DUFF LAW FIRM, P.L.C.
THOMAS J. DUFF

Duff Law Firm, P.L.C.
The Griffin Building
319 Seventh Street, Suite 600
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3826
Telephone: (515) 283-1111
Fax: (515) 282-0477

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Employment Law Frequently Asked Questions

What creates a hostile environment? What is illegal discrimination? My employer has treated me unfairly. My supervisor criticizes me in front of other workers, embarrasses me, shouts at me and loads work on me. I believe I am in a hostile environment. Do I have a case? But it's making me depressed and sick. I cry all the time and when it is time to go to work, I get chest pains. What shall I do? If I file for workers' compensation, my employer will find a reason to fire me. Is there any protection available if I get fired for using workers' compensation benefits?

I just got fired. Many other people did what I did and didn't get fired. Some people did worse things and didn't get fired. It's just not fair. Do I have a case? My supervisor wants me to put false numbers on my records. He says we have to protect the company from the feds. I already did it once, but it made me so upset, I couldn't sleep. Shall I do it again? How long do I have to bring a lawsuit? How can I afford a lawyer?

NO! NO! NO! Never falsify a record, no matter who tells you to do it. You may be the one ultimately blamed. You may be the one who ends up in trouble or in prison. Report your supervisor up the chain of command. Keep very complete records of who you tell, when, and what they say. You may tape record your conversations with others, but not secretly. Take your tape recorder, put it in plain sight, press the record button, and say, "I am taping my conversation with John Doe on July 10, 2000, so we will both have a complete and accurate record of what was said." Don't be hostile or accusatory. Just state the facts as completely as you can and ask for help.

If you get fired - and you might - you will need two things:

(1) your own careful documentation of your efforts to prevent false records being made and the law being violated; and (2) proof of the actual numbers and the correct records. Be very careful not to take any records from your employer that you are not entitled to have. You may store copies of such documents in a computer file, which only you can access by complicated secret password. Then when you need them, they will still be there, but you will not have stolen them.

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