For many Tennessee employees, working more than 40 hours per week entitles them to overtime pay. These overtime wages can add up, making the hours spent away from home, friends, and family financially worthwhile. But what happens if your workplace does not compensate you fairly? You have legal options if your employer owes you overtime but won’t pay. A Tennessee wage law and overtime lawyer with the Employment and Commerce Law Group can help you pursue your unpaid wages. Tennessee Overtime Laws Tennessee’s employment laws do not address overtime pay. Instead, the federal Fair Labor Standards A ..read more

Statistics show that 80 percent of working women have a child during their lifetime. Pregnancy comes with immeasurable rewards but also health risks. Until recently, certain employment laws failed to protect working mothers sufficiently. The new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PFWA) fills in the gaps.   How Have Pregnancy Employment Laws Changed? The PWFA expands protections afforded to pregnant workers through existing laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (PDA). The PDA prohibits workplace discrimination against women and job applicants who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-r ..read more

Federal and Tennessee laws prevent employers from discriminating against workers based on their religious beliefs or customs. These laws also require employers to make reasonable accommodations so employees can observe their chosen spiritual practices. Despite these guaranteed protections, employers sometimes break the rules. If you’re in Nashville and believe you have been discriminated against based on your religion, the religious discrimination lawyers at The Employment and Commerce Law Group can help.  What is Religious Discrimination? Religious discrimination occurs when you are trea ..read more

Has your employer mistreated you due to your age? Were you passed over for a position or advancement? If so, you may have the right to seek financial compensation and other relief for what you’ve endured. A Nashville age discrimination lawyer can help you pursue your legal options under state and federal discrimination laws. What Is Age Discrimination?  Tennessee and federal law define age discrimination as when a worker age 40 or older suffers adverse or disparate treatment in any aspect of employment, such as hiring, firing, promotions, job assignments, training, pay, or benefits. Age d ..read more

Discriminating against employees and prospective employees isn’t just unethical — thanks to state and federal laws, it’s often illegal. Anti-discrimination laws extend to all aspects of employment, from the initial recruitment and interviewing processes through compensation and benefits to disciplinary actions and termination. When an employer violates a Tennessean’s rights based on a protected trait or demographic character, that person can file a claim for workplace discrimination. Types of Workplace Discrimination The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines different typ ..read more

Discriminating against employees and prospective employees isn’t just unethical — thanks to state and federal laws, it’s often illegal. Anti-discrimination laws extend to all aspects of employment, from the initial recruitment and interviewing processes through compensation and benefits to disciplinary actions and termination. When an employer violates a Tennessean’s rights based on a protected trait or demographic character, that person can file a claim for workplace discrimination. Types of Workplace Discrimination The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines different typ ..read more

There was a time when using biometric data, such as retinal scans or facial recognition technology, seemed like something you’d only see in a sci-fi movie. Fast forward to today, and businesses are collecting biometric information that can control everything from access to your iPhone to tracking time and attendance at work. While biometrics can play a key role in protecting confidential information, is there a point when an employer might overstep their boundaries? Many states, including Tennessee, are grappling with balancing a company’s right to collect data while respecting an individual’s ..read more

Some employment contracts contain non-compete clauses, which prohibit workers from joining a competitor organization for a period of time after leaving their current positions. The question of what it means to sign a non-compete is confusing for many employees who wish to switch jobs within their industry, and there are misconceptions about what employers can legally do regarding non-compete agreements. One of the most common questions is whether the employer can withhold their final paycheck until they sign a non-compete.     You don’t have to sign a non-compete agreement to re ..read more

As a Tennessee employee, you may wonder whether you are entitled to a meal break during your job shift. The answer is yes. State law permits you to have a meal break at work during a qualifying shift. Your employer must allow you to take scheduled meal breaks during which you are relieved of your work duties. Employers may owe fines and penalties for violating the law. Furthermore, state and federal laws prohibit employers from retaliating against you for asserting your right to meal breaks. Am I Entitled to Meal and Rest Breaks in Tennessee? According to the Tennessee Department of Labor & ..read more

Learning you lost or are about to lose your job can be shocking. But can your employer fire you on your day off? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is usually yes. In Tennessee, your employer can fire you at any time for almost any reason unless they violate state or federal anti-discrimination laws. But knowing whether your employer violated the law can be difficult unless you know how the relevant labor laws might apply to your case. If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, the Tennessee employment lawyers at the Employment and Consumer Law Group can determine whether your boss ..read more