AN EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY FOR KANSAS EMPLOYEES IN CITIES AND COUNTIES |
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| Kansas employment law attorney representing Kansas employees in employment disputes concerning race, age and gender discrimination, disability issues, family medical leave, civil rights, due process, sexual harassment, wage and hour disputes, overtime, wrongful discharge and termination in Kansas City, Johnson County, Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita, and across the state of Kansas. Kansas employees who believe their employment rights have been violated should contact a competent Kansas employment rights attorney who knows federal and Kansas law. |
| Michael M. Shultz With offices in Johnson and Douglas Counties to better serve Kansas employees |
| How Federal and Kansas Employment Laws Affect Employees in Kansas Cities |
| Topeka |
Kansas employees who work in the Topeka community are probably
among some of the most diverse in the state. Not only do over 8,000
persons work for the State of Kansas, thousands more work for
Shawnee County and the various school districts. Employment law
affects public employers differently than private employers. For
example, Topeka employees who work for the government are also
protected by the United States Constitution and have due process
rights and the right of free speech. These rights do not apply to
private sector employees.
In addition some federal laws apply differently to public employers.
Thus, Topeka employees who work for local governments can be
given comp time when they work overtime rather than time and a
half that employees in the private sector earn.
Topeka also has a large amount of industry, however, and many
employees are members of unions. Topeka employees who are
union members get the benefit of collective bargaining agreements
that limit an employer's ability to terminate and discipline the
employees. However, most federal wage and anti-discrimination
laws apply to Topeka employees who are union members in the
same was as they do non-union members.
among some of the most diverse in the state. Not only do over 8,000
persons work for the State of Kansas, thousands more work for
Shawnee County and the various school districts. Employment law
affects public employers differently than private employers. For
example, Topeka employees who work for the government are also
protected by the United States Constitution and have due process
rights and the right of free speech. These rights do not apply to
private sector employees.
In addition some federal laws apply differently to public employers.
Thus, Topeka employees who work for local governments can be
given comp time when they work overtime rather than time and a
half that employees in the private sector earn.
Topeka also has a large amount of industry, however, and many
employees are members of unions. Topeka employees who are
union members get the benefit of collective bargaining agreements
that limit an employer's ability to terminate and discipline the
employees. However, most federal wage and anti-discrimination
laws apply to Topeka employees who are union members in the
same was as they do non-union members.
| Johnson County |
It is getting harder and harder to generalize about employees in
Johnson County. At one time, most employees in Overland Park,
Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village and the other suburbs near the
state line were considered to be upper middle class, meaning
middle and upper management. Now, many more employees in
Johnson County are blue collar workers. This is true not only in
Shawnee and Olathe, but it is also true in the older parts of Overland
Park and Prairie Village.
However, whether a Johnson County employee is a blue collar,
white collar or wears no collar at all, the federal and state
anti-discrimination laws apply to all Johnson County employees. The
point is that unless you work for yourself, anyone can be subjected
to discrimination. Again, for those Johnson County employees who
work for the government, they get the benefit of constitutional
protections that employees in the private sector do not have.
Johnson County. At one time, most employees in Overland Park,
Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village and the other suburbs near the
state line were considered to be upper middle class, meaning
middle and upper management. Now, many more employees in
Johnson County are blue collar workers. This is true not only in
Shawnee and Olathe, but it is also true in the older parts of Overland
Park and Prairie Village.
However, whether a Johnson County employee is a blue collar,
white collar or wears no collar at all, the federal and state
anti-discrimination laws apply to all Johnson County employees. The
point is that unless you work for yourself, anyone can be subjected
to discrimination. Again, for those Johnson County employees who
work for the government, they get the benefit of constitutional
protections that employees in the private sector do not have.
| Wichita |
In some ways, Wichita is like Topeka as far as the diversity of the
employees. Wichita has many government employees, and a large
number of employees in higher education--both public and private
schools. At the same time, with airplane manufacturing and related
businesses, Wichita has many blue collar employees and
professionals in engineering and other fields.
