Tampa Employment Attorneys, Franchise Law, & Business Litigators

• In Florida, wrongful termination refers to situations where an employer fires an employee for reasons that violate local, state, or federal anti-discrimination laws. Florida is an at-will employment state, which means that, in general, employers can terminate an employee for any reason, so long as it is not discriminatory. Examples of wrongful termination in Tampa, Florida include:

• Discrimination: Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act, an employer cannot fire an employee based on their age, race, gender, national origin, disability, religion, or other protected characteristic.

• Retaliation: An employer cannot terminate an employee for engaging in protected activities, such as reporting workplace safety violations, filing a complaint of discrimination, or reporting illegal activities.

• Breach of Contract: if an employee has a written or verbal employment contract that guarantees them a job for a specific period of time, and the employee terminates them before that time has elapsed without good cause, it could be considered wrongful termination.

Did your Tampa employer wrongfully terminate you for reasons such as sexual harassment or otherwise? You may be entitled to compensation. Contact us for an initial consultation at (813) 705-6275 or coordinator@caklegal.com.

• If your employer in Florida did not pay your commissions or bonuses, there are steps that can be taken to try to resolve the issue.

• First, closely review your employment contract to see what it says about commission and bonus payments. Verbal agreements for commissions and bonuses, however, are also enforceable in Florida.

• Second, ask your employer about the status of payment. All communications with your employer should be in writing to keep for your records in case they don’t pay.

• Third, if you believe you are entitled to commissions or bonuses and your employer will not pay them, contact us.

• We have recovered millions of dollars in unpaid commissions and bonuses for people throughout Tampa Bay. Few employment law firms have our level of expertise in unpaid wage law. Contact us today for a free initial consultation at (813) 705-6275 or coordinator@caklegal.com.

• Yes, non-compete agreements are enforceable in Florida, as well as non-solicit agreements and non-disclosure agreements. However, there are certain requirements that must be met under Florida State. 542.335, including:

• In writing: the non-compete agreement must be in writing and signed by the employee or contractor.

• Based on legitimate business interest: the company must have a legitimate business interest in the provisions it seeks to enforce, such as confidential information, substantial relationships with customers or specific prospective customers, or customer goodwill associated with intellectual property or marketing area, or specialized training.

• Reasonable in scope: the provisions at issue must be reasonable in their geographic scope and duration.

• Florida non-compete law is extremely complicated, and you should hire a Tampa attorney who specializes in this area of law. Our Tampa non-compete lawyers at Cantrell Schuette are known statewide as experts in reviewing, negotiating, and litigating Florida non-compete agreements. Contact us for a free initial consultation at (813) 705-6275 or coordinator@caklegal.com.

• We advise current and prospective franchisees in franchise transactions and disputes. The following are some of the franchise law services we provide in Tampa:

• Franchise Review and Negotiation. We review Tampa franchise agreements on a flat fee to help you understand your rights and obligations, including investment obligations, termination rights, royalties, non-competition provisions, and more. We also help negotiate certain terms and conditions of the agreements.

• Compliance with Franchise, Advertising, and Employment Laws. We advise our clients on the myriad of federal and state franchise, advertising, and employment laws. Franchisees are employers and, therefore, are responsible for employment law compliance.

• Providing General Counsel. Like all employers, franchisees often have legal and HR questions from time to time. We serve our Tampa franchise clients during the full life cycle of their business.

• If you need a franchise lawyer near Tampa, contact us at (813) 705-6275 or coordinator@caklegal.com.

When you are subject to unlawful discrimination or harassment in Tampa, Florida, you need an experienced local employee rights attorney to help make things right. At Cantrell Schuette, our employment lawyers have been representing victims of workplace discrimination and harassment for decades. Many of our attorneys live here and are deeply involved in the community. We serve clients in and around the greater Tampa Bay area.

We are experts in knowing what to do when you are subject to wrongful termination or sexual harassment. We can walk you through the documentation and reporting process, filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or, if applicable, the Florida Human Rights Commission. When necessary, we will file a lawsuit to ensure fair compensation. Remember, workplace discrimination (sexual harassment or otherwise) is illegal, and you have the right to take action to address it.