Were it not for federal and state laws, many employers would take full advantage of their power to hire, fire, or pay a salary based solely on an individual's contribution to the bottom line. Fortunately for all of us working-class folks, plenty of laws have been created to protect us from corporate greed.

Employment Attorneys: Looking Out for the Little Guy

For the most part, businesses are pretty good at following the rules and providing a safe work environment for their employees. There are occasions however, whether intentional or not, when a company creates a hostile work environment ripe with bigotry, harassment, and any one of a hundred forms of discrimination.

People that have gone before you have paved the way, some suffering a great deal in the process, in an effort to make your work environment more equal for all. And when it's not, an employment lawyer might be your best option.

Cases often arise where minorities are involved. In 2004 it was discovered that a Chinese newspaper based in Taiwan with publications in LA, New York, and Houston, for years required its employees to work 17 hour days with no overtime pay. Most of the employees were Asians who had little understanding of American labor laws, were too intimidated by their employer, or concerned that they would not be able to get work elsewhere if they were fired for complaining.

When somebody finally did stand up for themselves, a 200-person class action lawsuit was brought against the company, resulting in several million dollars in damages being awarded along with changes to working conditions.

Looking Out for the Other Side

While an employment attorney may be the last line of defense for workers being abused by their employer, employers also need protection from vindictive employees who wrongly accuse companies of abusive conditions.

One such case involves an African American woman in Texas who sued her employer, a Mexican restaurant chain, claiming that she had not been offered the same employment opportunities as her white counterparts. However, the woman was making unfair comparisons between her position and those in upper management. A Houston employment attorney argued that her case had no merit, and the Mexican restaurant company was able to successfully defend against what would have likely been a multi-million dollar award to the accusing employee.

Whatever our position in life, it's likely that we've all taken part in and laughed at a lawyer joke or two. However, without employment attorneys there would be no one left to protect the little guy from the big guy and vice versa.