The unpaid overtime attorneys at Lawyer Central are committed to helping victims of overtime scams receive the overtime pay they deserve. In order to help workers understand their overtime pay rights and the ways in which employers may try to violate them, Lawyer Central offers free articles and information about overtime law. The recently updated Overtime Legal Resource Center covers a variety of overtime topics, including overtime scams.

In order to prevent workers from receiving the overtime pay they deserve, some employers use overtime scams, such as forcing employees to work off the clock. This can occur when an employer requires a worker to clock out and then stay in order to complete a task. Shortchanging hours is another common overtime scam. Failing to pay workers for the time they spend on short breaks (between five and twenty minutes), forcing employees to work through unpaid lunch breaks, or refusing to pay employees for on call time that cannot be used for the employee's own personal use are among the ways that employers can shortchange hours.

Other overtime scams include intentionally misclassifying employees as exempt from overtime pay, paying at the normal pay rate instead of time-and-a-half for hours worked over forty, and offering employees comp time instead of overtime. Victims of overtime scams may be able to file an overtime lawsuit. If the overtime lawsuit is successful, workers who have been wrongfully denied overtime pay may be able to recover double their unpaid overtime wages. Punitive damages can also be awarded in some cases. Overtime class action lawsuits can be filed if a large number of employees in the same company were denied overtime compensation.

If you feel that you have been victimized by an overtime scam, visit Lawyer Central's Unpaid Overtime Resource Center today. Enter the details of your case into the Free Legal Advice form to have an overtime attorney review your claim at no cost. Lawyer Central also offers articles on numerous aspects of overtime pay and the rights of workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to help you gain a better understanding of overtime laws.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including overtime litigation. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

The overtime lawyers at Lawyer Central are dedicated to protecting workers' rights to overtime pay. In order to help workers understand their rights and the ways in which employers may try to violate them, Lawyer Central offers free articles and information about overtime law. The recently updated Overtime Legal Resource Center covers a variety of overtime topics, including exemptions.

Under Fair Labor Standards Act, many workers have the right to recover overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a given workweek. In order to determine whether you are entitled to overtime pay, you must figure out if you are an exempt or non-exempt worker. Exempt workers are not eligible to receive overtime pay. There are several exemption categories, including the executive exemption, administrative exemption, professional exemption, computer employee exemption, and outside sales exemption. Your job duties will determine whether or not you fall into one of these exemption categories.

When employers fail to pay their workers for the overtime hours they work, employees may participate in an overtime lawsuit to recover double their unpaid overtime wages. In some cases, punitive damages are also awarded. Federal law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who participate in an overtime lawsuit. Prohibited retaliatory acts include firing or blacklisting an employee who made an unpaid overtime claim, reducing job responsibilities, and refusing a raise that is regularly given.

If you are interested in learning more about overtime pay laws and the rights of exempt and non-exempt workers, visit Lawyer Central's Overtime Law Resource Center today. To discuss your case with an overtime lawyer or wage and hour attorney, simply fill out the details of your potential overtime claim in the Free Legal Advice form.

If you were wrongfully denied overtime pay, you may be able to recover compensation. In addition, if numerous employees in your company were not receiving the proper overtime compensation, a class action lawsuit may be filed against your employer. It is important to contact an overtime attorney as soon as possible if you feel that you are a victim of overtime violations in order to ensure that the statute of limitations on your case doesn't expire.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including overtime litigation. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

Lawyer Central is pleased to announce that it has recently updated its Unpaid Overtime Law Resource Center, a comprehensive source of legal information for workers who have been denied the overtime pay they deserve. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees should receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Lawyer Central is dedicated to helping workers make sure they are properly paid for all overtime hours worked.

The FLSA states that exempt workers are not eligible to receive overtime pay. However, workers should be aware that it is their job duties, not job title, that determines whether they are exempt or non-exempt. Some employers intentionally misclassify their employees as exempt under the executive exemption, administrative exemption, professional exemption, computer employee exemption, or outside sales exemption in order to avoid paying them for their overtime hours. If you have been misclassified, an overtime attorney from Lawyer Central can help you recover the overtime pay you have earned.

Lawyer Central's Unpaid Overtime Law Resource Center now features an Answers and Information section that addresses the basics of the Fair Labor Standards Act and overtime law. An overview of the overtime exemptions and a description of the scams used by employers to cheat their employees out of the overtime pay they have earned are also featured. These overtime scams include forcing employees to work off the clock, misclassifying employees as exempt from overtime pay, and short changing hours. A fourth section provides legal information for workers with unpaid overtime claims, including information about overtime lawsuits, damages that can be recovered, and protection from employer retaliation.

