Protecting The Rights Of Hawaii’s Employees
Last updated on September 5, 2024
You work hard at your job, and despite all your hard work, your employer still takes actions that infringe upon your rights as an employee. When this happens, it can feel like there’s nothing you can do to recuperate from this injustice. I am here to tell you that you can protect your employee rights, and I can help.
I am attorney Rod Bridgers. For more than 40 years, I have been helping individual employees in Hawaii protect their rights across various employment and labor law matters. Over the course of my career, I have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and judgments for my clients facing contentious employment matters.
Experienced and Local Employment Law Representation
In the decades that I have been fighting to protect employee rights, I have encountered all types of employee rights violations, including:
- Workplace discrimination: Discrimination can take place in many forms, up to but not limited to, gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, and disability.
- Whistleblower rights: The law protects whistleblowing employees from retaliation and any adverse actions against them related to their reporting.
- Retaliation: Employees often face retaliation from their employers for whistleblowing, reporting acts such as harassment or discrimination and more.
- Wage and hour violations: Unpaid breaks and overtime wages, as well as misclassifying employees/contractors, often comprise these employment disputes.
- Meal break disputes: Employees have a legal right to the meal and regular breaks.
- Sexual harassment: Unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical acts of a sexual nature are common forms of sexual harassment.
- Hostile work environments: Factors such as discrimination, harassment and more often contribute to hostile work environments.
- Wrongful termination: These instances are commonly a result of things like discrimination or harassment, but these are not the only causes.
I know what it takes to identify and establish that your rights have been violated. I work closely with my clients to make sure that I understand every unique detail of each of their individual legal matters to provide them with zealous representation. They can rely on my experienced legal advice and my commitment and dedication to their interests to feel at ease as they navigate their dispute.
Frequently Asked Hawaii Employment Law Questions
Before entering a legal dispute with your employer, there can be much to consider. You may feel overwhelmed about how to approach it or wonder if you have a sound case. As the lead attorney at the Law Office of Rod Bridgers, LLLC, I have been helping people with their employment disputes for over 40 years. I understand how daunting these cases can be for people who’ve never engaged in them.
Over my years of practice, I have heard several questions about employment law disputes. Having the answers to these questions can help point you in the right direction if you’re looking to file a claim against your employer:
Is Hawaii an at-will employment state?
Like many other states, Hawaii is an at-will employment state, meaning your employer can let you go anytime for any reason. However, there can be some instances where at-will employment doesn’t apply, like if you have a contract with your employer that says they need to notify you before termination.
Is Hawaii a right-to-work state?
No, Hawaii is not a right-to-work state. Hawaii law protects the rights of workers who wish to join a labor union and any efforts they make to form a union in their workplace.
If your employer actively tries to stop you from joining a union or fires you for discussing forming a union, their actions may violate state law. Call me at 808-796-5650 to discuss your case further.
How many hours can you work in Hawaii without a break?
The state doesn’t include regulations for when employees need to take breaks. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, employees under 18 get a 30-minute break for every 5 hours they work.
When does my employer have to pay me for overtime in Hawaii?
If you work more than 40 hours in a week, state law says your employer must pay you 1.5 times your regular hourly wage for any overtime work.
Now Is The Time To Act
Employers hope that you do not pursue legal action after your rights have been violated. When employees do not stand up for themselves, employers can continue to get away with their actions and continue to allow other employees to violate employee rights.
No matter what your background or employment industry is, I am ready to help you. Partner with the employment lawyer that Hawaii goes to for help. You can schedule your initial consultation by calling 808-796-5650 or emailing me here.