Protecting Employees Against Illegal Workplace Treatment

Employees need protection against the wrongful actions of their employers. You may feel powerless against an employer or that your circumstances prevent you from taking action. Our Detroit employment law lawyers at Sterling Employment Law are dedicated to protecting the rights of employees, taking action against employers and ensuring justice in the workplace. In addition, our employment law lawyers can help you negotiate executive compensation agreements, noncompete clauses, assignments of intellectual property rights and severance packages. Many times, you have more power to negotiate than might be apparent. We will work to ensure that you get the best deal possible from your employer.

If you have been wronged by an employer, supervisor or co-worker, our attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve from your employer. To speak with an experienced employment law attorney, please call 248-633-8916.

Protecting Your Rights And Job Security

We have helped many executives and C-level employees negotiate signing bonuses, interpret employee contracts and conclude an agreement over a potential severance package. If you have been terminated with a noncompete clause in your employee contract, we can help you understand whether the terms of the noncompete are still enforceable.

In addition to executives, we routinely represent sales representatives; nurses, doctors and other hospital employees; and university employees.

Understanding Your Rights Under Michigan And Federal Labor Laws

Michigan workers have more legal protection than most people realize. Knowing which laws apply to your situation is the first step toward understanding what your employer is and is not permitted to do.

At-Will Employment Does Not Mean Firing For Any Reason

Michigan is an at-will state, which means an employer can end the employment relationship without advance notice and without giving a reason. That flexibility, however, does not extend to illegal reasons. Terminations driven by discrimination, retaliation or violations of public policy remain unlawful regardless of at-will status. Employees on the receiving end of those terminations have legal remedies available to them.

The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act goes further than federal law in one important respect. While Title VII and related federal statutes cover race, color, religion, sex and national origin, the ELCRA adds height, weight and marital status to that list. No comparable federal protection exists for those two characteristics. An employer in Michigan who factors any of these traits into a decision about who to hire, how much to pay, who to promote or who to let go may be liable under state law regardless of whether federal law would reach the same conduct.

The Michigan Whistleblowers’ Protection Act

Employees who report suspected legal violations to a government agency or law enforcement cannot lawfully be punished for doing so. The Michigan Whistleblowers’ Protection Act prohibits retaliation in any form, including changes to pay, job duties, working conditions and termination. A worker who experiences retaliation may recover reinstatement, back pay and damages. Claims must be filed within 90 days of the violation, so time is a real factor.

The Bullard-Plawecki Employee Right To Know Act

Under this Act, Michigan employees have the right to review and obtain copies of their own personnel file. Performance reviews, disciplinary records and internal evaluations in that file can directly contradict what an employer claims was the reason for a termination. We routinely pull and review these records at the start of every wrongful termination matter, and what is in them often shapes the entire direction of the case.

If you believe your employer has violated any of these protections, call us or contact our office online to discuss what your options are.

Discrimination And Harassment At Work Are Illegal

If you have been harassed or feel that you are a victim of discrimination or were wrongfully terminated, our attorneys will aggressively pursue your claim. Preparation and investigation are crucial in employment law matters, especially in these areas. Sometimes, the employee has to take affirmative steps to stop the harassment or discriminatory treatment before a suit is possible.

Were You Fired For An Illegal Reason?

In many instances, an employer may fire an at-will employee (an employee without a contract) for any reason. However, the employee may have recourse to file a wrongful termination suit in situations where the firing was for an illegal purpose.

If you believe you were wrongfully fired, we can help you investigate a discrimination claim. If you feel you are a victim of harassment, we can help with pretermination counseling on the proper steps to take so that you can begin to build a case against your employer.

Pursuing Justice And Compensating You For Wrongdoing

We strive to avoid costly litigation through negotiation and settlement, but we are prepared to take any case to trial. Our attorneys are aggressive in their pursuit of justice in disputes involving wrongful termination. It is our duty to ensure that your rights are protected – and that you are fairly compensated for any wrongdoing.

High-Earner Bonuses And Equity Disputes

Executives and sales leaders have a large portion of their pay tied to commissions. They can also get incentive bonuses, deferred compensation and equity awards. When a payout or vesting date is approaching, some employers look for ways to reduce or eliminate what they owe. This can include labeling a “for cause” termination as a pretext to push an employee out before a bonus is paid.

Our attorneys represent C-suite leaders and high-performing sales executives. We’ve worked in industries like pharmaceuticals and insurance, in disputes over unpaid compensation. We handle matters involving unpaid executive bonuses in Michigan. Equity vesting disputes and claims for breach of employment contract are also part of our practice, in the Detroit area and statewide.

We can evaluate compensation plans, offer letters, equity award agreements and severance terms for provisions that employers frequently rely on, including “cause” definitions, forfeiture language and clawback clauses. If an employer is attempting to recoup compensation or deny a payout, we can pursue a strategic clawback provision defense and, when appropriate, file or defend deferred compensation litigation to protect what you earned.

We Fight For Wage Earners

Wage theft – both intentional and unintentional – should never happen. But it does.

If you have concerns about whether you have been paid in full for what you have earned, speak with one of our lawyers. We handle cases involving unpaid overtime, working “off the clock,” failure to pay for rest breaks, unfair payment of tips and other types of wage theft.

Wage-and-hour violations sometimes turn into class action legal cases. In class actions, our attorneys represent groups of workers who have been wronged.

Skilled Representation In All Employment Law Matters

In addition to harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination claims, our firm has experience representing clients in cases involving employee benefit disputes, whistleblower and retaliation claims and class action employment lawsuits.

Our attorneys do not solely represent employees – they also have successfully represented employers. While few firms do both, we feel that this practice lets our lawyers know what to expect from the defense and helps the employee to outmaneuver the employer.

Contact Our Firm to Learn More About Your Rights

To speak with an employment law attorney about your case, please contact us online or call us at 248-633-8916. Our lawyers are happy to consult with you regarding your rights and legal options. We normally take our employment cases on a contingent fee basis. If you do not recover for your claim, neither do we.