If you believe that you have been denied the overtime pay to which you are entitled, visit Lawyer Central's Unpaid Overtime Law Resource Center today, and complete the Free Legal Advice form to find out if you have a valid claim for unpaid overtime wages. An experienced overtime lawyer may be able to help you recover double your unpaid wages. There is a statute of limitations that restricts the amount of time you have to file an overtime claim, so it is important to act promptly in order to ensure that your rights to overtime pay are protected.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including overtime litigation. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

On Friday, August 10, 2009, a Federal District Court Judge approved a settlement in a historic class action lawsuit against Orleans Homebuilders and associated companies. The suit alleged that Orleans treated its site salespeople as illegally exempt from overtime pay under Federal Wage and Hour Laws. The Law Offices of Costello & Mains, P.C. represented the class representatives.

Although Orleans disputed the allegations, Kevin Costello and Deborah Mains were able to resolve the suit and obtain a favorable settlement for the class members. The settlement resulted in significant compensation to the class members who had been unfairly denied overtime pay. After the settlement was approved in Federal Court, Deborah and Kevin commented, "We're thrilled to have been instrumental in not only making sure those who filed claims received their compensation, but also to have been instrumental in altering Orleans' business practices. We understand that the compensation practices which lead to this suit have now been changed."

For over sixteen years, the attorneys at Costello & Mains have represented employees who are refused overtime because the employer claims that certain exemptions apply. The firm also represents employees who are refused overtime because the employer claims that it was not earned. Visit CostelloMains.com today if you would like to speak to a lawyer about filing a wage and hour claim against your employer.

About the Law Offices of Costello & Mains, P.C.

Kevin Costello and Deborah Mains have been fighting for the workers of New Jersey for nearly 30 years between them, having counseled and represented unions and workers for their entire careers. They can fight your employment rights, harassment, retaliation, discrimination or wrongful discharge claim in Court. They will file claims against your employer to get you the compensation you deserve. If you believe your employment rights have been violated, visit CostelloMains.com to receive a Free Case Evaluation.

Lawyer Central is pleased to announce the release of its new Overtime Lawsuit Resource Center, a comprehensive source of legal information for workers who have been forced to work unpaid overtime hours.

According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees should receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked over 40 in one workweek. Unfortunately, every year thousands of employees fall victim to FLSA violations. In 2003 alone, over $200 million was recovered in back wages because of overtime violations. Overtime lawyers can file claims on behalf of employees who have been wrongfully deprived of fair pay for every hour they worked.

The Overtime Lawsuit Resource Center features information about overtime pay, the Fair Labor Standards Act, how to calculate overtime pay, overtime lawsuits, and other critical information related to this topic. There is also a list of frequently asked questions that address common concerns and misunderstandings that employees often have regarding overtime pay. An explanation of overtime exemptions, such as the executive, administrative, and professional exemptions, and how to determine whether you are an exempt or non-exempt employee is also available.

Additional information about common overtime scams that some employers use to avoid paying the overtime pay that their workers have earned is featured as the third information category on the Overtime Lawsuit Resource Center page. Some employers force employees to work off the clock, short change their hours, or intentionally misclassify them into exempt categories in order to wrongfully deprive them of the overtime compensation they are owed. If you feel you have been the victim of an overtime scan, you should speak with an overtime attorney today to find out how to file an overtime lawsuit.

If you believe that you have an unpaid overtime claim, visit Lawyer Central's Overtime Lawsuit Resource Center today. To find out if you are eligible to participate in an overtime lawsuit, fill out the free case evaluation form on the right side of the page. An overtime lawyer may be able to help you recover double your unpaid overtime wages. There are time limits that apply to overtime claims, so it is important to act promptly in order to ensure that your rights can be fully protected.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including WARN Act litigation. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

Lawyer Central is now providing information about the WARN Act for people who have lost their jobs due to mass layoffs, plant closings, and worksite shutdowns. The WARN Act is a federal law that requires many big employers to give at least 60 days advance notice in the event of a large scale reduction in force. This law, which stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, is designed to provide employees, families, and communities with adequate time to prepare for the layoffs and find new jobs.

