Virginia Employment Lawyers Representing Employees in Northern Virginia
Our Virginia employment lawyers advise and defend employees in Virginia. Virginia employment law is governed by numerous Virginia laws, regulations and government policies. Virginia employment issues that might arise include termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, hiring practices, workplace rights, employee benefits, severance agreements, non-compete agreements and many other issues. Retaining an experienced Virginia employment lawyer is important to properly protect employee rights. Here are some of the areas where we help Virginia employees.
Wrongful Termination
Virginia is an at-will employment state. This means that the employer or employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time. The termination can be for any reason, so long as it is not illegal. While at-will employment gives employers some latitude in managing their workforce, there are restrictions. Virginia employees can contest wrongful terminations when they are based on illegal employer conduct or improper actions. Additionally, other employees covered by employment agreements are not always subject to the at-will laws. We defend Virginia employees in wrongful termination cases.
Severance Agreements
In our Virginia employment law practice, we represent and advise individuals in severance and separation agreements. This often involves reviewing proposed severance agreements and negotiating with an employer about compensation and other terms. These agreements tend to generally be long and complicated and a lawyer should review them before signature. When dealing with severance agreements it is important to have a Virginia employment attorney represent and advise you.
Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
We represent Virginia employees in discrimination and harassment claims in the workplace. Virginia prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, disability, age, or military status. The Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) provides protections against discriminatory practices in hiring, firing, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment. Employees who believe they have been subjected to discrimination can file a complaint with the Virginia Division of Human Rights, internally or with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Local jurisdictions also may have the ability to hear discrimination and harassment claims. The place of filing depends on the nature of your employment. If you have a potential complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment you should seek counsel to determine the best strategy and forum to file your complaint.
Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William County Employee Defense and Grievances
We represent public sector employees in numerous counties in Northern Virginia. These areas include, but are not limited to, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Loudoun County, Prince William County. We also defend public employees before municipal employers in Northern Virginia like Alexandria, Leesburg, Herndon, Vienna, Manassas and other cities and towns. Our lawyers often defend Virginia teachers, police officers, and other public sector employees in investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances and hearings. Our attorneys also represent these employees in discrimination, harassment and whistleblower cases. The rules governing county and city employees in Virginia vary so it is important to have legal counsel.
Whistleblower Retaliation
Virginia law protects employees from retaliation for engaging in legally protected activities. These activities include such things as filing a whistleblower complaint or a formal complaint of discrimination. If an employee experiences retaliation in the workplace, a Virginia employment lawyer can advise whether or not a claim for retaliation can be brought. We represent Virginia employees in these types of claims.
Non-Compete Agreements
Some employers in Virginia use non-compete agreements when hiring employees. These types of agreements used to be more prevalent, but have been limited somewhat by more recent laws. In general, in order to be valid a non-compete agreement must typically be reasonable in scope, duration, and geographic area to be enforceable. Virginia restricts these types of agreements to employees making over a certain annual income. Employees should have a Virginia employment lawyer review any non-compete agreement before signing one. The risk in not doing so can affect future employment with other employers.
Employment Investigations
We defend employees who are undergoing internal investigations in the workplace. If you are facing an internal investigation at work it is important to have defense counsel. Keep in mind that most employers that initiate internal investigators use law firms to investigate employees. This has a tremendous impact on any investigative findings. A negative determination in an internal investigation can result in discipline, termination and even security clearance implications. It is important to have counsel represent you in employer internal investigations.
Contact Our Virginia Employment Lawyers
Virginia labor law can be complicated for employees facing work-related issues. Obtaining legal advice is important when employment issues arise. Virginia employees are encouraged to consult with a Virginia employment attorney when facing employment-related issues. We also represent DC and Maryland employees. Our office can be reached at (703) 668-0070 or we can be reached here.
