Workers’ Rights

Maine Employment Rights Lawyers

Johnson & Webbert is a proven leader in fighting for workers’ fair treatment and enforcing the laws against illegal discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and more in the workplace. 

Our lawyers have won some of Maine’s most important employment rights cases and class action lawsuits, including impressive victories that have improved state and federal protections for the rights of employees. We also frequently represent employees seeking fair employment contracts and severance agreements.

Attorneys on our team frequently teach other lawyers about the many federal, state, and local employment laws, such as the Maine Human Rights Act, Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act. 

We are also highly experienced in prosecuting employment claims in federal and state courts and before agencies such as the Maine Human Rights Commission and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

Need help with fair treatment in the workplace? Schedule an intake with Johnson & Webbert by contacting us at (207) 618-6682. We serve workers statewide from offices in Portland, Topsham, and Thomaston.

Comprehensive Legal Support for Maine Workers

Our firm handles all employment law issues, including but not limited to:

  • Americans with Disabilities Act: A civil rights law enacted in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including job application and employment. It is unlawful for an employer to treat a qualified individual with a disability unfavorably because of their disability.
  • Age Discrimination: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects individuals 40 or older from related employment discrimination.
  • Breastfeeding in the Workplace. Treating a woman unfavorably in the workplace due to her need to express breast milk potentially violates the Fair Labor Standards Act's Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision.
  • Bullying in the Workplace. Persistent mistreatment of an employee based on a protected trait or activity through aggressive behavior could infringe upon laws against harassment and create a hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
  • Fair Labor Standards Act: A federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and federal, state, and local governments.
  • Family Medical Leave: The Family Medical Leave Act is a U.S. labor law that provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for family and medical reasons.
  • Federal Employees: Employees of the federal government face a unique set of procedures in enforcing their employment rights.
  • Layoffs: A temporary or permanent dismissal of employees due to business reasons, such as downsizing or cost-cutting. Unfair treatment of certain employees in layoffs may call for legal intervention. 
  • National Origin Discrimination: This involves treating people unfavorably because they are from a particular country or part of the world, because of ethnicity or accent, or because they appear to be of a specific ethnic background.
  • Plant Closing: The complete shutdown of a plant or factory, often resulting in mass layoffs. Certain companies may be subject to federal law for proper notification of such closings to workers. 
  • Race Discrimination: This involves treating someone unfavorably because they are of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race.
  • Religious Discrimination: Treating a person unfavorably because of their religious beliefs.
  • Sex Discrimination: Unfavorable treatment of someone (an applicant or employee) because of that person's sex.
  • Gender Discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of their gender or because they do not conform to traditional gender stereotypes.
  • LGBTQ+ Rights: These are legal protections and rights given to individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more.
  • Severance Negotiations: Compensation that an employee receives when they are released from employment, typically in exchange for releasing legal rights.
  • Title VII: A federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on sex, race, color, national origin, and religion.
  • Unpaid Wages: This refers to any payment that an employer owes an employee for work performed but has not paid.
  • Wage and Hour Law Disputes: Conflicts over issues such as minimum wage, overtime pay, meal breaks, or other elements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Harassment: Unwanted behavior intended to disturb or upset that is characteristically repetitive or persistent.
  • Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature in the workplace.
  • Hostile Work Environment: A workplace that is marked by significant discrimination and harassment, creating an environment that makes it difficult or uncomfortable for certain people to work.
  • Overtime: Overtime refers to any time worked beyond a standard workweek, which must be compensated at a higher rate.
  • False Claims Act: A law that penalizes those who knowingly submit false claims for government funds and protects whistleblowers who report this fraud.
  • Wrongful Termination: An illegal firing that breaches a contract or violates a state or federal law.
  • Breach of Contract: This occurs when the terms of a contract, including an employment contract, are broken.
  • Employer Retaliation: Punitive measures against employees who exercise their rights under employment laws, such as filing a discrimination complaint or participating in a workplace investigation.
  • Whistleblower Retaliation: Any adverse action taken by an employer against an employee for reporting illegal, unethical, or unsafe practices,
  • Discipline and Demotion Claims: These may arise when you believe you have been unfairly penalized or demoted.
  • Hiring Practices: The methods employers use to recruit, select, and onboard new staff subject to state and federal laws.
  • Independent Contractor Misclassification: When an employer incorrectly categorizes you as an independent contractor to avoid certain legal obligations.
  • Non-Compete Agreements: These contracts restrict you from working with a competitor after leaving a company.
  • Non-Solicitation Agreements: These agreements prevent you from enticing other employees or customers away from a former employer.
  • Union Representation: The right of workers to be represented by a labor union in negotiations with employers. 
  • USERRA and Military Leave Rights: Federal laws that protect military service members' employment and reemployment rights. Issues may arise with employer compliance or awareness.

If you have employment issues related to any of these areas, contact Johnson & Webbert to find out how our experienced attorneys can help. Our team is highly knowledgeable in local, state, and federal employment and labor laws. 

Ready to defend your workplace rights? Reach out to us via our secure online form or by calling (207) 618-6682 today.