Many workers are unaware of the rights they have under the WARN Act. As a result, some employers fail to provide the advance notice required by the law, leaving workers with no time to prepare for their loss of employment. Lawyer Central is dedicated to informing employees of their rights and aggressively representing them when these rights are violated. A video explanation of the WARN Act and links to informational articles on the WARN Act are available on the site. Among the topics covered are employees rights under WARN, frequently asked questions about the WARN Act, WARN notices, mass layoffs, and plant closings. Explanations of the state and federal WARN Acts currently in place are also available, along with information about recent plant closings.

Visit Lawyer Central's WARN Act Resources to learn more about the rights of workers protected by the WARN Act. If you lost your job in a mass layoff and did not receive the notice you are entitled to under the WARN Act, complete the Free Case Evaluation form for a no cost, no obligation consultation. A WARN Act attorney may be able to help you recover 60 days of back pay and benefits from your previous employer.

In these difficult economic times, workers across the country are being laid off in record numbers and new plant closings are being announced each day. Federal (and in some areas, state) labor laws require adequate notice be given to workers before a mass layoff or plant closing or worksite shutdown. When an employer lays off 50 to 499 full-time workers at a single site of employment and that number is 33 percent of the number of full-time workers at the site, it is considered a mass layoff. A mass layoff also occurs when an employer lays off 500 or more full-time workers at one site of employment. Plant closings that meet certain criteria which can also trigger the WARN Act. If your WARN Act rights have been violated, use the online Free Case evaluation form to connect with a WARN Act lawyer today.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including WARN Act litigation. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

Lawyer Central has recently updated its online WARN Act resources for workers who have lost their jobs due to plant closures or mass layoffs. The WARN Act, which stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, is a federal law enacted in 1988. It requires employers to give at least 60 days advance notice in the event of a large scale layoff, so that employees have time to find new jobs or complete training for new skills.

Manufacturing and transportation industries are often plagued with mass layoffs, and the current economic situation has forced many companies to downsize and shut down worksites. Under the WARN Act, both salaried and hourly employees working at industrial sites or in the transportation industry should receive WARN notice under certain circumstances. The WARN Act can also protect white collar workers and individuals employed in the food, retail, and medical industries. In addition to the federal law, several states have enacted their own versions of the WARN Act.

Lawyer Central's WARN Act resources feature specific information about employee rights and entitlements under the law. Definitions of mass layoffs and plant closings, required contents for a WARN notice, and answers to frequently asked questions are also featured. Detailed information about the state WARN Acts for New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, and Wisconsin is available for residents who work in those states. The state WARN Act laws are similar to the federal legislation and often offer greater protections for workers.

If you lost your job after a plant closing or mass layoff and did not receive proper warning, a WARN act lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation. Visit Lawyer Central's WARN Act Resources today and fill out the free case evaluation form. Lawyer Central will connect you with a WARN Act lawyer who will work to ensure you get the justice you deserve. Even if a severance package was never part of your employment agreement, you may receive similar compensation following the loss of your job if your employer violated the WARN Act.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including WARN Act litigation. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

Lawyer Central has recently added information about the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act to its website. The WARN Act is a federal law that requires certain employers to provide written notice to employees in the event of mass layoffs, plant closings, and company shut downs.

The WARN Act generally applies to layoffs of over 50 workers by employers with 100 or more employees, not including employees who work less than 20 hours a week or have worked for the company for less than six months. In addition, the WARN Act applies to hourly and salaried employees, including managers and supervisors. The advance notice required by this law gives workers time to adjust to the prospective loss of employment, seek and obtain other jobs, and, if necessary, undertake skill training allow them to compete successfully in the job market. However, many workers are unaware of their WARN Act rights, which leaves employers free exploit this lack of knowledge and fail to provide the proper warning.

WARN Act resources offered by Lawyer Central include comprehensive information on the federal WARN act, including qualifications required for coverage, employee rights and entitlements under WARN, and the details that must be included in a WARN notice. Frequently asked questions and guides to the state WARN acts of New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Ohio and Wisconsin are also available on the site.

If you lost your job due to a mass layoff and you believe your WARN Act rights have been violated, visit Lawyer Central's WARN Act Resources and fill out the Free Consultation form today. Even if you received a WARN notice of a plant closing, you may still have the right to recover compensation if the notice failed to provide the required information. A WARN Act lawyer may be able to help you recover back pay, benefits or other compensation for the period of violation. Don't let your employer violate your WARN Act rights. Talk to an attorney today.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including WARN Act litigation. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

ForThePeople.com, the website for national plaintiff's law firm Morgan & Morgan, is now offering a new Overtime Law Information Center for workers who are not receiving the overtime pay they have earned. Every year, thousands of employees fall victim to overtime pay violations and don't receive the wages they deserve. Workers with unpaid overtime claims have certain rights under the law and take legal action with the assistance of an overtime attorney.

