A workplace dispute is a case of a disagreement between you and another employee or the organization you work for which can be very nasty. In most cases, you will be advised to consult the human resource office.
However, you may have some difficulty approaching the HR department especially if the dispute is with an employee that is higher up on the organizational ladder than you are.
If you are at all unsure what to do if you are in a workplace dispute, you should contact an employment lawyer. The following are reasons why it is a good idea to hire a lawyer if you are in a workplace dispute:
Employee Handbook
When you are first hired, you will probably be given an employee handbook that outlines the various policies the organization has to govern employee behavior. Unfortunately, the handbook is usually hundreds of pages long which makes it almost impossible for you to completely read and comprehend the policies.
However, an employment lawyer will have no problem understanding the policies in the handbook. Furthermore, they will understand the legal repercussions of breaking the policies in the employee handbook.
Therefore, you should hire a lawyer if you are in a workplace dispute to find out how the dispute relates to company policy. Otherwise, you may lose the dispute by the company using the employee handbook against you.
Speaking to Your Employer
In case you are in a workplace dispute, what you do and say will and can be used against you in a court of law. Therefore, you need to hire a lawyer and find out exactly how you should conduct yourself when speaking to your employer about the dispute.
First and foremost, your lawyer will help you understand the policies surrounding the dispute. You should have everything about the dispute on paper which will help when you go to speak to your employer about it.
You should try and reach an amicable solution with your employer about the dispute before taking the case to court. It increases the chances that you will keep your job or get a recommendation from your employer when searching for another job.
Employee Agreements
In addition to getting an employee handbook when you get the job, you will probably also sign an employee agreement. The agreement shows that you consent to adhere to the company policies and your employment will be terminated if you don’t.
An employment lawyer has various roles for their client. One of them is negotiating employee agreements. The lawyer will help with the negotiations before you are employed and when you are in a workplace dispute.
They will be able to prove that the dispute does not constitute a violation of your employment agreement. They will also help you negotiate the employee agreement in a new job in case the dispute results in you getting fired.
Law Enforcement
There are state and federal laws to protect employees from illegal actions taken by their employers. You should hire a lawyer to help you with the enforcement of these laws during a workplace dispute.
Unless you are a member of a powerful union, you are essentially powerless against an employer. A lawyer tips the scales in your favor in case of a workplace dispute and ensures you are not wrongfully terminated.
Most employers face workplace disputes by employees every day. Therefore, they have more experience and are better equipped to face claims than any employees.
A lawyer will be your best bet if you want to win such a dispute. A single employee will be helpless when trying to enforce the laws meant to protect him/her against a large company.
Discrimination
If your workplace dispute involves some sort of discrimination, then a simple case might turn into a serious civil rights case. There are many laws to protect employees against various forms of discrimination including race, gender, religion, age, and disability among others.
The reason you should hire a lawyer for a workplace dispute is that they will know whether there is discrimination in the case. Furthermore, they will be able to prove it in case the dispute ends up in a court of law.
An employment attorney will be able to fully debrief you on the rights you possess and how you can fight back against discrimination by your employer. Moreover, the compensation for such discrimination can make a significant change in your life.
As you can see, a workplace dispute can escalate quickly to a very serious legal case. Hiring an employment lawyer will be a great move to ensure that the dispute is justly resolved. Ensure you hire an experienced lawyer with a long track record of success.