But, it cannot be said enough, federal and state anti-discrimination
laws protect every Wichita employee regardless of the type of work
that the person does.
One problem for Wichita employees is that they live so far from
Topeka and from Kansas City, Kansas. This is a problem because the
Kansas Human Rights Commission is in Topeka and the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission is in Kansas City. It is my
opinion, that this distance makes it harder for the KHRC or EEOC to
investigate charges of discrimination. In addition, at least the EEOC
does not have money to travel to Wichita to conduct mediations, and
mediations are a common way of resolving charges of discrimination.
employees. Wichita has many government employees, and a large
number of employees in higher education--both public and private
schools. At the same time, with airplane manufacturing and related
businesses, Wichita has many blue collar employees and
professionals in engineering and other fields.
But, it cannot be said enough, federal and state anti-discrimination
laws protect every Wichita employee regardless of the type of work
that the person does.
One problem for Wichita employees is that they live so far from
Topeka and from Kansas City, Kansas. This is a problem because the
Kansas Human Rights Commission is in Topeka and the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission is in Kansas City. It is my
opinion, that this distance makes it harder for the KHRC or EEOC to
investigate charges of discrimination. In addition, at least the EEOC
does not have money to travel to Wichita to conduct mediations, and
mediations are a common way of resolving charges of discrimination.
| Other Kansas Cities |
Obviously, there are many more cities in Kansas than the ones I
just mentioned. Kansas City, Kansas, has experienced some of
the highest economic growth rates in the state over the past few
years. Thousands of new jobs have been added, many in the
service industries, such as sales, lodging and restaurants. Often,
these are high turn-over jobs and have few benefits. The rules
related to overtime can also get complicated. It is important that
these employees pay attention to their employment rights.
When it cames to out state regions with cities like Ft. Scott, Great
Bend, Hutchinson, Salina, Manhattan, Goodland, and others, the
real issue is for employees in those cities to find a competent
Kansas employment attorney. The employees in these cities have
all of the rights of employees in the rest of Kansas, but they might
have to try harder to obtain good legal help. Of course, they can
always contact the KHRC or the EEOC when discrimination is
involved, or the Kansas Department of Labor in other situations.
Check out the Links page in the Menu to find the websites for
these government agencies. The Kansas Lawyer Referral Service
is also a good way to find legal help.
just mentioned. Kansas City, Kansas, has experienced some of
the highest economic growth rates in the state over the past few
years. Thousands of new jobs have been added, many in the
service industries, such as sales, lodging and restaurants. Often,
these are high turn-over jobs and have few benefits. The rules
related to overtime can also get complicated. It is important that
these employees pay attention to their employment rights.
When it cames to out state regions with cities like Ft. Scott, Great
Bend, Hutchinson, Salina, Manhattan, Goodland, and others, the
real issue is for employees in those cities to find a competent
Kansas employment attorney. The employees in these cities have
all of the rights of employees in the rest of Kansas, but they might
have to try harder to obtain good legal help. Of course, they can
always contact the KHRC or the EEOC when discrimination is
involved, or the Kansas Department of Labor in other situations.
Check out the Links page in the Menu to find the websites for
these government agencies. The Kansas Lawyer Referral Service
is also a good way to find legal help.
It does not matter whether you live in Overland Park, Olathe, Topeka,
Manhattan, Wichita, Salina, Goodland, or any of Kansas' many counties, every
Kansas employee has the employment rights established by state and federal
law.
Your federal and Kansas employment rights are important and it is important if
you are terminated or if you believe you have been treated unfairly to discuss
the issue with an attorney. Most attorneys will provide an initial discussion
free of charge (though the point is not to give away free legal advice).
Manhattan, Wichita, Salina, Goodland, or any of Kansas' many counties, every
Kansas employee has the employment rights established by state and federal
law.
Your federal and Kansas employment rights are important and it is important if
you are terminated or if you believe you have been treated unfairly to discuss
the issue with an attorney. Most attorneys will provide an initial discussion
free of charge (though the point is not to give away free legal advice).