Employees in Williamsport and throughout Pennsylvania are afforded important protections by both state and federal laws. These include laws that address discrimination, ensure minimum wage and overtime, and govern leave. If you are facing a work-related concern, it can affect your ability to earn a living. Consulting an experienced employment law attorney can help you understand your rights and act when workplace protections are violated.

Laws against Discrimination and Harassment

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars employers from making job-related decisions based on any of the following factors:

• Race
• Skin color
• National origin
• Sex, including pregnancy
• Sexual orientation
• Status as a transgender person

Some laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on age, disability, or genetic information for employees aged 40 or older.

Prohibited at Every Stage of Employment

Anti-discrimination laws bar employers from engaging in discriminatory practices at every level of the employment process. This includes hiring and firing practices, pay and benefits, promotions, leave, and layoffs.

Harassment

On-the-job harassment based on any protected trait is similarly prohibited. Harassment can take the form of unwanted actions or comments, or any other conduct that creates a hostile work environment that the complaining employee must endure in the course of their job. Sexual harassment is the most frequently reported type of workplace misconduct.

Wage and Hour Laws

There are primary laws that set minimum wage, overtime pay, and other key wage protections. Employers must pay the highest applicable minimum wage, as set by local, state, or federal law.

Employees paid hourly are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for any hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Only those employees who qualify under the legal definition of salaried are exempt from overtime pay requirements.

The Right to Time Off

Most employers offer employees paid time off (PTO) in some form. While there are no federal or Pennsylvania laws governing this practice, employers are obligated to uphold their contractual obligations. This includes the right to PTO if it is in the employment contract.

There are also instances when employers must allow employees to take unpaid leave. Prime examples include:

• Family and medical leave, which affords up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off per year for key medical reasons, including having or adopting a child, experiencing a serious illness, or caring for a family member
• Jury duty
• Military leave

An Experienced Williamsport Employment Law Attorney Can Help

Your rights as an employee are essential, and an experienced Williamsport employment law lawyer at Mette Law will spare no effort in their fierce advocacy for your case’s best possible resolution. We are here to help. Contact us online or call 717-232-5000 for more information today.