Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York Employment Attorneys

Karpf & Karpf, P.C.

3070 Bristol Pike Building 2, Suite 231 Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 USA

 (215) 639-0801

www.karpf-law.com/
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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

Karpf & Karpf, P.C. is dedicated to helping you with workplace issues. Our attorneys understand the personal difficulties inherent in bringing legal action against your employer and are prepared to do what is necessary to protect your rights. Additionally, our Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York labor and employment lawyers have experience dealing with the various state and federal agencies that can be involved in employee rights claims. We are knowledgeable about administrative procedures and know how to efficiently pursue your claim.

Our practice focuses on informing employees and former employees about their legal rights concerning the workplace and helping them to take swift legal action on their behalf when necessary. If you believe your rights are being violated, you should contact an attorney at your earliest convenience. This is because many employment laws are complicated and require you to make an administrative filing quickly, sometimes as soon as 30-90 days from the alleged illegal action.

It is our view that as attorneys, we are merely a tool. This means that you always remain in control of your own case and are advised throughout each stage of the administrative process and court process about your best options. At the law firm of Karpf & Karpf, P.C., we pride ourselves on being selective in the employment cases we handle, being very accessible, and keeping our clients updated on the status of their cases.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Unemployment Compensation, Severance Packages, Family Medical Leave Act, Age Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, Disability Accommodation, WARN Act

Practice Areas Description

Karpf & Karpf concentrates its practice in the following areas of law:

- Sexual Harassment

There are basically two kinds of sexual harassment recognized by federal law: (1) Hostile-work environment sexual harassment; (2) Quid pro quo sexual harassment - This kind of harassment occurs when an employer or agents of the employer place terms and conditions of an employee’s continued employment on the return of sexual favors.

- Racial Harassment

Almost any decision an employer makes that is premised on an employee’s race that adversely affects the employment of an employee creates a viable cause of action for race discrimination. Federal law (as well as many state laws) prohibits employees from being subjected to harassment because of their race (the use of racially offensive language / innuendos and graffiti). It is also illegal if an employee is terminated, demoted, not advanced within the company, or not hired because of his or her race.

- Unemployment Compensation

If you are terminated from your job, you may qualify for temporary payments of money through unemployment compensation. It is important that you contact an unemployment compensation service center in your state to obtain benefits very soon after your separation from employment.

- Severance Packages

Employees should usually have proposed severance packages reviewed by an experienced and knowledgeable employment attorney. Employees may be waiving claims they are not aware they are waiving, and more importantly, are not required to waive. In certain instances, a proper evaluation of the circumstances surrounding a former employee’s termination or separation will reveal that it may be more appropriate to pursue legal recourse instead of waiving potential claims.

- Family Medical Leave Act

Employers cannot terminate or retaliate against employees for taking Family Medical Leave. Employees must be reinstated to their previous position or an equivalent position upon returning from Family Medical Leave. There are some circumstances when an employee can take intermittent Family Medical Leave, which means taking leave in blocks of time or working less during the normal work week.

- Whistleblower Protection

Many states have enacted laws that provide additional protection to employees, such as New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). If you believe that you may have been unlawfully terminated, it is essential that you contact an attorney immediately (if you are considering legal action). This is because many of the federal laws that protect you require the initiation of legal/administrative proceedings within 30 days to 180 days, depending on the statute at issue.

- Fair Labor Standards Act

The minimum wage and overtime pay requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are among the nation's most important worker protections.The FLSA provides exemptions from the minimum wage and overtime requirements for employees employed in a bone fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity or in the capacity of outside salesman.

- Age Discrimination

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and various state laws make it illegal for employers to make decisions that are motivated by an employee’s age. Federal law limits age related lawsuits to persons who are 40 years of age or older. However, other states such as New Jersey provide broader protections.

- Religious Discrimination

Employers may not be familiar with their obligations concerning an employee’s religion or religious practices.Under federal anti-discrimination laws, religion does not mean only mainstream or organized religions. Rather, an employee need only have a religious belief, common or uncommon in the community, that is sincerely held.

- Disability Accommodation

Under federal law, a "disability" is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals in employment as well as in public services, public accommodations and in public transportation.

- Wrongful Termination

Generally, at-will employees can be fired for any reason or no reason. There are several statutory exceptions to the at-will employment rule though. For example, at-will employees generally cannot be terminated because of their age, race, sex, religion, disability, for taking a qualified medical leave, for objecting to a polygraph test as a condition of employment, for serving on a jury, for fulfilling military duties if employed by the military, or merely for having a criminal conviction.

- ERISA

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established pension plans, health plans, and employment related compensation within private industry.

- WARN Act

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act) offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring certain employers to provide 60 days notice for plant closings and mass layoffs. Generally, employees of all levels are entitled to notice, including entry level employees, supervisors, and managers.

- Labor Law

Many people are aware of federal laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), that regulate how employers treat their employees. Not as many people realize that a number of state and even local laws also do the same, and in some cases provide even greater protection for workers. The Pennsylvania labor attorneys of Karpf & Karpf, P.C. are knowledgeable about the many specific labor laws in Pennsylvania that protect workers from unfair treatment.

- Employment Law

A Pennsylvania employment attorney works in a very complicated and unique area of law. Labor and employment issues involve both federal and state laws. A Bucks County labor lawyer must also deal with various administrative agencies and commissions, such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

Attorneys

Mr. Ari Karpf Attorney Employment

Ms. Amy Y. Karpf Attorney Employment

More Information on Karpf & Karpf, P.C.

Sexual Harassment Attorneys in Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Bensalem, PA Racial Harassment Lawyers
Unemployment Compensation Law Firm in Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Bensalem, PA Severance Packages Attorneys
Family Medical Leave Act Lawyers in Bensalem, PA
Bensalem, Pennsylvania Whistleblower Protection Law Firm
Fair Labor Standards Act Attorneys in Bensalem, PA
Bensalem, Pennsylvania Age Discrimination Lawyers
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