Employment Law Practice Areas
Workers' rights are human rights
Everyone has a job, and our jobs are an incredibly important part of our lives. They’re more than just what we do, they’re who we are. And because work is so important, our government has created laws to protect all workers. These laws ensure all workers get the wages they rightfully earn and protect workers from unfair employment practices.
Unfortunately, some employers choose to break those laws. When that happens, you have the option to fight for your rights. And I will help you in that fight.
I represent victims of wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and wage theft.
In the sections below, you will find a list of the major illegal employment practices with links to more in-depth guides for each.
If you think you were the victim of an illegal employment practice, contact my firm for a free consultation.
Practice areas
Wrongful termination in Washington is an illegal practice that occurs when an employer fires a worker for a reason that violates an important public policy.
Employers violate an important public policy when they fire a worker in retaliation for reporting misconduct, filing a workers’ comp claim, refusing to break the law, or any number of other activities protected by public policy.
If you think your employer fired you because you engaged in a protected activity, contact my firm for a free consultation.
For more information about wrongful termination, and what constitutes a violation of public policy, see my wrongful termination guide.
Washington’s anti-discrimination statute makes it an illegal practice for an employer to fire, refuse to hire, demote, pay less, or discriminate in any way against a worker on the basis of the worker’s membership in a protected class.
Protected classes in Washington include race, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, LGBTQ+ status, disability, age, and many others.
If your employer took some negative action against you, and you think it was because of your membership in a protected class, contact my firm for a free consultation.
For more information about discrimination, see my discrimination guide.
It is an illegal practice to harass a worker on the basis of the worker’s protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include things like a worker’s age, sex, religion, race, LGBTQ+ status, and many others that I won’t list here.
A worker who was harassed at work must show that the worker was subjected to unwelcome language or conduct that was so severe or pervasive that it altered the worker’s employment.
If you were harassed at work, and it negatively impacted your ability to do your job, contact my office for a free consultation.
For more information on harassment and how to prove it, see my harassment guide.
In addition to protecting workers from harassment and discrimination, Washington’s anti-discrimination statute also protects workers who report harassment or discrimination.
Retaliation occurs when an employer takes some adverse action against a worker for reporting or opposing discrimination.
If you reported discrimination or harassment, and your employer discharged you in retaliation, contact my office for a free consultation.
If you want to know more about retaliation law in Washington, see my retaliation guide.
Sexual harassment is a form of illegal harassment under Washington’s anti-discrimination law. Washington law recognizes the following two forms of sexual harassment: (1) hostile work environment, and (2) quid pro quo sexual harassment.
A hostile work environment exists when a worker is subjected to unwelcome sexual conduct or language that is so severe or pervasive that it alters her conditions of employment.
Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when a manager seeks sexual favors from a worker in exchange for a job benefit (or lack of job detriment).
If you were subjected to a hostile work environment, or subjected to a sexual advance by a superior at work, contact my office for a free consultation.
If you would like to know more about sexual harassment, see my sexual harassment guide.
Discriminating against a worker because of pregnancy or childbirth is an illegal employment practice in Washington state. Pregnancy discrimination can come in many forms. Some examples include the following:
- Terminating, demoting, or refusing to hire or promote a pregnant person;
- Imposing different terms and conditions of employment on a pregnant person; or
- Basing any employment decision on negative assumptions about pregnant people.
If your employer treated you unfairly because of your pregnancy, contact my firm for a free consultation.
For more information on discrimination generally, see my discrimination guide.
Washington law prohibits employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of their disability. Disability discrimination can happen in a couple different ways as follows:
- Taking an adverse action such as terminating, laying off, or refusing to hire or promote a worker because of the worker’s disability; or
- Failing to provide a reasonable accommodation to a disabled worker.
If your employer treated you unfairly because of your disability, contact my office for a free consultation.
For more information on discrimination generally, see my discrimination guide.
Washington’s whistleblower laws protect workers from retaliation when a worker reports employer misconduct. Examples of protected whistleblower activities include the following:
- Reporting illegal activity of a co-worker or employer;
- Reporting conduct that affects public safety;
- Reporting abuse of mentally ill patient or vulnerable adult;
- Reporting discrimination or harassment;
- Reporting a violation of minimum wage;
- Reporting unsafe working conditions;
- Filing a workers’ compensation claim.
If your employer fired you for reporting its misconduct, contact my office for a free consultation.
For more information whistleblower protections, see my guide on wrongful termination.
Washington’s minimum wage laws require employers to pay most workers at least 1.5 times their hourly rate for any work exceeding 40 hours in a week.
If your employer isn’t paying you overtime for your work, contact my office for a free consultation.
To learn more about Washington’s overtime laws and its exceptions, read my overtime guide.
Employment Law is my Singular focus
I am an employment lawyer in Seattle dedicated to workers’ rights. I focus all my attention on one area of law so that you can feel secure knowing that your employment matter is in the right hands.
If you were the victim of an illegal employment practice, you need an employment attorney that knows the practice area well.
Contact my office for a free consultation today.
