LOUISIANA EMPLOYMENT LAW
The employer-employee relationship is governed by Louisiana Employment Law (also known as Labor Law). There are certain matters covered by Louisiana Employment Law including sexual harassment, wages and hours, wrongful termination, discrimination at the workplace, hiring and termination practices, health and safety, and disability law, to name a few. The Louisiana Workforce Commission handles employment complaints and cases.
A Louisiana employment attorney must handle certain complicated employment issues to ensure success, such as wrongful termination, harassment, and discrimination. But, seeking counsel from a Louisiana employment lawyer is strongly advised if you have general concerns or questions.
Why Hire A Louisiana Employment Attorney?
State and federal law work together to form the backbone of Louisiana wrongful termination and employment law and the connection must be argued and investigated for a successful outcome in your employment case. If you need someone to fight for you in your wrongful termination case, assist you in filing a claim for unpaid wages with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and/or structure your discrimination claim against your boss, you should not hesitate to contact a Louisiana employment attorney. Such an employment lawyer can also help you decide if you have a claim worth pursuing.
Further, it can be challenging for a worker to file a wrongful termination claim against his former employer, and a Louisiana wrongful termination lawyer can deal with the former employer so the worker does not have to do so. Talking about your employment situation and your rights and benefits with a Louisiana employment attorney can provide you with the guidance you need to succeed in your case.
Wrongful Termination In Louisiana
In Louisiana, employment is “at will.” In “at will” employment states, an employer can fire his employee for any reason or no reason, whenever he chooses, so long as his reason for terminating the employee is not discriminatory or illegal. However, if a worker has an employment contract he can only be fired for reasons specified in the contract. Similarly, a worker can leave his job at any time.
In Louisiana, “wrongful termination” claims can be filed if an employer fires a worker for discriminatory of illegal reasons, such as:
It is wrongful termination in Louisiana for an employer to terminate a worker for a discriminatory reason. Talk to a Louisiana wrongful termination lawyer if you have questions about whether or not you have a valid claim for wrongful termination. Louisiana law and federal law prohibit the firing of a worker based on discriminatory factors such as disability or age (over 40) if the worker is otherwise sufficiently experienced and qualified for the job.
If viewed as a disability by your boss, pregnancy cannot be your boss’ reason for termination. It is also wrongful termination to terminate a worker because of his race, sex, national origin or religion if he is otherwise qualified for the position. Get in touch with a Louisiana wrongful termination lawyer if you think you have a claim for wrongful termination.
Employee Wage/Hour Concerns in Louisiana
Louisiana does not have its own minimum wage law and instead follows the federal minimum wage law. As such, the current minimum wage in the state of Louisiana is $7.25 an hour. In Louisiana, employees can be paid either biweekly or semimonthly. If your boss does not pay you on time or at all, you should contact a Louisiana employment attorney about filing a Claim for Unpaid Wages.
Overtime work in Louisiana is all hours worked over 40 a week. You get time-and-a half pay for all overtime hours you work. Overtime pay is mandated by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and is enforced by the United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Consult a Louisiana employment lawyer about your claim for overtime pay and file your claim for unpaid overtime with the Louisiana Department of Labor.
Questions about filing a claim for unpaid wages or overtime should be directed to a Louisiana employment attorney.
Louisiana Employment Benefits
If an employee is injured at work, in a work-related accident, or suffers from an occupational illness, the employee is entitled to compensation, the amount of which is dependent on the categorization of the disability under Louisiana disability law. But, remember that Louisiana disability law does not cover injuries suffered by workers that are not related to work. If you were injured on the job, be sure to contact a Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer about your claim for compensation.
Medical benefits, life insurance, paid vacation days, sick leave, and meal breaks are not required for employers to offer under Louisiana law. Louisiana also does not mandate short-term disability under Louisiana disability law. However, Louisiana law does allow mothers to take maternity leave of up to 4 months. Additionally, federal law in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) mandates up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.
Louisiana Employment and Labor Law Statutes
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