The Law Office of Bret Kleefuss

If you are over forty and your age was a motivating factor in an employment decision, I may be able to help.  Whether you have been discharged, harassed, passed over for a promotion or experienced any other unfair treatment because of your age, I'd be happy to discuss your situation.

Sex discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee unfairly because of their sex, gender, or pregnancy‑related conditions.  These behaviors undermine an employee's right to a respectful and equitable workplace. Contact me if you've been treated differently because of your gender.

Employers are not allowed to make decisions based on an employee's race.  Everybody has a right to equal treatment in the workplace.  Stereotypes and biases, unfortunately, still show up in too many places of work.  If you've been discharged, demoted, denied a promotion or otherwise treated unfairly because of your race, I may be able to help.

Employers are legally obligated to provide reasonable accommodation to all types of physical and mental impairments and illnesses. They can’t treat you differently because of your disability, record of a disability, perceived disability or the disability of a family member. I may be able to help if you've been denied a reasonable accommodation, discharged, demoted, denied a promotion or raise, or otherwise are treated unfairly because of a disability.

People are often treated unfairly or differently because they complained about discrimination or harassment on the job. If you have reported illegal discrimination or harassment and suffered retaliation as a result, I'd like to discuss your situation.

Many employees are entitled to overtime pay at time and a half your regular rate of pay for working more than 40 hours in a workweek. Most American workers are covered by federal, state or local minimum wage law. Some common problems I may be able to help with include: denial of overtime pay to employees illegally classified as salaried; denial of pay for “off the clock” work; failure to pay minimum wage; and failure to pay overtime to those improperly classified as independent contractors.  If you believe you've been denied your rights under applicable wage statutes, please contact me to discuss the situation.

Your employer has an obligation to provide a work environment free of unwelcome sexual conduct, or hostility based on your sex or race, age, disability, religion or national origin. I may be able to help if you experience unwelcome sexual advances, inappropriate touching, sexually suggestive comments and “jokes”, or sexual assault name calling, aggressive or threatening behavior, assault, disrespect or other hostile conduct based on race, ethnic origin or religion.

Employees may be targeted by co-workers or managers because they were born in a different country, are members of an unpopular ethnic group or practice a different faith. I may be able to help if your employer will not accommodate your religious practices, you are the target of bullying, ethnic slurs or hateful speech at work, or you are denied a promotion or raise because of animosity toward your ethnic group.

Numerous state and federal laws make it illegal to terminate or treat you unfairly because you blow the whistle on illegal conduct. Employers further are not allowed to ask you to break the law.  If you have experienced retaliation for reporting illegal behavior, or refusing to participate in an employer's illegal behavior, I might be able to help.