Your Experienced Union County Employment Law Attorney

We Protect the Rights and Interests of Employees in Union County 

Charles Z. Schalk is a Union County employment lawyer who you can trust to do the right thing in the right amount for the right purpose. Our team provides solutions-focused employment law representation for workers in New Jersey. If you have any questions about employment law, we are here as a resource that you can trust. Contact us today for a fully confidential, no commitment initial consultation with a top-tier Union County employment lawyer. 

We Handle All Employment Law Cases in Union County

As a boutique law firm that is large enough to take on complex and challenging cases and small enough to provide truly personalized representation, we are committed to protecting the rights of employees. Charles Z. Schalk has the experience you can count on. Our team takes on the full spectrum of employment law matters in Union County, including: 

  • Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment in the workplace is, by definition, a form of sex discrimination. It denies the affected worker fair and equal opportunities based on their sex. The term sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual advances or conduct in the workplace that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. For example, imagine a manager at an office in Union County repeatedly makes sexual jokes around an employee despite their discomfort and requests to stop. That could constitute sexual harassment on the basis of hostile work environment. 
  • Workplace Discrimination: New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) covers all employers—regardless of their size. Workplace discrimination occurs when an employee is treated unfairly due to their race, gender, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic(s). For instance, if an employee is passed over for promotion repeatedly and less qualified individuals of a different race are promoted. That employee may have a claim for race-based discrimination. Our Union County employment lawyer handles all types of workplace discrimination cases. 
  • Whistleblower Protection: Whistleblower protection laws defend the rights of employees who report illegal or unethical activities within their company from retaliation by their employers. These protections encourage transparency and accountability. For example, imagine that an in-house accountant in Union County reports financial discrepancies to a government agency. He or she is protected under whistleblower laws. If the employer then tries to fire or demote the accountant, they could be held liable for retaliation.
  • Wrongful Discharge: New Jersey is an at-will employment law state. With that being said, companies and organizations cannot remove a worker for an unlawful reason. For example, imagine an employee at a large car dealership in Union County exercised her right to take leave to care for a newborn child under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If she is then fired for doing so, she can bring a wrongful termination claim. 
  • Wage and Hour Claims: There are federal and state wage and hour laws in place that are designed to ensure that employees are paid properly for the time that they actually worked. For example, a non-exempt worker in Union County who logs 50 hours a week but only receives straight pay may file a claim to receive the owed overtime wages. Our Union County employment lawyer handles all types of wage and hour cases in New Jersey. 
  • Reasonable Accommodation: Federal law (ADA) and New Jersey law entitle certain disabled workers with the right to seek a reasonable accommodation from an employer. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, which may include modifications to the workplace or adjustments to work schedules. These accommodations are designed to enable employees to perform their job functions effectively. For example, providing special software to a well-qualified employee who has a visual impairment may be a reasonable accommodation. 
  • Failure to Hire/Promote: An employee who was passed over for a job or passed over for a promotion may have a viable claim if the employer violated his or her rights. For instance, a qualified female engineer being consistently overlooked for promotion in favor of her male colleagues might be a case of gender discrimination.
  • Restrictive Covenants: Restrictive covenants like non-compete and non-disclosure agreements limit certain actions by employees during and after their employment to protect business interests. These are enforceable only when they are reasonable in scope and duration. An example is an employee in Union County who signs a non-compete agreement not to work with competing firms in the same industry for a year after leaving the company
  • Contract Negotiations: Many employees work under a contract. An employment contract is legally enforceable—assuming that it is properly drafted and contains lawful terms. Our Union County employment lawyer drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts for workers. 
  • Unlawful Retaliation: Employees must be able to exercise their rights without facing pressure or punishment from their employer. If you are punished for engaging in a protected activity, you may have a retaliation claim. As an example, if an employee is demoted shortly after filing a harassment complaint against a supervisor, that could be unlawful retaliation. 

Why Employees in Union County Trust Attorney Charles Z. Schalk  

If you are involved with any type of issue with your employer, it is normal to have a ton of questions about your rights, your duties, and your legal options. A member of the National Employment Lawyers Association in New Jersey, Charles Z. Schalk is proud to be a strong and experienced advocate for employees. We invest time, resources, and attention to detail into each and every case that we take on. Among other things, our Union County employment attorney will: 

  • Conduct a comprehensive and fully private review of your case; 
  • Investigate the issue—gathering and organizing supporting evidence; 
  • Handle any settlement discussions with your employer; and
  • Take action focused on protecting your rights and securing your future.

Consult With Our Union County Employment Lawyer Today

Charles Z. Schalk is a Union County employment law attorney who has the knowledge, skills, and tenacity that workers can rely on in even the most challenging of circumstances. Give us a phone call at (908) 526-0707 or contact us online to set up your fully private, no strings attached case review. Our firm provides employment law representation throughout Union County, including in Elizabeth, Plainfield, Linden, Union Township, Westfield, Rahway, and Scotch Plains Township.