Blog Category | Employment law
Understanding Wage and Hour Compliance Risks for Growing Businesses
As a business grows, managing employees and complying with wage and hour laws can become more complicated. Proactive compliance is key for new business owners. Our employment law lawyers in Harrisburg can help you understand your obligations and reduce the risk of costly wage disputes and potential penalties. Common Wage...
Read moreSteps Employers Should Take Before Terminating an Employee
Terminating an employee without proper preparation can increase a business’s legal risk. Inconsistent discipline, poor documentation, or failure to follow workplace policies may lead to employment claims. Our Harrisburg employment law lawyers at Mette Attorneys at Law help employers understand their legal obligations before making difficult employment decisions. Step One:...
Read moreBest Practices for Documenting Employee Performance Issues
Proper documentation of employee performance issues is one of the most effective ways employers can protect their businesses and support fair workplace decisions. If questions arise about a termination or other adverse employment decision, thorough records can become valuable evidence. Our Harrisburg employment law attorneys help employers develop documentation practices...
Read moreHow Multistate Employers Can Stay Compliant With Changing Labor Laws
Operating a business across multiple states creates unique compliance challenges as employment laws continue to evolve. Employers can no longer rely on one standard set of rules for every location because employment laws can be different from state to state and even from city to city. Companies with employees in...
Read moreThe Cost of Misclassifying Employees and Independent Contractors
Classifying workers correctly is an important part of running a business in Pennsylvania. A mistake can expose an employer to costly legal disputes. If your business has questions about worker classification or is facing a legal dispute, our Pennsylvania employment law lawyers at Mette Attorneys at Law can help you...
Read moreManaging Difficult Employee Conversations Without Increasing Liability
Managing workplace issues is never simple, especially when conversations involve discipline or termination. Poorly handled conversations can quickly escalate into allegations of discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination. Employers in Pennsylvania must balance honest communication with legal compliance to avoid having legal claims filed against them. For businesses in Harrisburg, understanding...
Read moreWhat Employers Should Know About Retaliation Claims
Employers in Harrisburg must comply with both federal and Pennsylvania employment laws that prohibit retaliation against employees who engage in protected workplace activities. Retaliation claims are among the most common employment disputes and can lead to costly litigation, reputational harm, and significant financial penalties. Consulting an experienced employment law lawyer...
Read moreWho Qualifies for FMLA?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job protection to certain qualifying employees who need to take time off work to care for a family member or loved one. Although the leave is unpaid, it is designed to allow for a better work-life balance. Leave is permitted for various...
Read moreCan My Employer Fire Me Without Cause?
Pennsylvania is one of 49 states that practice at-will employment, permitting an employer to terminate or demote an employee without cause or for any legal reason. It is important to note that at-will employment does not apply to employees who are part of a union or work in the public...
Read moreAm I An Employee or an Independent Contractor Under the Law?
As of March 2024, approximately 16.75 million people were employed as independent contractors (self-employed) in the United States. The misclassification of workers has become a significant economic issue in Pennsylvania and nationwide, enabling business owners to evade certain financial obligations. Although you may have been hired as an independent contractor,...
Read moreLegal Options if Your Employer Violates Wage and Hour Laws
Not being paid for the hours that you have put in at your job can feel like a punch in the gut. Under Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay a minimum hourly wage and overtime rate for non-exempt employees who work over 40...
Read moreCan an Employer Legally Rescind a Job Offer in Pennsylvania?
If you were recently offered a job only to have the offer rescinded, you may think that it is illegal. You may have relocated across the country for your new position, relinquishing the lease on your apartment or even selling your house, all to embark on a new adventure. Upon...
Read moreCan Your Employer Reduce Pay or Hours without Notice?
You count on your work schedule and your related pay to support yourself and your family, and any decrease in your hours or wages can cause severe financial hardship in addition to considerable anxiety. The reality is that, as an employee in Pennsylvania, you work at will, which means you...
Read moreWho is Entitled to Overtime Pay in Pennsylvania?
Hourly wage earners are generally entitled to overtime pay when their work hours exceed the set limits in the State of Pennsylvania. This is mandated by both state and federal law. Knowing what you’re entitled to in terms of your wages is essential to ensuring that you’re being paid fairly,...
Read moreAre Non-Compete Agreements Enforceable in PA?
Society benefits when people work. As such, agreements that limit a former employee’s right to work aren’t favored in Pennsylvania. They can be enforceable, however, if they’re narrowly drafted by an experienced PA employment lawyer from Mette Attorneys at Law. Call (717) 232-5000 or connect with our Lebanon employment contract...
Read moreDo You Have an Employment Law Claim in Harrisburg?
Employees and contractors in Harrisburg, PA, have strong state and federal legal protections. Federal law prohibits workplace discrimination and provides for fair pay, reasonable work hours, and safe workplace conditions. Whether you have an actionable employment law claim in Harrisburg depends on both the facts of your case and available...
Read moreHow Long Can Workers' Compensation Benefits Last?
If you are injured on the job in Pennsylvania, you are almost certainly covered by workers’ compensation, which will afford you specific benefits. If your underlying injury or illness is serious, however, the matter of how long your benefits will last is of critical concern – consult with our experienced...
Read moreDifferences Between Independent Contractors and Employees
As of 2023, roughly 16.5 million people, about 10.1% of the workforce, are self-employed. Independent contractors enjoy flexibility, allowing them to set their own hours and be their own boss. While people may marvel at the freedom that comes with being self-employed, being an independent contractor comes with some major...
Read moreAre Unpaid Internships Legal?
With roughly 47% of U.S. interns being unpaid each year, the Department of Labor has relaxed its rules on when an unpaid internship is allowed. In general, an unpaid internship is legal when the intern is a student or receiving academic credit. If the employer is getting the most benefit...
Read moreWhat is the FMLA?
If you are the primary caregiver for a loved one, you may be wondering if you are eligible to take time off work. Signed into law in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, FMLA allows workers to take maternity leave to care for a newborn, to take leave to care for...
Read moreWhat Does It Mean to Be an At-Will Employee?
The State of Pennsylvania is what’s known as an at-will state when it comes to employment, and this causes a lot of confusion for a lot of people. Very generally, this means that employers can fire employees at any time and for any reason – or for no reason at...
Read moreSteps to Take If I Believe My Employer Is Not Paying Me for the Hours I Am Working?
If you believe that you have unpaid wages, you may feel defeated. Most importantly, you need to know that you are not alone in this predicament. In fiscal year 2023, $274 million in back wages were collected by the U.S. Department of Labor, with 163,000 workers collecting compensation for their...
Read moreHow Do I Know If I Am Entitled to Overtime?
If you are an employee who is paid by the hour, you are generally eligible for overtime pay anytime you work more than 40 hours in any given week. Because overtime pay comes in at 1.5 times more than your regular pay, it’s important to know when you’re entitled to...
Read moreHow May an Employer Monitor Employees in the Workplace?
A recent study revealed that 80 percent of major companies monitor employees’ internet, phone, and email usage. Although companies want to gauge employee productivity, it does come with certain limitations. The standards for workplace surveillance are set by both federal and state laws, safeguarding employees’ rights. In this article, our...
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