Morgan & Morgan's Overtime Law Information Center features information about the Fair Labor Standards Act and its provisions regarding overtime pay, an explanation of exempt and non-exempt employees, and filing an overtime claim. Additional resources covering minimum wage law, overtime eligibility, overtime pay guidelines, and managers and overtime are also included. Site visitors can review articles on calculating overtime and minimum wage, overtime scams, and overtime and record keeping in order to gain a better understanding of the various legal and employment issues related to overtime pay. A section with frequently asked questions regarding overtime law and unpaid overtime is available to satisfy common questions and concerns on these topics.

If you are not receiving the overtime pay you deserve, visit the Overtime Law Information Center today. Fill out the form on the right side of the page for a free legal case evaluation from Morgan & Morgan. The overtime lawyers at Morgan & Morgan are experienced in handling unpaid overtime claims and can provide legal representation in overtime lawsuits.

About Morgan & Morgan

Morgan & Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with offices nationwide. The firm handles overtime law cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit ForThePeople.com for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.

Overtime Law Online, a comprehensive internet resource for employees who have been unfairly deprived of overtime pay, was launched today.

Overtime Law Online is the collaborative effort of two major employment law firms, Berger & Montague, P.C. and Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP. Both of these law firms have strong records of defending the rights of workers and extensive experience in employment law cases. This new website provides detailed information about the rights of workers and explanations of common violations of overtime law. Unpaid time for putting on and removing protective gear or specialty equipment for work, intentional misclassification of an employee in order to avoid paying overtime wages, and denial of pay for travel time are three common examples of employer actions that violate labor laws and cheat employees out of the wages they deserve. Information about shift differential overtime and laws regarding meal & rest breaks is also featured on the site.

A guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the types of workers who are guaranteed overtime can help answer questions that employees may have about their right to overtime compensation. Visitors can also review past settlements obtained by the Overtime Law Online firms in the Past Successes section of the site. The Wage and Hour Blog will provide additional information about the FLSA, minimum wage, unpaid overtime wages, and the Department of Labor (DOL) with comments and insights from qualified overtime law attorneys.

If you feel that you are not being paid for all of the hours you have worked or that you are not being paid the overtime that you are due, visit Overtime Law Online. Fill out the form on the left side of the page for a free consultation with an experienced wage and hour law attorney today. The Overtime Law Online attorneys can advise you of your legal rights and responsibilities under state and federal labor laws and help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

About Overtime Law Online

Overtime Law Online is the premier online resource for employees with unpaid wage claims. The collaborative effort of two proven employment law firms, Berger & Montague, P.C. and Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP, Overtime Law Online provides legal information for unpaid overtime workers, as well as access to attorneys who are familiar with overtime law.

ForThePeople.com, the website for national plaintiff's law firm Morgan & Morgan, has released a Labor Law Information Center for those who are interested in learning about labor law, employee rights, and more. Both employers and employees have certain rights and responsibilities under the law, and it is important to be informed on these topics in order to have a positive workplace experience.

Visitors to the Labor Law Information Center can review information and articles on over 30 key labor law topics, including negligent hiring, failure to promote, job hazards, labor organization, and more. Legal guides to understanding harassment and understanding discrimination are also featured, providing an overview of verbal harassment, nonverbal harassment, physical harassment, and frequently asked questions about workplace discrimination. Employers' rights and responsibilities regarding hiring practices, wage and hour laws, and important employment documents and forms are covered in a separate guide. Information about unfair labor practices, such as denial of wages or overtime pay, denial of leave, and workplace retaliation is also available.

If you feel that your employment rights have been violated, visit the Labor Law Information Center to learn how Morgan & Morgan's labor law attorneys can help you. Fill out the form on the right side of the page for a free case evaluation to find out if you have a valid claim. Each year, the employment and labor lawyers at Morgan & Morgan litigate numerous lawsuits to trial nationwide.

About Morgan & Morgan

Morgan & Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with offices nationwide. The firm handles labor law cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit ForThePeople.com for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.

Accidents.com is pleased to announce the launch of its new Work Accidents Resource Center. The Work Accidents Resource Center features practical, relevant legal information for victims of work related accidents, including construction accidents, refinery & plant explosion accidents, and electrocution accidents.

