Recent Answers to Employee Rights Law Questions

Charles D.

Answered Sep 12, 2025

Without seeing the contract, the short answer would be, yes, you are obligated regardless of how you are terminated. The first question your attorney would look to answer is if the non-compete is valid to begin with. IN some situations, a non-compete without any geographical limitation might be over broad and therefore non-enforceable.

Sarah T.

Answered Sep 6, 2025

Hello! Thank you for submitting your question. Unfortunately, unless there’s a contract that controls the terms of the employment, an employer can generally change the terms of employment and benefits. In an at-will work environment, changes can typically be made to an employee handbook without notice to or approval from an employee. If there is an employment contract, typically, those terms cannot be changed without agreement from both parties.

Randy M.

Answered Sep 5, 2025

You’ve been through a lot, and based on what you’ve described (racial slurs, unfair treatment, and getting passed over for a promotion) you may have a strong case under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Filing with the EEOC isn’t overly complicated. While deadlines and documentation matter, the process is designed so that people can handle it without a lawyer. That said, having some guidance definitely helps. Don’t Wait Too Long to File Let’s start with timing. You’ve got 180 calendar days from the most recent discriminatory act to file your charge. That window extends to 300 days if your state has a fair employment practices agency that works alongside the EEOC. Most states do. What’s important is that the clock starts when the discrimination happens, not when you decide to take action. If the promotion denial just happened and the derogatory comments are still ongoing, you’re probably still within the window. Just don’t wait too long. Start Documenting Right Now Before you file anything, get your records in order. Write down every incident — where it happened, what was said, and who was present. Be specific. Save any emails, performance reviews, job applications, or anything else that supports your claims. If coworkers of other races were treated more favorably under similar circumstances, document that, too. It can really strengthen your case. And if you reported the discrimination internally, keep copies of what you sent and any responses you received. How to File with the EEOC You have a few options for starting the process. The easiest is using the online portal at publicportal.eeoc.gov. You can also visit a local EEOC office, call 1-800-669-4000, or send a written statement by mail. After that initial contact, someone from the EEOC will follow up to ask questions and confirm that your case falls under their authority. The Charge Is the Heart of Your Case Once you’ve made contact, the EEOC will help you draft a formal charge of discrimination. This is the key document in your case, so make sure it’s accurate and thorough. It needs to describe what happened, when it happened, and why you believe it was based on race. It must also include your employer’s name and address. After it’s submitted, the EEOC will notify your employer within 10 days. What to Expect After You File Sometimes the EEOC offers mediation early in the process. It’s voluntary and involves a neutral third party who works with both sides to try and resolve the dispute quickly. If mediation isn’t offered or doesn’t succeed, the EEOC will open a formal investigation. They’ll review documents, interview witnesses, and may even visit your workplace. These investigations can take several months or longer depending on the case and the EEOC’s workload. What Comes Next After the investigation, the EEOC will issue one of two findings. If they believe there’s enough evidence to support your claim, they’ll issue a “reasonable cause” finding and try to negotiate a resolution with your employer through a process called conciliation. In a small number of cases, the EEOC may file a lawsuit on your behalf. If they don’t find enough evidence, they’ll close the case and give you a Notice of Right to Sue. This gives you 90 days to file a lawsuit in federal court. You can also request this notice early if you want to skip the investigation and head straight to court, but you should talk to a lawyer before doing that. Watch for Retaliation It’s illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for filing a charge or participating in an investigation. If your working conditions suddenly change (worse assignments, negative reviews, or changes in how you’re treated) document everything. Retaliation can be a separate legal issue, and the EEOC treats it seriously. Do You Need a Lawyer? You don’t need an attorney to file with the EEOC, but having one can make a big difference. A lawyer can help present your case more clearly, negotiate a better settlement, and represent you in court if needed. Many work on contingency, which means they only get paid if you recover money. Even if you file on your own, it’s smart to speak with an attorney before accepting a settlement or filing a lawsuit. Employer Size Matters One last thing to consider. Title VII only applies if your employer has 15 or more employees. If your workplace is smaller, you may still have protections under state or local laws. Those laws sometimes give you broader rights or more time to file, so don’t assume you’re out of options just because your company is small. Resources You’ll Want: EEOC Public Portal: publicportal.eeoc.gov General Info Line: 1-800-669-4000 Find Your Local Office: eeoc.gov/field-office State Agencies That Enforce Fair Employment Laws: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/fepa.html

Randy M.

