Unfortunately, there are bad bosses who rule by intimidation, and bad companies that do nothing to stop abusive practices. The law does not address every type of mistreatment, nor does it cover every form of employment, but in many cases, a worker does have legal rights in the matter. In my practice, I often represent workers whose rights have been violated by:

• Wage and hour law — Employers in Florida must follow state law on minimum wage and federal law governing overtime pay. Violations of the minimum wage law can be reported to the state government and employees may also bring private lawsuits seeking damages. Overtime pay is enforceable through the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Discrimination — State and federal law make it illegal to base employment decisions on a worker’s status as a member of a protected class. Businesses cannot decide whether to hire, fire or promote a worker based on their sex, race, color, religion, nation of origin, ethnicity, immigration status, pregnancy, age (if the individual is 40 years of age or older), or disability (if the worker is otherwise qualified and needs only a reasonable accommodation).
• Sexual harassment — The law treats sexual harassment as a form of illegal discrimination. There are two types of sexual harassment. The first is quid pro quo, where a superior bases employment decisions on how a subordinate responds to sexual advances. The second is a hostile work environment, where pervasive, unwanted sexual talk and/or conduct makes it impossible for a worker to do his or her job.
• FMLA violations — Under federal law, certain companies must allow unpaid family and medical leave to eligible employees who need time to care for a sick family member or tend to their own health challenges. The company is required to reinstate the worker at the end of the leave period.
• Retaliation — Employers are not permitted to discipline an employee for exercising a protected right. This means the company cannot fire, demote, suspend or alter the working conditions of an employee because that employee files an EEOC or OSHA complaint, complained about sexual harassment, filed a workers’ compensation claim, participated in union activity or acted as a whistleblower.
• Wrongful termination — An employer cannot fire a worker for an illegal reason. Most acts of wrongful termination either violate anti-discrimination laws or are acts of illegal retaliation. You should also be aware that if your employer wages a campaign of harassment against you which forces you to quit, such actions could also qualify as wrongful termination.

When you are suffering through mistreatment at work, you can feel isolated and hopeless. Fortunately, the law entitles you to take action and recover compensation for certain forms of illegal treatment. In many cases, a worker can recover damages for economic losses as well as their pain and suffering. A court can also order a company to rehire a worker who was wrongly terminated. However, enforcing your rights in the workplace is not easy. You need an experienced attorney at your side who is willing to fight tirelessly on your behalf.