Lawyers, Answer Questions  & Get Points Log In
Florida Employment Discrimination Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Employment Discrimination

Is it employment discrimination when a White woman with a black male supervisor is paid more than the supervisor? Is it racial discrimination, Gender, or both? Should I be compensated at a salary comparable to the white female who reports to me as their supervisor.

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on May 8, 2023

Not necessarily. In the legal employment discrimination analysis, you compare yourself to employees in the same or similar position to your position, or performing the same duties as you. Those employees are called "comparator" employees. Also, if the person you are supervising has... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: I had a customer at work harass me several times and my work didn’t really do anything about it. What can I do ?

I work at a storage rental facility and a customer not only broke several of the rules but also indecently exposed himself to me and then grabbed/tried rubbing up on me afterwards. All my company did was make him move out three of his 5 units. I expressed to them how unsafe I feel when he’s... Read more »

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Apr 17, 2023

Sounds like the customer committed a crime, or more than one crime (and is there a video to prove it?). You can report it to the police to see if they will arrest the customer for indecent exposure, etc. - but you may want to run that by your employer first. If the employer would terminate you... Read more »

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Can I sue the owner of a company I was hired for firing me after been assaulted by a harassing employee?
Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Feb 26, 2023

If you're asking if you can sue simply because the termination was unfair or because it makes no sense, that reason alone is probably not sufficient to support a claim, other than a claim for Reemployment Assistance (unemployment comp) (if you qualify). In Fla., if you don't have an... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Florida on
Q: My daughter is a minor working at dunkin donuts and is being treat unfairly and harras, what can she do?

My daughter is being harras by 2 employees, from being bullied because of her race, given a task that such employees don't want to do, and getting yelled at in a degrading way being threatened to get fired if she complains. This situation has her anxiety and feels that even if she stands up to... Read more »

Stephen Arnold Black
Stephen Arnold Black
answered on Feb 10, 2023

If your daughter is being harassed or discriminated against based on her race, she needs to bring this to the attention of human resources and/or her direct supervisor. After the supervisor is on notice, they have a duty to either separate the employees from your daughter, or discharge them. If... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Can an employer ask you to resign after you tell them you have cancer?? **& your also pregnant?

My neice inlaw is 26, she's 9 mo.s pregnant and has just been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, her plan was to return to work as a teacher after 3 mo's. When she told her employer (a very highly prestigious private school in pbg, fl) that she may need a double masectomy, they asked... Read more »

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Jan 24, 2023

Whether your niece can take legal action on the issue of separating from the school depends on what she means by "they asked her to resign." Does it mean that they basically asked if she'd be WILLING to resign, with her having the option of saying, "No, I want to return to work... Read more »

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination for Florida on
Q: Can I accept a settlement from my former employer in an EEOC charge that is higher than the law $ cap?

I know that in EEOC discrimination cases, financial settlement is limited based on number of employees in the company. Can the company offer a higher settlement amount than the cap limit the law has set? Such as for a company under 100 employees, but more than 15, limit says $50k. Can the company... Read more »

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Dec 1, 2022

Offering more than they have to would certainly be surprising. Generally, a party that has rights under the law can voluntarily waive those rights. That is a general guideline I am giving you, not a legal opinion for your particular situation, as I could not be certain of the answer to your... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: What is considered unlawful termination

In the State of Florida can an employer terminate you for asking to speak with higher management? Also if you're in a sober living program can they contact the program to try to get personal information on you. Also can they yall and berate you every day. Can I sue based on these issues? Do I... Read more »

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Nov 27, 2022

Yes, yes, yes, and yes, your employer can do all these things and much more. Why?

Because Florida is an “at-will” state. Private employers are free to solicit, hire, promote, increase their pay, demote, lower their pay, suspend, terminate, rehire, reinstate benefits and treat employees...
Read more »

Q: Can I sue my employer for causing me to get yeast infections?

I work at a Twin Peaks restaurant in South Florida which requires me and my fellow servers to wear tight jean shorts for our shifts. I and the majority of my coworkers routinely develop yeast infections from the hot climate, tight shorts, and fast-paced nature of a server position. I believe these... Read more »

Joseph Coughlan
Joseph Coughlan
answered on Oct 10, 2022

In theory, yes. Essentially, you would be seeking medical or lost wage benefits. Damages such as pain and suffering are not available in Florida Workers' Compensation cases. However, it may be difficult to meet the standard of proof required by Florida Workers' Compensation law. The type... Read more »

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: My daughter is a server. The owner has opened 2 new restaurants. Can she be forced to work at a different restaurant?

The restaurants are different concepts. Different rate of pay and duties. Refuses to hire more people. And this employer is also not paying the girls overtime. They also are never given pay stubs. The owner also recently refused to give her the insurance company's name for a workers comp... Read more »

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Sep 20, 2022

Yes, unless she has a written employment contract that dictates where she works, the employer can tell her to relocate. In Florida, employees work (serve, in this case) at the employer's pleasure.

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: My daughter is a server. The owner has opened 2 new restaurants. Can she be forced to work at a different restaurant?

