Share your needs with us, get contacted by law firms.
Free. Takes 2 min.
Hiring and firing law, also known as employment law, is a broad legal area that regulates the employer-employee relationship. It determines the rights, obligations, and protections for employees and employers. In Kennebunk, United States, hiring and firing laws include both federal law and state laws of Maine. These laws encompass a variety of issues such as employee rights, discrimination, wrongful termination, wages and benefits, and workplace safety.
Legal advice may be required in situations such as understanding and negotiating employment contracts or severance agreements, facing discrimination or harassment at work, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, and compliance with workplace regulations. A lawyer can help protect your rights, explain your legal options, assist with negotiation, and represent you in litigation if necessary.
Maine state laws and local ordinances in Kennebunk align with, and in some cases expand on, federal employment law. These include enforced fair hiring practices, prohibition of discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or genetic information, and protection against wrongful termination. Kennebunk employers are also required to pay employees at least the minimum wage, observe overtime laws, and provide workplace safety.
Wrongful termination includes being fired for discriminatory reasons, as a form of sexual harassment, because you filed a claim or complaint against the employer, or in violation of labor laws, including collective bargaining laws.
Yes, under Maine law, unless there is a contract, collective bargaining agreement, or company policy stating otherwise, employers may adopt an 'at-will' employment policy where either party can terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, as long as the reason is not unlawful.
Hiring discrimination occurs when a job applicant is not chosen based on factors such as their race, gender, nationality, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation.
Yes, under Maine law, employers are required to pay non-exempt employees overtime—1.5 times the regular hourly rate—for any hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek.
Yes, harassment for any discriminatory reason is illegal under federal and state law. You may file a complaint with relevant bodies and also take legal action.
For further help, refer to the Maine Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Maine Human Rights Commission, and professional employment law attorneys in Kennebunk. It is also useful to be familiar with resources such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If you need legal help with hiring and firing issues, consider contacting a local employment law attorney for a consultation. They can provide legal advice tailored to your situation, guide you through the process, and help protect your rights. If you believe your rights have been violated, you should take steps to document incidents, gather evidence, and report the matter to the relevant bodies.