Answered Aug 31, 2025

I get why this feels so unfair, but the truth is, in Kansas, your employer really can fire you without giving a reason. That’s what at-will employment means. It sounds harsh, but unless something illegal happened, your coworker’s termination was probably legal. Kansas law gives both the employee and the employer the right to end the working relationship at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all. That’s the default. But that doesn’t mean employers can do whatever they want. There are limits, even here. They can’t fire someone for discriminatory reasons such as race, sex, age (if you’re over 40), disability, religion, pregnancy, military status, or national origin. They also can’t retaliate against someone for reporting illegal activity, filing a workers’ comp claim, serving on a jury, or engaging in other legally protected activities. The thing is, employers rarely admit it when their reasons cross the line. They’ll usually point to performance issues or vague personality conflicts, even if the real reason is discrimination or retaliation. So just because they didn’t give a reason doesn’t mean they’re doing something wrong. But it doesn’t mean they’re not, either. It’s complicated. Now, if there’s any kind of employment contract involved, that changes things. And it doesn’t have to be a formal signed agreement. Even an employee handbook with a discipline policy or verbal promises about job security could create contractual rights under the law. Courts sometimes treat these as implied contracts, especially if the company has a history of following certain termination procedures. That matters because the legal standard shifts. If there’s a contract that says employees can only be fired for cause or that outlines specific steps before termination, the employer has to follow those rules. In that case, you wouldn’t need to prove discrimination or retaliation. You would only need to show that the company broke its own policies. That is often much easier to prove. So the smartest thing you can do right now is go back through the materials you received when you were hired. Look at your employee handbook and see if it mentions progressive discipline, for-cause termination, or any guarantees around job security. Even if the handbook says it does not create a contract, courts will still consider the overall context. Also, keep detailed records. Save emails, document your performance, and write down anything that seems off. If there is a pattern of unfair treatment or if your coworker’s firing did not follow standard company procedures, that documentation could become important. At-will employment gives employers a lot of flexibility, but that flexibility has limits, especially when contracts or protected rights are involved. You're not powerless here. You just need to be prepared, informed, and proactive about understanding your rights and what your employer has promised, whether directly or indirectly. If anything seems questionable, there are places you can turn for help. Both state and federal laws may apply. Federal protections include Title VII, the ADEA, the ADA, and the FMLA. Kansas also offers protections under the Kansas Act Against Discrimination and its wage and hour laws. Agencies like the Kansas Department of Labor, the Kansas Human Rights Commission, and the EEOC can investigate wrongful termination claims. The KHRC requires discrimination complaints to be filed within six months. The EEOC allows 180 days. There is no filing fee with either agency. What happened to your coworker might be perfectly legal. But if anything about it raises red flags or does not line up with the company’s usual practices, it is worth looking into now while you still have time to protect yourself.

Sara S.

Answered Jun 20, 2025

Hi, The State of Maryland is an "at-will employment state". So yes, an employer can terminate an employee at anytime. Per the State of Maryland: "In Maryland, employees work "at the will" of their employers. This means, in the absence of an express contract, agreement or policy to the contrary, an employee may be hired or fired for almost any reason -- whether fair or not -- or for no reason at all. There are certain exceptions to this general rule which provide some protection to employees from illegal discrimination based on such categories as race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability or marital status. Examples of other employment at-will exceptions include laws which protect employees from termination or retaliation for filing workers' compensation claims, for attempting to enforce rights to receive overtime or the minimum wage, for asserting rights to work in a safe and healthy workplace, for refusing to commit criminal acts, for reporting for jury duty or military service, or for being subject to a wage attachment for any one indebtedness. Terminating an employee for any of these specific reasons may constitute a violation under the applicable State or federal law." You can learn more by reviewing your employment contract, employee handbook and other documents with a qualified Maryland attorney.

Jerome L.

Answered Apr 15, 2025

This is a very common concern, especially as more employers implement digital oversight tools. Generally speaking, a company can legally monitor and restrict employee internet usage through an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), provided certain conditions are met. 1. Private Employers Have Broad Discretion In most states, private-sector employers are allowed to monitor internet usage on company-owned systems and networks, including: Websites visited Emails sent and received via company email Time spent online during working hours Downloads or uploads of content As long as the company owns the devices or network being used, courts typically uphold their right to control and monitor usage—especially when the employee has received advance notice through a written policy like an AUP. 2. Employees Have Limited Expectation of Privacy at Work Courts have generally held that employees do not have a strong expectation of privacy when using employer-provided devices or networks. However, an employer should: Clearly inform employees of monitoring in writing Apply the policy consistently across the workforce Avoid overreaching into private communications (e.g., personal email on personal devices) 3. Content Filtering and Restrictions Are Permitted Employers can legally block or restrict access to websites that: Are unrelated to work (e.g., social media, video streaming, shopping) Pose security risks (e.g., downloading pirated software) Violate workplace policies (e.g., inappropriate or offensive material) 4. Federal and State Considerations While there are few federal laws restricting workplace internet monitoring, employers must still comply with laws such as: The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) – allows monitoring of communications when done in the ordinary course of business or with employee consent State privacy laws – some states may have broader protections; however, most defer to employer rights on company property What You Can Do: Review the AUP carefully to understand what is being monitored and why Confirm whether you acknowledged the policy in writing If you are concerned about overreach, you may want to speak with HR or request clarification about what personal activity (if any) may be affected If you would like assistance reviewing the policy for reasonableness or compliance with state and federal law, I’d be happy to help.