Speaking with an attorney is a good idea if you believe you’ve been wronged in the workplace. For food and beverage workers, this often comes by way of tip share issues, wrongful termination, or overtime payment issues. Hiring an attorney is a good idea if you’re facing one of these problems. An employment law attorney is an advocate for your legal rights who can protect your legal claims as well as explain the process of filing a lawsuit.
Advantages for the Client when Hiring an Attorney
The attorneys at John J. Zidziunas & Associates have years of experience handling cases involving food and beverage workers and the types of claims typically found in restaurant employment. Moreover, we take the time to guide our clients through the process and we work with our clients to obtain the best possible outcome.
Employment law attorneys can give you general advice about your situation and let you know whether retaining one is necessary. Our firm is committed to protecting food and beverage workers’ rights because we understand restaurant employees are often taken advantage of by large companies.
Common Legal Issues in Restaurants
• Unpaid training or pre-shift meetings – If you have been forced to attend pre-shift meetings without clocking in, or if you were required to attend mandatory training sessions that weren’t paid, you should contact an attorney. Many lawsuits have occurred because employers don’t let their employees clock-in for their full shift. When you are working, you should NEVER be forced to clock out while you are still performing work for your employer.
• Tip share issues – Many restaurant employees report problems with the tip sharing scheme at their work location. Tip share is allowed in certain circumstances, but if you suspect fraudulent behavior, contact us today. Our attorneys can look through all of the evidence and determine whether the tip share at your place of employment is fair and legal.
• Question regarding your termination – Always remember that employers cannot fire you based upon certain protected qualities. These include: race, religion, national origin, sex, age and a few other key traits. If you suspect you were fired for one of these reasons, you should contact an attorney right away.
• Unpaid overtime – Many restaurant employees, including tipped employees, are entitled to overtime pay. If you work more than 40 hours per week, you should be paid at the overtime rate of time-and-a-half. Although unpaid overtime is a common issue among food and beverage workers, you must speak with an attorney quickly because the statute of limitations in New Jersey for these claims is only two years.
Keep in mind, these are the most common legal issues food and beverage workers face, but there are many more. If you feel as though you have been wronged in the workplace, there’s no harm in contacting an attorney for a confidential consultation. You will then be able to find out if what you’ve experienced is against the law and if you should follow through with a lawsuit. Many people have done this, and ended up saving themselves a lot of grief because they were able to put an end to the discrimination, harassment or other unfair workplace practices.
Contact a New Jersey Employment Law Attorney Today
If you seek an attorney in New Jersey who will provide individual attention and concern, contact John J. Zidziunas & Associates today for a free consultation. Our firm is committed to providing the highest quality customer service, so that you stay abreast of all developments in your case.
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