Employment Law Attorneys in Jackson

Employment law is a section of laws established to protect workers in order for individuals to retain the ability to earn a fair wage free from discrimination or intimidation. The first employment laws were recorded in the early 1900’s to outlaw child labor and establish the standard work week and minimum wage.

Employment law has evolved over the last century to include protections against unsafe work environments, protections for workers against discrimination, collective bargaining protections and family and medical leave standards.

As the laws have adapted to match changes in society and work standards, we constantly improve upon our own knowledge base to stay up to date on each and every adaptation of the law. We study current suits and outcomes to improve our expertise, recognizing that employment law is an ever-changing entity for both employers and employees. It is this dedication that serves our clients well, ensuring the skill and legal expertise needed to win the best possible outcome for each client in each case.

Our Employment Lawyers in Jackson Represent Both Employers and Employees

Employers face an ever-growing list of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations concerning employment activities. In addition to providing representation to employers in litigated matters, we provide consultations to assist our client’s in avoiding costly employment-related litigation. Our attorneys serve in the dual role of lawyers and trusted business advisors, to both union and non-union employers in virtually every industry.  In addition to solving immediate client questions and concerns, we provide preventative, practical, and creative approaches to reduce employment related risks and to improve our clients’ relationships with employees and, where applicable, unions.  We design and implement strategies and solutions that are consistent with our clients’ unique business needs and goals.  Our clients count on us to provide thoughtful strategies that are consistent with their philosophical and financial objectives. We work closely with human resources personnel to review employment policies and evaluate the need for revisions to existing policies.  We will help you negotiate the employment law labyrinth, including the following areas:

• Discrimination, retaliation, and harassment
• Wage and hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act
• Family and medical leave
• Disability related issues
• Employment restrictive covenants, including non-compete, non-solicitation, non-disclosure, and no-hire agreements
• Employee benefit issues
• Charges of discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and State agencies
• Employment contracts, employee handbooks, manuals, application forms and employment policies and procedures

As a result of our extensive experience in the labor and employment field, we strive to place our clients’ issues directly before the appropriate decision makers. In representing clients in employment and labor matters, issues may arise that require the skills of lawyers practicing in a variety of disciplines. Because of the broad scope of services offered at Brown Bass & Jeter, our employment attorneys, when necessary, consult with lawyers on matters involving employee benefits, bankruptcy, business law, real estate, complex trial work and healthcare.

Representation of Employees
Employees who have lost their jobs, or who are subjected to unlawful acts of discrimination, retaliation or harassment in the course of employment need immediate legal assistance in order to protect their rights.  Losing a job or having to tolerate illegal working conditions is highly stressful.  We will work with employees who are experiencing these problems to stop unlawful workplace conduct before it causes additional economic or emotional harm.  For those who have already lost a job, we will pursue all remedies to compensate the employee for the losses they have sustained. 

Our experienced attorneys are ready to advocate on your behalf if you believe you have been terminated or treated wrongly in the following situations:

• Discrimination: If you have experienced unlawful bias in pay or wrongful termination, we will stand up for your rights.
• Retaliation: If you have been retaliated against for complaining about sexual harassment or discrimination or reporting fraud or illegal activity, you have been treated unlawfully and you may be able to sue. 
• Whistleblower: Those who report or refuse to go along with illegal activity such as waste, abuse or fraud may qualify for whistleblower protection.
• Sex discrimination: If you have been wrongfully terminated or suffered a downgrade in working hours or pay because of your sex, you may be entitled to compensation.
• Disability discrimination: Companies can be found liable when they discriminate because of disability. Also, companies must provide reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. If disability discrimination occurs, you may have a lawsuit.
• Racial discrimination: If you are experiencing racial harassment or discrimination in the workplace, our firm will protect your rights.
• Pregnancy discrimination: Federal laws protect mothers. If you have returned to work after maternity leave to find that your job has been filled or is not needed, you may be able to file a claim.
• Sexual harassment: If you have been subjected to sexual harassment or retaliated against for complaining about sexual harassment, our firm will fight for your rights.
• Hostile work environment: You do not have to suffer through working in an environment made hostile on account of your race, disability, age, or religion or because of complaining about discrimination or other unlawful conduct. Talk to an attorney from our firm about ways to correct the situation and laws that protect your rights as an employee.
• Unpaid overtime: Laws require companies to pay overtime to hourly employees. If you have been treated unfairly or have not been paid for your overtime hours, we can help.
• Off-the-clock pay: Whether you are at work or off site, if you perform work for your employer, you must be paid for it. We can help you get compensation for off-the-clock pay.
• Meal and rest breaks: There are no laws requiring you to work during a meal or rest break, so you may be entitled to pay if you have been forced to work or your employer refuses to pay you for work performed during breaks.

