Ask the Experts: Employee Rights and Workforce Labor Violations
Question:
I’m required to work a 10 hour day and only allowed to take a 30 minute lunch. I also feel I work in a hostile work environment based on the way my boss treats me verbally. Where do I find information on employees rights regarding these issues?
Answer:
Employee rights differ greatly from state to state and country to country. In order to ensure that you receive the correct information on whether you’re allowed more than a 30 minute lunch and what you should do about the work environment, I would strongly encourage you to call your state’s labor department and consult with a lawyer who specializes in employment law.
You should get a quick and definitive answer about the 30 minute break issue from your state’s labor department and the employment lawyer. The hostile work environment issue, however, will be much more difficult yet it also appears to be the more serious of the two issues facing you.
If I were in your shoes, I would call and schedule an initial consultation with at least employment lawyer. Many and perhaps most lawyers will not charge for an initial consultation. It is their opportunity to hear your side of the matter, to determine whether they think there is any opportunity for them to help you, and to convince you that they can help you and be worth the fee. Think of your initial consultation as opportunity to get some free advice from someone who wants to sell you their services.
If you don’t know of a lawyer who specializes in employment law, call your local bar association. Every state, most counties and many cities have bar associations. They will refer you for free to one or more lawyers in your area who specialize in employment law. Some may be willing to speak with you by phone. Others may want you to come to their office. Take a few hours off or schedule the appointment for non-work hours and meet with at least one of the lawyers. Your problems are serious. Treat them as such.
— Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com
