaliation (punished for reporting misconduct or asserting rights)
• protected leave or accommodations

If you believe you were fired for an illegal reason, a wrongful termination lawyer near me can help evaluate the facts and next steps.

Retaliation

Retaliation is when an employer punishes you for a protected action, such as:

• reporting harassment/discrimination
• raising wage concerns
• reporting safety issues
• requesting accommodations
• taking protected leave

Unpaid wages and overtime

Common wage issues include:

• unpaid overtime
• “off-the-clock” work
• missing meal breaks (where required)
• tip violations
• misclassification (wrongly labeled as an exempt or independent contractor)

Harassment and discrimination

This can include:

• hostile work environment
• unequal pay
• failure to promote
• biased discipline
• refusal to accommodate disability or religion

Severance agreements and workplace contracts

Before signing severance papers, it’s smart to have a lawyer review:

• What rights are you giving up
• deadlines to sign
• non-compete / non-solicit language
• confidentiality clauses

2) Why this matters 

Two reasons: deadlines and evidence.

Deadlines can be short.

For many federal discrimination claims, you generally must file with the EEOC within 180 days, and it may extend to 300 days in many places, depending on state/local enforcement.

If you’re in New York:

• NY State Division of Human Rights: 3 years to file many unlawful discrimination complaints (effective Feb 15, 2024).
• NYC Commission on Human Rights: generally 1 year, or 3 years for gender-based harassment.

If you’re in New Jersey:

• NJ Division on Civil Rights: generally 180 days to file certain complaints, and lawsuits are often subject to two years (depending on the claim).

Wage claims can also have time limits:

• Federal FLSA: 2 years, or 3 years for willful violations.
• New York wage claims in court can often go back six years (depending on the claim).

Bottom line: if you think something is wrong, don’t wait “to see if it gets better.” Waiting can reduce your options.

Evidence gets harder to collect over time.

Messages disappear. People leave. Memories change. Getting advice early helps you keep clean records and avoid mistakes.

3) Benefits of hiring an employment law attorney near you

When you hire an employment law attorney near me, you’re usually getting help with:

• Understanding your rights under federal and state law
• Choosing the best path: internal complaint, agency filing, negotiation, or lawsuit
• Building a strong record: timelines, documents, witness info
• Negotiating from strength if the employer has lawyers
• Seeking compensation: back pay, unpaid wages, settlement value (depends on claim)

Employment disputes are stressful. A lawyer’s job is to make the process clearer and more controlled.

4) When to contact an attorney

You should consider calling an employment law attorney near me if any of these are true:

• You were fired, demoted, or written up soon after complaining.
• You are being pressured to sign severance papers quickly.
• Your pay is missing overtime or includes off-the-clock work.
• HR ignored your harassment/discrimination complaint (or you got punished after reporting).
• You need an accommodation, but your employer is refusing or delaying it.

5) What to gather before your consultation

Bring whatever you have. Even partial records can help.

Documents to collect

• Pay stubs, W-2/1099, direct deposit history
• Work schedules, timecards, screenshots of hours
• Employment contract or offer letter (if any)
• Employee handbook and policies (harassment, attendance, discipline)
• Performance reviews, PIP documents, write-ups
• Emails/texts/Slack/Teams messages about the issue
• Names of witnesses who saw or heard key events

Create a simple timeline.

Write down:

• What happened
• When it happened
• Who was involved
• What you reported (if you reported it)
• What the employer did next

This is often one of the most valuable things you can do.

6) How the legal process usually works 

Step 1: Consultation

A lawyer reviews your facts and identifies:

• the strongest legal claims
• the best next steps
• the key deadlines

Step 2: Early action 

Depending on your case, your attorney may:

• Advise how to report the issue internally (so it’s documented)
• Send a demand letter.
• Help negotiate severance
• Prepare an agency filing.

Step 3: Filing a claim 

Common paths include:

• filing with the EEOC (many federal discrimination claims)
• filing with NY or NYC agencies if applicable
• filing in court (often used for wage claims or other disputes)

Step 4: Resolution

Many cases end with:

• settlement negotiations
• mediation
• or, if necessary, a lawsuit and litigation steps

7) Real-world examples 

Example A: Fired after reporting harassment

You report harassment to HR. Two weeks later, you’re put on a performance plan and terminated.
What a lawyer does: builds the timeline, gathers proof of the complaint, compares how others were treated, and chooses the correct filing path.

Example B: Unpaid overtime / off-the-clock work

You’re required to work before clocking in or after clocking out.
What a lawyer does: reconstructs hours using schedules and messages and calculates wage damages (often under federal and state rules).

Example C: Retaliation after raising wage concerns

You ask payroll to fix missing hours. Suddenly, you’re written up for “attitude,” and your shifts are cut.
What a lawyer does: connects protected activity to adverse actions and documents the pattern.

Example D: Denied accommodation

You request a reasonable accommodation and are ignored or pushed out.
What a lawyer does: documents requests/responses and advises how to continue the process safely.

8) Common questions 

How do I know if I have a case?

A case usually involves a legal violation (wage theft, discrimination, retaliation, protected leave, breach of contract). A lawyer can quickly tell you what fits.

How long do I have to file an EEOC complaint?

Often 180 days, sometimes 300 days, depending on where the conduct occurred and whether state/local laws apply.

What’s the deadline in New York?

NYSDHR: Many discrimination complaints can be filed within 3 years for conduct on/after Feb 15, 2024.
NYC Commission on Human Rights: generally 1 year (or 3 years for gender-based harassment).

What’s the deadline in New Jersey?

NJ Division on Civil Rights: generally 180 days for certain complaints; lawsuits are often two years, depending on the claim.

Can I still take action if I don’t have perfect proof?

Yes. Many cases rely on patterns and timelines. Save what you have and talk to a lawyer early.

Should I sign a severance agreement?

Don’t sign until you understand what you’re waiving and whether the offer is negotiable—especially if there’s a short deadline.

Conclusion

If you’re searching for an attorney employment law near me or an attorney specializing in employment law near me, don’t ignore the warning signs. Workplace issues like wrongful termination, unpaid wages, harassment, and retaliation can have strict deadlines, and waiting can make your case harder to prove.

Your best next steps are simple:

1. Write down a clear timeline of what happened (dates, people, and key events).
2. Save important records (pay stubs, schedules, emails, texts, HR notes).
3. Talk to an employment law attorney to understand your rights and options.

Getting advice early can help you protect your job, your income, and your future.