Employment Law in Tuscaloosa, AL
A workplace in Tuscaloosa must be, by law, free from harassment and reprisals. Any treatment that falls under these areas is not conducive for an employee, and can lead to untenable situations. If you feel you have faced any type of violation regarding treatment in the workplace, you may want to reach out to an experienced attorney in Tuscaloosa.
What Is Employment Law?
Employment law covers the rights, responsibilities, and obligations within the employer-employee relationship. Alabama Employment lawyers serve both employees and employers, though they generally focus their practice on serving one or the other. Regardless of who their clients are, their goal is to present a solid case and defend them.
Understanding Employment Law Labor Rights in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Employees have a wide range of rights that employers cannot violate. If employers violate these rights, workers can file a complaint against them. Each state has unique labor laws and some also make provisions for qualifying independent contractors. Below are the most common topics covered in employment law across the country.
Wage and Hour Laws
Laws protect non-exempt employees from being forced to work for low wages and a certain amount of hours without increased pay. These are the wage and hour laws. They outline the minimum wages an employee can earn as well as the maximum amount of hours worked before qualifying employees should get paid overtime.
Alabama, like every other state, has unique wage and hour laws. However, there are federal laws in place that are minimum requirements for all states. For example, the federal minimum wage is $7.25, but most states exceed that amount.
The Fair Labor Standards Act states that non-exempt employees can only work 40 hours per week at their regular wage rates. If they exceed that number, the employer must pay them overtime rates at a minimum of time and a half. Some states also require weekend overtime pay, holiday pay, and overtime for working more than a certain number of hours each day.
Minimum wage laws do not exist in Tuscaloosa, according to the Employment Law Handbook. As such, Tuscaloosa employees are under the federal minimum wage which sits at $7.25 per hour. The state also has no laws regarding tipped employees, which means the federal minimum wage for tipped employees of $2.13 per hour applies as well.
Workers’ Compensation
If you’ve been injured on the job in Tuscaloosa, AL you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes payments for lost wages and past or future medical bills that resulted from your workplace injury.
In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must meet these requirements:
- You must be an employee.
- You must have a work-related illness or injury.
- Your employer must carry workers’ comp insurance.
- You must meet the deadline for filing workers’ comp claims.
There are, however, exceptions to these requirements that may still make you eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, if your employer is denying you benefits, you should contact a qualified Tuscaloosa attorney for assistance with your case.
Termination Rights under Tuscaloosa, Alabama Employment Law
If you live in an at-will state, or your employment is “at-will,” meaning you can be terminated from your job without notice and without cause. However, even at-will employees have rights when it comes to termination. A violation of those rights can be wrongful termination.
Here are some reasons your termination might be wrongful even if you are an at-will employee:
- Written promises or contracts
- Implied promises
- Violations of public policy
- Breaches of good faith and fair dealing
- Workplace retaliation
- Discrimination
- Defamation
- Fraud
- Whistleblowing violations
Alabama has been a right to work state since 1953, according to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Fund. Tuscaloosa employees can not be forced to join a union simply to gain employment.
If you believe your termination was wrongful due to the above circumstances, then contact an experienced Tuscaloosa, AL employment law attorney right away. This is because there are time constraints on how long you can wait to file a claim.
Unemployment Benefits
If you’ve lost your job, you can file for unemployment benefits with the state unemployment agency. The agency will either approve or deny your claim. If it’s approved, you’ll receive monthly unemployment checks and benefits in the mail after filing weekly unemployment claims. Still, unemployment claims can be denied for a number of reasons, including:
- If you were fired for misconduct.
- You voluntarily quit your job.
- You do not have enough earnings during the work period.
If your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision if you think it’s the wrong choice. Work with a qualified Tuscaloosa attorney during the appeal process to improve your chances of winning the case.
Paid and Unpaid Time Off
Some states require paid time off as well as medical and family leave for employees. Oftentimes, this is combined into one singular paid time off, (PTO), amount. Laws can vary state-to-state, but typically PTO is accrued over time and you’ll get a set amount of PTO days per year.
Additionally, some states have laws that force the employer to pay for unused PTO. If you are not given proper PTO or your employer doesn’t follow your state’s medical or family leave laws, you can file a complaint.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act changed requirements for certain employers in Tuscaloosa during the pandemic of 2020. Employers must now provide their employees with paid sick leave. Employers also have to grant up to 2 weeks paid leave for anyone diagnosed with coronavirus, or for anyone taking care of a family member diagnosed with coronavirus.
Child Labor Laws
Child labor laws are a lot more strict than regular labor laws and require employers to be extra careful when scheduling minors. Each state has its own child labor laws that outline the number of hours a minor can work per week. These include how often they should have breaks, how many days in a row they can work, and how late they can work each night.
The Child Labor Laws of Alabama state that minors in Tuscaloosa age 14-17 must obtain a work certificate to hold employment. When school is in session, minors 14-15 can work no more than 3 hours per day, 18 hours per week, and 6 days per week. Minors 16-17 may not work before 5 a.m., or after 10 p.m. on a night that precedes a school day.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama Employment Anti Discrimination Laws
A collection of federal anti-discrimination laws protect workers from employment discrimination. Following are brief descriptions of some of these anti-discrimination acts:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Prohibits employers from selecting job applicants and employees based on race, religion, color, sex, and national origin.
- Age Discrimination Act: Prohibits discrimination based on age for employees over the age of 40 years old.
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition.
- Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities at any time during the application or hiring process or once the person holds the job.
- Equal Pay Act: Requires employers to give men and women equal pay for equal work.
Sexual Harassment
If a coworker, employer, or client sexually harasses someone in the workplace; the employee has a set of rights to protect them from further harassment. Laws also offer protection from retaliation, such as getting fired for reporting a manager. If you or someone you know is being sexually harassed in the workplace, report it to your HR department.
Alabama does not have legislation preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. This is according to Women’s Law. Instead, there are sexual misconduct laws, but to break these laws there must be actual physical contact, or an attempt to physically coerce someone into sexual acts without consent.
Work With an Experienced Employment Lawyer in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
If you have employment law concerns, or you’re currently preparing for a case in Tuscaloosa, AL then working with an experienced attorney can help. The hard part is finding the right one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alabama state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!