Sapulpa Employment Law Lawyer

You expect fair treatment at work. If your employer violates your legal rights, hold them responsible. To do so, partner with an Sapulpa personal injury lawyer. 

The team at BDIW Law understands the complexities of employment law in Oklahoma. Our Sapulpa employment law lawyer is available to discuss your case. Contact us today.

Rights of Employees in Sapulpa

Laws are in place to protect employees across Oklahoma. Many of these laws are similar to those in effect nationally, and some offer greater protections than federal regulations. Here is a look at several Oklahoma employment laws and the rights that they provide to workers in Sapulpa. 

Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act (OADA)

You cannot be terminated from a job due to your race, religion, and other protected characteristics, per Okla. Stat. tit. 25, §§ 1101-1706, aka the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act. OADA affects companies that have one or more workers. It also applies to cases involving harassment and retaliation in the workplace.

Equal Pay Act

For jobs involving comparable effort, skill, or responsibility, men and women are required to be paid at the same level, according to Oklahoma’s Equal Pay Act. This does not necessarily mean that men and women must earn the same pay rate for every job. An employer is allowed to compensate a worker based on seniority, merit, or any system that measures earnings on factors other than gender. 

Oklahoma Open Records Act

An employer can request state criminal records based on Oklahoma’s Open Records Act. These records can include criminal and non-criminal information. They can be used for an employment screening or other purposes.

Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act

It is legal for a business to ask you to complete a drug and alcohol test in accordance with Oklahoma’s Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act. A company can do so only after it makes you a conditional offer of employment. If a business requires a drug and alcohol test, it must cover the cost and follow evaluation procedures from the state’s Board of Health. 

Minimum Wage Act

Under Oklahoma’s Minimum Wage Act, businesses must pay their non-exempt employees at least the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour as of December 2023. This act applies to companies that have at least 10 full-time workers and/or earn more than $100,000 yearly. It does not affect companies subject to the federal Fair Labor Standard Act.  

Child Labor

Minors under the age of 18 cannot work in underground mines or establishments that serve or sell beer for on-site consumption, per Oklahoma’s child labor laws. Adolescents under the age of 16 cannot work in roles that are considered hazardous to their health, such as storage and warehousing jobs. Also, there are restrictions on the number of hours that kids under the age of 16 can work at different points during the year.

If an employer violates any of these laws or any others, hold them accountable. BDIW Law makes it easy to connect with an experienced Sapulpa employment law attorney. For more information, reach out to us.

What to Do if You Are Dealing with Discrimination at Work

Those who believe they are the victim of workplace discrimination can contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Office of Civil Rights Enforcement (OCRE), which is a division of the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. This allows you to file a discrimination claim. An employment law lawyer in Sapulpa can help you submit your claim before your window to do so lapses.

EEOC lets you submit a charge of discrimination against an employer. This charge is a signed statement in which you assert that you are the victim of discrimination. The timeline for filing a claim is 180 days, but this deadline may be extended to 300 days if you are dealing with a charge that is covered by a state anti-discrimination law.

The 180-day window also applies to OCRE complaints. After you submit your complaint, OCRE reviews it and determines if the issue warrants an investigation. If so, OCRE sends a copy of the complaint to the accused party, prepares a formal charge of discrimination, and conducts an investigation. 

How At-Will Employment Works in Sapulpa

Oklahoma is an employment-at-will state. This gives a business the option to terminate a worker’s employment in most instances. Employment-at-will is not absolute, and there are exceptions to when an employer can terminate a worker, including:

• Due to an employee’s race, religion, or other protected characteristics
• Based on requesting time off for jury duty
• Retaliating against an employee who reported an on-the-job health and safety concern
• Deployment in the military
• Smoking outside of work

An employee who loses their job for any of these reasons may be able to submit a wrongful termination claim. There is a three-year window to submit a claim on the grounds of being wrongfully terminated. An attorney can help you determine if an employer violated at-will employment laws.

Why You Should Hire an Employment Law Lawyer

It can be difficult to navigate the ins and outs of Oklahoma’s employment laws. If you make a mistake when you submit a claim against an employer, you are unlikely to get your desired result. On the other hand, when you hire a lawyer, you can get the legal help you need to pursue your claim to the fullest extent.

Your attorney answers frequently asked questions and others about employment laws. They can look at your case and determine the legitimacy of your claim. If your rights as an employee have been violated, your attorney explains what you need to do next and helps you plan accordingly.

Along with these things, your lawyer helps you build a strong case against an employer. They gather evidence and calculate your damages. If it is in your best interests to file a lawsuit against a business, your lawyer will let you know, and they can help you submit your claim. 

Partner with an Employment Law Attorney in Sapulpa

Do not let an employer off the hook if it has violated your rights as a worker. The team at BDIW Law can help you submit a claim against your employer. To request a free case consultation, contact us today.