Private Sector Employment

Murray Law welcomes the opportunity to provide experienced counsel and representation to employees, former employees, applicants, employers, and associations.

Steven Murray, an experienced employment law attorney, is admitted to practice law in Colorado, the District of Columbia, and multiple United States District Courts and appellate courts.

He has represented prevailing employees, former employees, and applicants in jury trials before the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, litigation before multiple United States District Courts, mediation proceedings, and actions before federal administrative agencies.

Private sector employment is governed by a complex legal framework under federal and state law, providing individuals with legal rights and remedies.

Employment law is perpetually evolving. Various deadlines govern when specific actions must be taken to preserve an individual’s legal rights and claims for relief.

Any person confronting an employment issue is served by contacting an experienced employment attorney as soon as possible to learn the specific rights, claims, and deadlines governing the matter in issue.

Wrongful Discharge

Wrongful discharge is a discharge from employment in violation of law−an action taken for an unlawful reason. Depending on the precise facts involved, an employee may base a wrongful discharge claim on a broad scope of legal protections and factual scenarios.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Discrimination – Harassment – Retaliation

Federal and Colorado law protects individuals against employment discrimination based on a protected trait or membership in a protected class, including race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability, or religion.

In addition to the federal protections, Colorado law prohibits discrimination because of a person’s marital status, participation in lawful off-duty activities, or one’s status as a victim of domestic abuse.

Workplace harassment, including a hostile work environment, is unlawful discrimination when the harassment is based on a protected trait or class membership.

An individual has the right to be protected from retaliation by an employer. An employer may not take an adverse material action against an employee, such as discharging the employee, because the employee engaged in lawfully protected activity, such as filing a discrimination charge with the employer or a federal or state agency.

Contract Claims

Employment disputes may involve formal and informal claims for breach of contract, interference with contract, interference with prospective or continuing business relations, and detrimental reliance on a promise by the employer.

Compensation – Wages – Overtime

A wide range of federal and Colorado laws address an employee’s rights concerning the employer’s payment of compensation, wages, and overtime.

Family and Medical Leave

Federal and Colorado law provides family and medical leave rights and remedies to employees.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the laws governing family and medical leave are continuously evolving.

Private Dispute Resolution

Private mediation is an effective method to resolve employment disputes. Mediation may serve the mutual interests of the employee and the employer.

The parties may hold a mediation at any time in the dispute.

Mediation involves an agreement between the parties to select a private mediator and participate in resolving the dispute.

The parties jointly select a mediator, a neutral party. The process involves each party presenting its position to the mediator. The mediator seeks to narrow the issues, communicate with the parties, and work to achieve a settlement.

The mediation process does not require or force either party to accept an agreement. If the parties reach an agreement, the dispute is resolved, and there are no further legal proceedings.

Conclusion

Murray Law welcomes the opportunity to counsel and represent individuals and employers facing private sector employment issues. Please contact Murray Law at 720-600-6642.