Morgantown Employment Lawyers

Everyone has the right to a safe workplace without having to worry about discrimination or harassment. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality. Many people don’t realize that they can take action against employers for unsafe and hostile work environments. A Morgantown employment lawyer can help you take the right steps internally and then take action if your rights are still being violated in the workplace.

Discrimination can threaten an employee’s mental well-being, affecting their job performance and their income. If you are facing these difficult circumstances, you don’t have to go through it alone.

Hansberry & Wagoner, PLLC: Your Morgantown Employment Attorney

If you are dealing with unbearable conditions in the workplace, our firm can help. Whether your rights are being violated by your employer or your employer is not preventing a coworker from violating your rights, you may have grounds to file an employment claim. At Hansberry & Wagoner, PLLC, we have over 30 years of combined legal experience and are proud to serve our neighbors in Morgantown.

We are committed to standing up against unfair treatment in the workplace and work to uphold the laws that protect employees and job applicants from retaliation, harassment, discrimination, and more. Our attorneys are willing to take these cases to litigation when needed, and because we have a background in defense, we are positioned to understand how the defense thinks.

Our attorneys understand how stressful these cases are. When you bring your employment case to us, you work directly with our attorneys on your claim, rather than a support team disconnected from court experience. We listen to your situation and help you understand the options for recovering compensation.

Understanding Employment Law in Morgantown

As an employee, you are protected under state and federal laws. These laws safeguard you from discrimination, harassment, and other types of unfair treatment in the workplace and the hiring process. If your rights are violated, an employment lawyer can help you report the behavior and take the right steps to hold employers responsible.

In fiscal year 2024, West Virginia had 138 charge receipts for discrimination cases. This included 60 for disability discrimination, 41 for sex discrimination, 39 for age discrimination, 29 for race discrimination, and 62 for retaliation under all discrimination statutes.

What Employment Law Services Does Our Firm Offer?

At Hansberry & Wagoner, PLLC, we can help with many different types of employment cases, such as:

• Discrimination claims. This includes discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin, and other protected characteristics. Federal and state laws both offer certain protections for employees and for job applicants. For example, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers cannot refuse to hire a qualified employee to avoid providing reasonable accommodations.  The West Virginia Human Rights Act provides similar protections from discrimination based on race, gender, disability, or ethnicity. 

• Harassment cases. This includes both sexual harassment and a hostile work environment based on protected characteristics. Sexual harassment can range from comments and actions creating an unsafe environment to an employer or manager offering benefits for sexual favors.

• Retaliation. You have the right to take certain protected actions, like reporting illegal activities or taking protected leave. If an employer harasses you, cuts your pay or benefits, or gives you unfavorable job duties in retaliation, you can file a claim against them.

• Workplace safety concerns. In 2024, there were 95 severe injury reports made to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in West Virginia workplaces. Four of these were in Morgantown.
  
  If injuries are caused by poor safety standards and violations of OSHA requirements, or Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) violations, employers may be held accountable. If you reported safety concerns and faced retaliation, you may be able to hold your employer accountable for this.

• Wrongful termination. If you were fired from your job and you think it was retaliatory or discriminatory, you may have a case for wrongful termination.

Our firm can also help with many other employment cases, such as:

• Wage and hour disputes
• Whistleblower protections
• Employment contract breaches and disputes
• Protected Family and Medical Leave Act disputes
• Labor law and collective bargaining matters
• Review of employment policies and compliance
• Employment dispute mediation and negotiation
• Review and negotiation of severance agreements
• Review and negotiation of employment contracts

FAQs

Q: Is an Employment Lawyer Worth It?

A: An employment lawyer may be worth it if you are involved in disputes with your employer about issues like discrimination in the workplace, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, or other violations of your rights. When internal solutions to these issues fail, a lawyer can help you take the next steps to uphold your rights and may be able to help you recover compensation when these issues impact your income or well-being.

Q: How Expensive Is It to File a Claim Against Your Employer?

A: It can be costly to file a claim against your employer. It’s important to consider costs like attorney fees and court costs. Attorney fees may be an hourly rate or a contingency fee. While these costs can feel significant, an attorney is your greatest chance at having a successful claim. Some cases could also award attorney fees as compensation. Court costs increase when a case is more complicated, and an attorney can help you assess these potential fees.

Q: What Are the Odds of Winning an Employment Case?

A: The odds of winning an employment case depend on the specifics of your claim. When you hire an employment lawyer, they can assess your case and give you a better understanding of the likelihood of success. Your case is more likely to succeed with the help of an attorney who is well-versed in employment laws, as they can help gather evidence and have knowledge of legal strategies most people aren’t aware of.

Q: What Constitutes a Hostile Work Environment in West Virginia?

A: A hostile work environment in West Virginia occurs when there are several minor acts or a major act of harassment based on an individual’s protected characteristics, like race, sex, or gender identity. The definition of a hostile work environment is outlined in federal law, and West Virginia state law also provides protections for employees.

Hire an Employment Lawyer in Morgantown Today

If your employee rights are being violated in Morgantown, contact Hansberry & Wagoner, PLLC today and learn how we can provide legal guidance.