Tampa Federal Employment Lawyer

Florida is an at-will employment state, which can make it challenging to pursue workplace harassment or discrimination claims. Under at-will employment, either the employer or the employee can end the relationship at any time for any legal reason. Proving that a reason was illegal is often tricky because employers will create pretexts to shield wrongdoing. It can be an uphill battle for employees.

However, in an at-will state, federal employees get the benefit of additional protections that other employees do not have. While it may feel more challenging to seek compensation or redress from a federal employer, the process may leave you with more remedies than you would otherwise have. However, you do not want to tackle this alone. Depending on the agency, a federal employment claim can be difficult and even dangerous. A Tampa federal employment lawyer can help you ensure you are safe and in a position to pursue your employment claim.

Reasons to Hire a Federal Employment Lawyer

When people think of hiring a lawyer, they usually think of managing an existing conflict. However, working relationships with the federal government can be complex. A lawyer can help navigate those relationships at various stages, helping reduce or eliminate the potential for conflict, maximizing job opportunities, and reducing opportunities for stress and disagreement when leaving a job.

Some scenarios where a Tampa employee might need the help of a federal employment lawyer include:

• Security clearances
• Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) actions
• Employment discrimination/EEOC claims
• Whistleblower allegations
• Disciplinary proceedings

While some of these situations are adversarial, others may not be. For example, an employee who needs a security clearance is not in an adversarial position with the employer. However, protecting the employee’s rights may require a nuanced position, allowing the employer access to the information they need for the clearance but no additional information. Likewise, federal employees who are whistleblowers may not always be in an adversarial position with higher-ups in their organization but can face substantial adversity or even danger in local branches or vice-versa.

Employment Discrimination

Discrimination is one of the most common workplace complaints, even in federal workplaces. The law prohibits discriminating against people in protected categories. They may receive different levels of protection and scrutiny. Generally, those categories include race, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, and national origin.

If an employee feels like the employer used a protected status as part of its decisions in hiring, firing, promoting, workplace assignments, or similar decisions, then they may have a discrimination claim. While discrimination has been illegal for many years, it is still one of the most common reasons people file wrongful termination suits against their employers. It is also a common reason for constructive termination cases, particularly when harassment has been sufficiently substantial that it creates a hostile work environment.

Retaliation suits often go hand-in-hand with wrongful termination suits. In a retaliation claim, the employee alleges that the employer engaged in some harmful conduct after the employee reported wrongdoing. These cases can involve retaliatory discharge but could also involve demotions, transfers to less desirable areas, and other adverse work conditions.

Retaliation suits are also common for whistleblowers. Federal law protects whistleblowers from workplace retaliation. However, in some situations, these brave people face more than a risk of adverse work decisions when they come forward. They may face threats of violence or even death. This is particularly true when the allegations they have implicate people in behavior that could lead to huge fines or criminal sentences. A Tampa lawyer who handles federal employment cases can help protect whistleblowers who come forward with their allegations.

Talk to a Tampa Federal Employment Attorney

Any type of employee/employer dispute can be daunting. When the employer is the federal government, an employee may feel like they are up against an unbeatable opponent. While it may feel that way, it can actually be easier to win claims against the federal government than it can against smaller employees.

The best way to find out if you have a good case is to schedule a consultation with a Tampa federal employment lawyer. Mitchell Feldman can investigate the facts of your claim, explain your potential remedies, and advise you on how to proceed. Contact us to find out more.