The employment attorneys at Sweet and Associates advocate on behalf of a broad spectrum of employees: those working part-time or for a minimum wage to professional employees with executive packages. We believe that all workers deserve fairness and dignity at work, whether in a factory, office, or a healthcare setting.
The attorneys at Sweet and Associates provide representation and counsel to our clients during pre-employment negotiation, pre-litigation investigation, and through litigation. We partner with our clients to provide world-class, cost-efficient representation in the following matters:
Employment Discrimination
Wisconsin and Federal law prohibit employers from discriminating against employees because of the employee’s race, gender, disability, age, religious affiliation or beliefs, pregnancy or nationality. Wisconsin prohibits most discrimination based on an employee’s arrest and conviction records. New developments in Federal law protect working mothers who nurse their infants during the first year after child birth. Wisconsin law also provides protection for individuals who are, or are perceived as being, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. In short, employers cannot give unfavorable treatment to employees because of an unlawful reason. Employees in Wisconsin have 300 days to file a claim with either the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
An attorney at Sweet and Associates can assist you in determining whether you may have an employment discrimination claim.
Family & Medical Leaves
Wisconsin and Federal law allow for employees to take an unpaid or, depending on the circumstances, paid leave to care for themselves or a close family member due to a serious medical condition, the birth or adoption of a child, or military service. There are some differences between the state and federal leave laws, but an employee asserting a right to a leave under either law does not have to take all 12 weeks at once. The employee may be able to take the leave intermittently throughout the year. Please note that the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act requires employees to submit their claim within 30 days of a violation.
An attorney at Sweet and Associates can provide representation to protect your rights under the various family and medical leave laws.
Employment Contracts
From large-scale collective bargaining agreements with international employers to individual employment contracts for professional employees, the attorneys at Sweet and Associates have experience negotiating a variety of employment contracts and agreements. Many employment contracts contain non-compete or non-solicitation provisions; our attorneys are diligent in guarding against unfair restrictions on our clients’ future employment. If you are in need of an experienced attorney to review, draft, or negotiate your pre-employment contract, contact an attorney at Sweet and Associates.
Wages, Overtime, and Hours of Work
No matter how employees are paid, all employees are entitled to a minimum wage and are owed compensation for all hours worked. The attorneys at Sweet and Associates zealously protect fundamental rights of workers to compensation. We have successfully represented individuals and groups of workers in their pursuit to receive the compensation owed to them. In addition, Wisconsin affords some employees unique workplace rights, such as one day rest in each calendar week and strict procedure employers must follow before employers deduct pay for faulty workmanship.
An attorney at Sweet and Associates can assist you in determining whether you may have a compensation claim under state or federal wage and hour laws.
Protected Concerted Activity
Most employees have the right under federal and state law to participate in what is called “protected concerted activity.” This right allows employees to act together to improve workplace conditions. For example, it is illegal to discriminate against an employee for signing a workplace petition to improve safety practices or for requesting increased wages for a group of employees.
An attorney at Sweet and Associates can assist you in determining whether you may have a protected concerted activity claim.
Personnel Files
Wisconsin law allows past and current employees to request their personnel file at least two times each calendar year. Employers must allow employees to view and copy their file, but may charge a reasonable copying fee. If the employer refuses to provide a past or current employee with the file, the employee may file a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Requesting, receiving, and reviewing one’s personnel file is frequently the first step in the pre-litigation stage of an employment discrimination or wage and hour matter.