We Offer Employee Relations Consulting

We provide proactive, full-service counseling, compliance, and risk prevention strategies to maximize business autonomy. The attorneys of Brown Bass & Jeter advise clients on compliance with employment-related statutes and regulations on the federal, state and local levels. We take a preventative approach in counseling clients, reflecting our client’s goal to minimize conflicts in the workplace that may lead to costly litigation. Our advice is practical and defensible, not merely theoretical.

Our attorneys develop and conduct training programs for both supervisory and nonsupervisory employees. The training programs and workshops are designed to meet a client’s specific needs in a wide variety of workplace issues, such as:

• attorney-client privilege
• diversity and inclusion
• equal employment opportunity compliance
• FMLA compliance
• harassment: prevention and remediation and workplace violence
• impaired professionals/employees
• implicit bias
• interviewing and hiring
• investigating employee misconduct
• legal ethics
• pay equity
• performance evaluations
• performance management
• reasonable accommodations
• social media
• substance abuse in the workplace
• wage and hour compliance
• what employees expect of managers

Our attorneys also conduct and counsel employers on workplace investigations, including allegations of employee misconduct. We are frequently called upon to assist with investigations into:

• sexual, racial, disability, ethnic and religious harassment
• possession, use and/or sale of controlled substances
• compliance with corporate ethics policies
• workplace violence
• employment discrimination allegations
• employee theft

Our attorneys also provide specialized employment-related services to address the business needs of our clients.  Please contact the attorneys of Brown Bass & Jeter, PLLC, to discuss your employment law and consulting needs.

Our Attorneys Are Experienced Litigators

When disputes cannot be avoided, our experienced labor and employment litigators represent clients at trial and appeal in state and federal courts. We also handle arbitrations and administrative hearings before state and federal anti-discrimination agencies, labor relations boards and unemployment compensation tribunals. Our attorneys staff cases in an efficient manner and approach cases aggressively, with the goal of achieving positive results and favorable settlements early in the litigation process.

Gender-Based Employment Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Even though women make up a larger percentage of the workforce than ever before, they are still victims of illegal discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination can take many forms, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and failure to receive promotions or pay raises based on the worker’s sex.

In almost all discrimination claims, employers will not admit to discriminating against an employee on the basis of sex. Employers will typically have some kind of excuse at the ready to justify firing, demoting, or taking some kind of adverse action against an employee. Our job as your lawyer is to demonstrate the weakness of the employer’s claims. We will unearth all available evidence of discrimination to help you get the money damages you are entitled to under the law. Damages for employment discrimination can include reinstatement, back pay, front pay and emotional distress. You may be entitled to punitive damages as well. Our aggressive, determined approach has led to successful results in both settlement negotiations and litigation.

Sexual harassment refers to any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or offensive work environment. If you are confronted with conduct that you think might be sexual harassment, it is always a good idea to speak with an employment lawyer as soon as possible.

Facing Retaliation in The Workplace?

We see it time and time again. An employee complains to his or her employer about some kind of illegal action. Maybe an employee brings a complaint about discrimination in the workplace. Perhaps an employee is suffering from sexual harassment. Unfortunately, instead of investigating the complaint and doing something about it, the employer turns on the employee who makes the complaint, perhaps even firing the employee. Retaliating against an employee for reporting illegal conduct to his or her employer is illegal.

We often bring retaliation claims along with discrimination, sexual harassment, and other claims against an employer. To win a retaliation claim, you must prove that you suffered some kind of adverse action as a result of the complaint, whether it was termination, demotion, or another action.

The Value of a Good Lawyer

Employment law is extremely confusing and broad. When something bad happens at work, most people know they need help. But what exactly does a lawyer bring to the table? What does an attorney do for you?

• The attorney brings clarity and direction.
• Hiring an employment lawyer also ensures your case is taken seriously by the employer.
• The fear of legal costs and a verdict increases settlement value. The only way to obtain a satisfactory settlement is to exert legal pressure on the company.
• Lawyers like those of Brown Bass & Jeter know employment laws inside and out.

Speak with an Employment Law Attorney in Jackson Today

Our employment attorneys will always prepare for trial from the very beginning of your employment law case. For that reason, employers take our clients and our lawyers very seriously.  For all your employment law needs, contact the experienced and trusted lawyers of Brown Bass & Jeter, PLLC by calling 601-487-8448.  We consider it an honor to serve our clients with the best legal representation on all labor and employment law matters.