There are a variety of reasons why one may need an employment attorney. Common reasons include wrongful termination, issues over employment contracts, discrimination, retaliation, workers’ compensation, and sexual harassment. An experienced employment attorney can help to protect one’s rights in employment.

Why Choose Her Lawyer?

Her Lawyer connects individuals in need of legal help with qualified attorneys based on their location, legal matter, and preferences. Her Lawyer can connect you with an experienced employment attorney in Wisconsin, including these cities:

• Milwaukee
• Madison
• Green Bay
• Kenosha
• Racine

What is At-Will Employment?

Wisconsin, like many states, practices at-will employment. According to Cornell Legal Information Institute, at-will employment is defined as “an employment agreement stating that employment is for an indefinite period of time and may be terminated either by employer or employee.” This essentially means that an employee works at the will of the employer. The employer retains the right to terminate employment for almost any reason or no reason at all. However, there are some restrictions, such as anti-discrimination laws.

What is Considered Discrimination?

According to the Wisconsin Fair Employment Law, employers are legally not allowed to discriminate against employees or potential employees due to a variety of factors. These factors include:

• Age
• Arrest and/or Conviction Record
• Ancestry, Color, National Origin, or Race
• Creed
• Disability
• Genetic Testing
• Honesty Testing
• Marital Status
• Military Service
• Pregnancy or Childbirth
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation
• Use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer’s premises during non-working hours (ex. alcohol)

Essentially, one’s employer is prohibited from discriminating against an employee for any of these characteristics. This includes wrongful termination due to any of the above statuses.

What Does Retaliation Mean?

Retaliation generally refers to action taken against an individual in response to their actions. In terms of employment law, “retaliation is the punishment of an employee by an employer for engaging in legally protected activity, such as making a complaint of harassment to a governmental body, or participating in workplace investigations.” Wrongful termination can be an example of retaliation, among others.
What is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation laws provide monetary support to workers who are injured or disabled while working. These laws often provide fixed monetary amounts of support based on the severity of the injury.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment in the workplace is generally defined as “deliberate or repeated unsolicited verbal comments, gestures, or physical contact of a sexual nature which are unwelcome.” Sexual harassment is a form of employee misconduct and is a prohibited personnel practice when it results in discrimination. There are many different types of behaviors that may constitute sexual harassment. If one is wondering whether or not a behavior they have experienced qualifies as sexual harassment, one should consult with an experienced attorney.

How is Sexual Harassment Defined in Wisconsin?

According to Wisconsin state law, sexual harassment is defined as “unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, unwelcome physical contact of a sexual nature or unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.” Note that sexual harassment includes remarks made by one individual to another of the same or opposite gender.
Examples of sexual harassment include:

• Gestures or comments of a sexual nature
• Display of offensive sexually graphic materials
• Verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature

These behaviors constitute sexual harassment when they “interfere substantially with an employee’s work performance or to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.”

How Can a Wisconsin Employment Attorney Help Me?

If you have experienced discrimination in your employment, retaliation, or wrongful termination, an experienced employment attorney can help support your rights to be protected from discrimination. An experienced attorney may be able to help you recover damages to protect your financial security.

Free Consultation With a Wisconsin Employment Attorney

If you’re having legal troubles with your employment and need a lawyer, get your free consultation with one of our Wisconsin employment attorneys today! We’re here to help you 24/7.