Employment Law

Montana Attorneys Representing Montana’s Workers

The employment attorneys at our law firm are experienced in advocating for Montana’s workers.  We can assist employees in all employment matters, including wrongful discharges, harassment and discrimination, and employer retaliation.

If you are facing an employment issue, do not face it alone.  Call our law firm today, or contact us online using the form below, and let our lawyers advocate for you.

Wrongful Discharge

Montana employment laws protect employees from being terminated without good cause.  Under the Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act, employers  may generally fire an employee for any non-discriminatory reason within a six month probationary period (or longer if the employer’s policies extend this period).  But after that period ends, an employer must establish specific reasons why its terminating the employee.  If the employer cannot establish good cause for firing an employee, it may be liable for up to  four years of lost wages.

Our law firm and attorneys are experienced in handling wrongful termination claims.  If you were past your probationary period and believe your employer terminated you for no reason, contact us today about your legal options.

If you were terminated and are interested in wrongful discharge claim, YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY.   For example, if your employer has a grievance procedure in place, you must exhaust this procedure before filing your claim. Some employer grievance procedures may only give you a few days after termination to respond, and it’s important that you file a grievance within the time period provided.  Contacting an attorney early in this process can help in articulating your grievances.

Whether your employer has a grievance procedure or not, you only have one year from your discharge to file a lawsuit.  So you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after your termination.

Workplace Discrimination

Both Montana and federal law protect employees from being discriminated against employees based on:

• Disability

• Gender or Pregnancy

• Race

• Religion

• Age

Discrimination can include hiring and firing decisions, unequal pay for equal work, harassment, failure to accommodate a condition or provide required leave.  Such discrimination violates Montana’s Human Rights Act, and federal laws such as the Americans with Disability Act and Title VII.

If you have been discriminated against, the first step is to file a complaint with Montana’s Human Rights Bureau.  An investigator will then review your claim, and determine whether reasonable cause exists that discrimination has occurred.   After this investigation, the process can include a hearing, appeals to the Human Rights Commission, and court proceedings. Our attorneys can advocate for you in this process, and help establish your discrimination claims.   And if you can establish discrimination, your employer may be responsible for your attorney’s fees.

If you feel you have been discriminated against, contact our law office today about your case.  You must file a discrimination claim within 180 days of when you were discriminated, so you must act quickly.