A work accident is any accident that occurs while the victim is engaged in the course of duties imposed upon an employee. Work accidents and injuries are usually covered by workers' compensation laws, but this does not mean that you cannot recover damages if a negligent third party caused the injury. Work related accidents can result in neck, back, and knee injuries, eye injuries, repetitive trauma injuries, hearing problems, loss of limbs, occupational diseases, pulmonary conditions, and work-induced heart attack or stroke.

The Work Accidents Resource Center features an overview of work related accidents, including information on determining liability, a guide to workers compensation in relation to work accidents, illnesses, and injuries, tips for the prevention of work related accidents, information on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), and more. An overview of the common types of work related injuries and illnesses is also featured.

Specific practice area pages dedicated to construction accidents, refinery & plant explosion accidents, and electrocution accidents are also featured on the site. Information about accident causes, determining fault and liability, statute of limitations, and more is available for individuals who have been injured on the job. Each of these pages includes verdicts, settlements, class action watches, and official links for site visitors who want to learn more about workplace accident law. Each of the work accident practice areas also provides breaking workplace accident news from around the country.

If you have been involved in any type of workplace accident and are seeking information about your legal rights, visit the Work Accidents Resource Center today. You can search for accident resources by practice area, state, and county to quickly find the legal information that is most helpful and relevant to you. Fill out the simple online form for a free legal consultation and receive a response from a qualified work accident attorney within 24 hours.

About Accidents.com

Accidents.com is a comprehensive legal accident resource site that strives to be your source for injury and accident lawyers and information.

Unemployment benefits are designed to help people cope with the transition between jobs by providing temporary financial help to qualified individuals, based on their previous earnings, while they are looking for other work. Unemployment insurance replaces part of the income you lose when you become unemployed, and is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own. Unemployment insurance softens the impact job losses have on communities by maintaining the purchasing power in the area where workers live. The money for benefits comes from a tax imposed on employers. The four steps listed below will help you successfully file a claim for unemployment benefits.

Step 1: Make sure that you meet your state's eligibility requirements.
Eligibility for unemployment compensation, as well as the amount and length of time benefits are available, is determined by the state law. Typical eligibility requirements required to receive unemployment compensation payments include:

• A minimum amount of earnings or a minimum period of time worked over a specific previous time frame
• Registration with the state unemployment office
• Unemployed worker is available to work
• Unemployed worker is actively seeking work

Step 2: File your claim as soon as possible.
Your claim should be filed in the first week that you have become totally or partially unemployed. Filing immediately is important for two reasons:

• Ordinarily, you do not get paid for the weeks prior to the week you filed your claim. Benefits will not be paid retroactively for weeks preceding the filing of your claim unless it is established through a hearing process that there was a good cause for late filing.
• Benefits will not be paid until all the paperwork is processed and eligibility for benefits is verified. It generally takes 2-3 weeks to receive a benefit check so you want to begin the process in a timely manner to prevent an extended delay.

Step 3: Be prepared when you go to file for unemployment.
Employees can file claims for unemployment compensation benefits at their state unemployment office. You may be able to file for unemployment online or over the phone. Employees should take the following documents with them to the unemployment office to help verify their eligibility:

• Social Security card
• Recent pay stubs
• Documentation relating to the reason for the job loss

Step 4: Decide whether you want federal income taxes withheld.
Unemployment compensation is considered wage income. Therefore, it is subject to federal income taxes, and must be reported on your federal income tax return. When you apply for unemployment benefits, you may want to consider having federal income taxes withheld. This process is similar to the payroll withholding you encounter when you collect a paycheck. In this case, the form you fill out is the federal W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request, or a similar, IRS-acceptable document that the paying agency has created. However, since unemployment compensation is usually less than your former paycheck, many people decide against having taxes withheld. This means you get your full unemployment check to use toward day-to-day expenses, but you will owe the IRS when you file your next income tax return.

It is important to be aware that in addition to weekly subsistence compensation, unemployment benefits may also include job-training opportunities, job-searching assistance, and other types of re-employment assistance for those who qualify. By taking advantage of these programs, you can expedite the process of finding a new job and limit the amount of time that you depend on unemployment.

About the Author

Liz Ryan is a Writing and Content Specialist for Lawyer Central. Visit Lawyer Central's Unemployment Resources for additional information about the rights of unemployed workers. Discuss unemployment benefits and related issues on the free Law Forum.