The restaurants are different concepts. Different rate of pay and duties. Refuses to hire more people. And this employer is also not paying the girls overtime. They also are never given pay stubs. The owner also recently refused to give her the insurance company's name for a workers comp... Read more »

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Sep 20, 2022

Your daughter should schedule a consultation with an employment lawyer in her geographic area. Can an employer tell an employee to work at another location or instead me terminated? Usually, yes, because in most circumstances, the employer does not need a reason to terminate. However, you raise... Read more »

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Is it legal for an employer to deny a promotion to a different dept simply because their current dept is short staffed?

Although a different department wanted to higher my colleague, which would have been a promotion for her, the supervisors in my colleague's current department told them not to hire her because they were currently short staffed in their department and didn't want her to leave. The staffing... Read more »

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Aug 3, 2022

Sure, it's legal, PROVIDED that the reason given for denial of promotion is not a pretext (that is, a fake reason) to mask an unrevealed reason that is prohibited by law, such as the laws prohibiting certain types of discrimination and retaliation.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Florida on
Q: Is it Illegal for a district manager refuse someone a promotion if their boyfriend is a general manager of a restaurant
Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Jul 11, 2022

Your inquiry is not very understandable about the facts of the situation (such as, is the general manager the boyfriend of the "someone" or boyfriend of the district manager?), but, in any event, if you're talking about a private company, no law requires it to have some logical... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Sexual Harassment for Florida on
Q: Hi there, I have questions about discrimination are abouts my work slowly speed.. many times I been told in my work

I just felt discrimina the company in Dunking Donut as employees by coworkers and is not the first time I have to go through this, is full company likely Miami Grill and Chipotle and McDonald's and Charly Restaurant.. but my consent is Dunking Donut where I was hired of the month April 27... Read more »

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Jun 3, 2022

It sounds like you are wondering if an employer is illegally discriminating against you by hassling you about your work speed. The only way that this might possibly be a legal issue is if you have a disability that the employer was made aware of, and you are able to competently work for that... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: So I was descriminated against by another employee for my disability, instead of firing her, they moved her to another..

Department. Is there any recourse? On top of being targeted for other mitigating circumstances. Do I have a leg to stand on? Should I file an EEOC complaint or retain an attormey?

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on May 20, 2022

If you feel you have been discriminated against by the actions of your employer because of your race, age, gender (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation or national origin, religion or marital status, pregnancy, or because you have a disability or feel you have been retaliated against... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Florida on
Q: Is it legal to fire someone who has a medical condition without a given reason

My friend who is currently going through chemotherapy was apparently suspended without pay from the company we work for because they allegedly cited he smelled like alcohol when apparently he didn't and he was suspended for also taking medication .

Rhiannon Herbert
Rhiannon Herbert
answered on May 11, 2022

Florida is an at-will employment state, meaning that workers can be terminated at any time and for any reason (or no reason at all). However, if your friend suspects he was targeted for termination based on his medical condition, he should speak with a Florida employment attorney about disability... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Can a privet sector employer not hire you because of who your neighbor is

My neighbor is a ex employee

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Apr 28, 2022

Depends on if the REAL reason for not hiring is discrimination based on one of the protected classes under the law, such as race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, handicap, and some other categories. While there is usually no way to get hard proof of the real reason outside of... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: I was seeing a psychiatrist for employment and to better myself instead he wrote and said horrible things about me which

Which left me traumized and suicidal not wanting to be around others anymore

Stephen Arnold Black
Stephen Arnold Black
answered on Apr 11, 2023

Were these statements made to a third party? Reach out to counsel for a full review of the facts. You may have a case.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Hired by a Federal Agency, got infected while on training, and terminated my employment. Can they just terminate it?

I was hired by a federal agency and invited for two weeks of training. I got infected with COVID on the third day of the training. They provided a hotel for quarantine. I could not receive the adequate medication that I needed from ER. The PCP advised me in Florida to travel from GA to have a... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 2, 2023

It's possible that you may have a case if your termination was discriminatory or in violation of federal law or agency policy. The EEOC investigates complaints of employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information, so if you... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Florida on
Q: Lack of communication between Walmart and sedgwick lead thembto fireme I think it's wrongful termination

Went on leave a absence from Walmart i was fired because they didn't communicate with sSedgwick company

Cynthia Pietrucha
Cynthia Pietrucha
answered on Feb 22, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences with Walmart. I'm an Illinois attorney and handle federal employment discrimination cases and violations of federal laws. I've helped Walmart employees with this exact issue, usually by filing a federal charge of discrimination based on... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Florida on
Q: Question on employment law and background checks in Florida.

I live in Florida and I am curious what background reporting regulations may be (Google has too many different answers to be sure what is correct).

Almost 10 years ago, when I was barely 18, I was arrested for a couple of felonies and a couple of misdemeanors. All of my charges were either... Read more »

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Dec 14, 2022

I strongly suggest that you hire an employment lawyer to discuss this rather than ask all these very important questions here on this public website. The fee for speaking to most experienced employment lawyers is very reasonable. Search for one using the website's Find a Lawyer tab.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.