Employment Law

Employment law is everywhere and affects nearly every person at some point in his or her life.  This is what attracted Dave and Eleni to this area of law.  Dave and Eleni graduated in the top third of their class with Certificates of Concentration in Labor and Employment Law. Dave and Eleni are passionate about protecting employees' rights that are guaranteed by state and federal law.  

Since opening their firm in 2015 Dave and Eleni have represented over 150 employees in Colorado, New Mexico and Ohio in employment related matters.  These matters include representing clients in employment contract and severance agreement negotiations, unemployment hearings, appeals hearings in the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Administrative Appeals Hearing Office (AAHO) and Tribal Employment Relations Office (TERO), at employers’ internal grievance hearings, in cases filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (wage complaints and PHEW Act complaints), and in Colorado state court, the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, Ohio state court, and in United States Federal Court in the Districts of Colorado, New Mexico, and the Northern District of Ohio. Our firm has handled numerous wage and hour cases (including class and collective actions) in state and federal court. 

Dave and Eleni have been a member of the Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyer’s Association (PELA) and National Employment Lawyers’ Association (NELA) since 2015.  We are one of the few law firms on the western slope and Southwest Colorado regions that belong to NELA and PELA, and thus, one of the few firms outside of the front range that have dedicated our practice to focus solely on representing employees. 

Employees

Employees are the driving force of the U.S. economy.  Employers have an obligation to treat their employees with the dignity and respect that they deserve.  While it is true that the prevailing rule of law employment at-will (employment can be terminated at any time with or without notice for a good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all), employers still have legal obligations to their employees.  The lawyers of Albrechta & Albrechta will advocate aggressively for your rights as an employee.

Wrongful Termination

Wrongful terminations happen more often than people think, and many employees do not know their rights.  The deadlines to file lawsuits or administrative actions to preserve an employee’s claim are short, and many employees wait until it is too late to contact a lawyer to pursue their claims.  Others simply do not know their rights and do not believe that they have the resources to take on a large employer.  The lawyers of Albrechta & Albrechta have worked on cases involving multinational corporations, national companies, large-scale local employers, and small employers throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and Ohio.  Albrechta Law offers flexible agreements of representation to accommodate employees who have lost their source of income, contact us today to learn more.

Please contact our office today if you believe you have been wrongfully terminated or discriminated against by your employer for any of the following reasons:

  • Pregnancy;

  • Race;

  • Color;

  • Creed

  • Gender;

  • Disability;

  • Age;

  • Religion;

  • Sexual orientation;

  • Ethnicity; or

  • National Origin.

Harassment or Hostile Work Environment

State and Federal laws protect employees from harassment at work which can lead to a hostile work environment.  If you are being harassed by a supervisor or co-worker call our office immediately. Please be aware that harassment and hostile work environment are only actionable if it is

Family, Medical, and Sick Leave

Certain employers are required to provide unpaid, job-protected leave to employees suffering from a certified serious medical condition in accordance with Federal law. Beginning in January 2021 Colorado also now requires certain employers to provide paid sick leave to all employees. Also, during the COVID-19 global pandemic, state and federal laws were passed regarding leave during public health emergencies. The lawyers at Albrechta & Albrechta have handled many cases in these areas. If you have any employment issues relating to these or similar types of leave, please call Albrechta & Albrechta to review your specific facts.

Disability Discrimination and Accommodations

Most employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees who are considered disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A disabled employee is anyone who has a medical condition that interferes with a daily life function. This area of law is complex and has layers of analysis. It also requires employees to request accommodations in accordance with the employers’ policies or procedures. If you believe you are disabled (or if you believe your employer perceives you as disabled) and need to request accommodations or believe that you are being discriminated against because of your disability, call Albrechta & Albrechta for a consultation to assist with this process.

Overtime and Fair Wages

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that protects your right as an employee to be fairly compensated for work performed. The Colorado Wage Claim Act (CWCA) is a Colorado state law that goes even further to protect Colorado employees’ right to be fairly compensated for work performed. Albrechta Law has filed individual, class, and collective actions against employers for violations of these statutes in state and federal court, including taking a case to the Colorado Supreme Court regarding payment of earned vacation pay.  If you worked overtime and were not paid, or if you were not compensated fairly for work performed, you may have a claim.  Contact Albrechta & Albrechta today for your consultation with an attorney to review your case.

Unemployment Insurance

If you have been terminated without just cause you may be eligible for unemployment insurance (UI).  While the initial proceedings of obtaining UI are fairly simple, if your former employer appeals a favorable decision, or if you want to appeal a unfavorable decision, it may be beneficial to hire a lawyer to represent you during the administrative proceedings.  If you have any unemployment insurance questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Albrechta & Albrechta.

The Colorado Crown Act

In 2020 Colorado became the 5th state in America to pass a law that bans discrimination based upon natural hair historically associated with race. The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act prohibits discrimination in the context of employment practices (and other areas) against any person on the basis of one's race include hair texture, hair type, or a protective hairstyle commonly or historically associated with race, such as braids, locs, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots, Afros, and headwraps. Please call Albrechta & Albrechta, if you feel that you have experienced discrimination in the workplace because of your hairstyle historically associated with race.

Employment Contracts (Severance Agreements and Employment Contracts)

Employees are sometimes faced with contracts or other documents that require their signature in the course of employment. Contracts can come in many different forms and should always be reviewed with a qualified employment lawyer before being executed. Employers sometimes offer severance agreements to employees who have been terminated. These agreements contain significant clauses which have the effect of waiving and releasing important rights. It is crucial that employees consult with an employment lawyer who understands the value of these waivers and releases before being signed. The lawyers at Albrechta Law have assisted many employees in negotiating and reviewing employment contracts of all types, please call us today to schedule your consultation to review a contract that requires your signature.

Other Employment Issues

This page is not exhaustive of the many employment related issues that may arise in the workplace.  If you are an employer or an employee with questions about employment law, please contact Albrechta & Albrechta today.  Our lawyers are ready to assist you with all of your employment law needs.