Thursday, May 30, 2013

Picking the Best Lawyers Made Easy

Have you been a victim of workplace discrimination,wage and hour disputes, as well as other more cases in the workplace? You are probably itching to file the necessary complaint and get justice for all of the wrong that has been done to you. But to be able to win the complaint you are filing, you have to be able to come up with a strong, solid case and a good team to back you up. Being assisted by nothing but the best lawyer would be very helpful to ensure your case’s victory. So here are tips on how you can find and hire top Los Angeles employment lawyers that you can find. 
 
 
-          Get quality referrals. Talk to your family and relatives. They probably have been in contact with a good lawyer. Or perhaps, they have friends and other relatives that have been through legal battles before. You can also get referrals from your local State Bar Association. These would help you get the best lawyers possible to help ensure your win in the case you are filing.

-         Screen possible candidates. After you have asked for referrals, come up with a shortlist of the best possible lawyers to hire. Interview the candidates to help you find the best lawyers you can find. A shorter “shortlist” can help you come up with the best candidates for the job.

-          Interview the top candidates after a series of screening. You may need to personally meet with the lawyer-candidates and ask them questions personally. Ask about their law experience, their specialty. Ask for names of previous clients and get additional information. Ask them if they have been involved in employment law activities like legal seminars and professional organizations. These could help you come up with finest lawyers ready for the final selection process.

-          Know the costs. The one final thing that could affect your decision is the cost of their service. Are they too expensive for your budget? Find the best compromise between a good and an affordable lawyer.

Getting representation in the courts is critical to ensure that you get the best services possible. Your choice could spell the difference between winning and losing your complaint. So pick the best possible lawyer you can find to get justice for all the wrongdoings done against you in the workplace.

Friday, May 17, 2013

New Reason for Whistleblowers to Surface

Everyone grew up with various institutions inculcating the right values. It is one’s nature to believe in what’s right and stand up for it. However, as one grows up and deals with the real world, he or she faces deception, corruption, abuse, and all bad things that one can think of. With all of the negativity around, some people are lured and swayed into being one of the bad guys. Meanwhile, others choose to just keep quiet and leave in peace. Everybody’s innate goodness dictates what’s wrong and some people do go and stand up for what is right.




Fighting for what’s right

These days, doing what’s right can be very difficult. You’d face all of the possible discouragements that will make you think twice about doing what you have to do. In the workplace for example, your employer might retaliate against you, terminating you with no valid reason, making life harder for you and your family. That should not discourage you from doing what’s right for the government has put in place a law that will protect you from retaliation. Ever since its implementation in 1989, the Whistleblower Act has been able to provide the protection to employees that have reported and disclosed information of fraud, abuse, waste, or violations of laws, rules, or regulations. Many workers have benefited from the protection that this law provides.

Whistleblower’s act: Reloaded

However, federal workers are still falling victims to violation of whistle blowing laws. That is why the Senate came up with the Whistleblower Protection and Enhancement Act of 2012 that aims to cover the loopholes of the law, especially for federal employees. Here are some of the vital provisions of this new whistleblower protection law:

•    Clearer, wider scope of protection. The statutes of who’s eligible for protection has been changed to cover more and more people who come forward to report wrongdoings in the workplace
•    Discourages retaliation against federal workers. Through expanded penalties for any act of retaliation, it is more difficult to retaliate against others.
•    Removal of provisions that are “unfriendly” to whistleblowers. By removing some statutes that make it difficult for whistle blowers to seek justice, more and more people will be encourage to stand up and fight for their rights.

Going against people in authority is a difficult thing to do. However, these new protection offered by the recently amended Whistleblower’s act should give you the courage to stand up for what is right to finally right what is wrong in your workplace.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Two Seniors Get Almost a $100k As Company Rejects Their Referral

Age is just a number; that is what an old adage says. But in reality people are critical to age, including companies. Did you know that most employers would rather have younger, “cheaper” employees than experienced and more senior employees? If you think about it, the wiser decision would be retaining the best and most experienced workers. However, most businesses think otherwise. Why is it so?

More than a senior employee’s increasing paycheck, they also need various accommodations on the job. For example, older employees get sickly in time that requires them to take frequent leaves from work. Some senior workers also have a harder time adapting to varying trends at work. These factors can put them at a disadvantage compared to younger employees. Despite their great experience and know-how about the biz, controlling costs and maximizing assets can make them less competitive in the workplace.


Age Discrimination is Against the Law

Recently, two electricians in their 60’s and 70’s were denied jobs when they applied for a work in an electronic utility company. The two senior men were rejected by the company just because of their age. Instead, the company hired two men in their twenties. The men’s applications were denied even though they were referred to the company for their qualifications. This is a clear violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA).

The two old men then did the right thing. They turned to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and filed Age discrimination raps against the company that turned down their application. Soon enough, they got a settlement in their favor where they got monetary compensation. This case is a clear indication that people can stand up and fight for their rights.

The federal and state governments have various employment laws and are doing everything it can to implement such laws properly. But for these laws to work, the government needs the active participation of the citizens. By standing up against people who discriminate, abuse, and harass people, you can get the justice you deserve and hold people who commit such infractions accountable for their wrongdoings. By doing so, you don’t only fight for your rights, you also save others from being victims of abuse in the workplace.