Lawyer Central now offers legal information and resources for victims of workplace sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious problem, and although employees know that it exists, many are unsure of what to do if they become a victim. Educating yourself on both federal sexual harassment laws and your state's law is an essential step in protecting yourself from becoming a victim of sexual harassment. When you know your rights, you will know when they are being violated and you will be empowered to defend yourself, and Lawyer Central's Sexual Harassment Resource Center is designed to help.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment." Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is the main federal law that prohibits sexual harassment. In addition, each state has its own anti-sexual harassment law. Sexual harassment can be categorized as either hostile work environment or quid pro quo, depending on the circumstances.

Lawyer Central's Sexual Harassment Resource Center offers an overview of the basic aspects of sexual harassment, answers to frequently asked sexual harassment questions, information about online sexual harassment, and a guide to fighting sexual harassment. Additional information, legal videos, official links, and a news center are among the additional resources available on the site.

Visit Lawyer Central's Sexual Harassment Resource Center to learn more. Additional sexual harassment lawyer videos can be found on the Employee Issue page.

If you are sexually harassed at work, it is advisable to inform the harasser directly that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop. In addition, you should use any employer complaint mechanism or grievance system available. Finally, it is advisable to speak to an employment lawyer about the situation as soon as possible in order to ensure that your rights are protected and the proper legal procedure for dealing with the harassment is followed. Lawyer Central offers a free, no obligation sexual harassment case evaluation. If you fill it out, you will receive a quick response from an employment attorney. You can also discuss workplace harassment, employment laws, and other legal issues on our free legal forum.

About Lawyer Central

The Lawyer Central Network is an exclusive nationwide network of attorneys highly dedicated to their unique areas of practice, including employment law. Lawyer Central is emerging as the leading public relations and mixed media marketing organization for fast-growing law firms and forward-thinking attorneys. Lawyer Central membership includes a variety of media exposure ranging from practice area video filming, through interviews and complete public relations and internet relations management.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious problem, and although employees know that it exists, many are unsure of what to do if they become a victim. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating , hostile or offensive work environment." Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is the main federal law that prohibits sexual harassment. In addition, each state has its own anti-sexual harassment law.

Employment attorney Greg Noble explains, "Sexual harassment really goes beyond just your boss being mean to you. It has to involve some sort of sexual conduct." This can take the form of a work environment that becomes hostile because of inappropriate sexual comments, insults, or touching. A hostile work environment may also be created through sexual photographs, demeaning jokes, or threats with a sexual undertone.

A second type of sexual harassment is known as quid pro quo. According to employment lawyer Greg Noble, this occurs when "your boss is conditioning a benefit of employment on something sexual, such as a date, sex, or anything like that." Quid pro quo sexual harassment can also occur when someone in a position of authority requests a sexual favor in exchange for not firing or otherwise punishing the employee, or in exchange for a favor such as a raise or promotion.

It is important to be aware that if you are the victim of any type of workplace harassment, you cannot simply quit your job. New Jersey employment attorney Kevin Costello explains, "Unfortunately, it's not so easy to just quit. In order for us to carry remedies for you into court and say that you were forced to resign because of the harassment, it has to be pretty bad. The standard is called 'conduct which is so extreme and outrageous that no reasonable person could be expected to continue to endure it'...If the harassment is that bad, you do have a right to leave [and] you do have a right to capture lost wages and other lost benefits." Exactly what kind of behavior qualifies as "extreme and outrageous conduct" varies from case to case, judge to judge, and court to court.

Although you cannot quit your job unless the sexual harassment is severe, your employer is obligated to address the issue of harassment and take action to resolve the problem. "It is important that people understand that employers have an obligation under the law not just to prevent unlawful sexual harassment, but when there's a legitimate complaint about it, to investigate it fully and to take corrective action. If the employers don't do that, they're subject to all kinds of penalties," explains employment attorney Steve Cahn.

Educating yourself on both federal sexual harassment laws and your state's law is an essential step in protecting yourself from becoming a victim of sexual harassment. When you know your rights, you will know when they are being violated and you will be empowered to defend yourself. If you are sexually harassed at work, it is advisable to inform the harasser directly that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop. In addition, you should use any employer complaint mechanism or grievance system available. Finally, it is advisable to speak to an employment lawyer about the situation as soon as possible in order to ensure that your rights are protected and the proper legal procedure for dealing with the harassment is followed.

Author Bio

Liz Ryan is a Writing and Content Specialist for Lawyer Central. Visit Lawyer Central's Employee Issue Resources for legal information about employment law and to find an experienced employment lawyer. Discuss workplace rights and related issues on the free Law Forum.