Federal and state laws dictate the ways that employers in the United States must behave when conducting business. An ethically sound organization will be free from harassment, discrimination, safety violations, or illegal activities. If an employee notices any of these unethical business practices, then they may feel a moral obligation to report it to the proper authorities.
Does this sound like your situation? The attorneys at HKM Employment Attorneys are here to act as your legal advocates as you fight against unethical behavior in the workplace. As your workplace ethics investigation attorneys, we’ll support you as human resources or external investigators try to get to the root of the problem at your job. Should you need assistance with gathering evidence or witness statements, we can help you with that, as well.
We’ll do everything possible to help ensure a successful case and to protect you from retaliation from your employer. It all starts with an initial consultation where we will discuss the details of your case.
What Are the Areas Covered by Workplace Ethics Laws in Boston?
The Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) established by the Civil Rights Act are designed to protect employees from harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Both federal and state laws offer employees protection against:
- Wrongful termination
- Gender discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Racial discrimination
- Age discrimination
- Disability discrimination
- Unequal pay
If you experience any of the above, then you have a legal right to file a report with your human resources office, and if nothing comes of that, you can file a complaint with the EEOC.
What is an Ethics Investigation in the Workplace?
An ethics investigation will take place after an employee makes any of the following claims:
- Whistleblower retaliation
- Sexual harassment
- Discrimination based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion
- Unsafe work conditions
- Illegal work practices
- Workplace violence
An employee experiencing any of these issues should report their experience to human resources or, in some cases, the EEOC. After your complaint is received, an investigation will likely take place. Depending on the severity of your claims, it may be an external ethics investigation, but it is more common for the investigation to be handled internally by the human resources department or company lawyers.
When Should I Consider An Attorney for An Ethics Investigation?
Many employees are wary of internal workplace investigations, as they worry that company lawyers will attempt to hide any evidence in order to avoid liability. They also worry about being pressured to change statements under threat of losing their jobs.
During the course of a workplace ethics investigation, you have the same right to legal representation as your employers. If you have concerns about the internal investigation being thorough and fair, hiring an attorney to act as your advocate can put you in the best position to protect your interests.
Contact Our Workplace Ethics Investigation Attorneys
The Boston law office of HKM Employment Attorneys is committed to representing employee’s interests during workplace investigations. We have years of experience working in all practice areas of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, wage disputes, and non-compete agreements. With this knowledge, we won’t let you get railroaded by an unfair workplace ethics investigation. From gathering evidence to securing witness statements, we will do everything in our power to keep your employer honest, so they have to rectify the workplace dispute.
Your first step is to reach out to our team for a free initial consultation. We’ll be happy to meet with you to discuss the details of your case and how we can best represent you during your workplace ethics investigation.
Call 617-315-4724or fill out this form and we will get back to you ASAP.