Knoxville Employment Lawyers Who Actually Give a Damn
Most people don’t search for Knoxville employment lawyers out of curiosity. It’s because something went wrong at their job.
Getting pushed around at work hits different when it’s your livelihood on the line. If you’ve experienced workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, or unlawful employment practices in Knoxville, TN, it isn’t abstract. It’s personal.
Maybe your boss has been making your life hell since you reported sexual harassment. Or maybe you got fired the week after requesting medical leave. Or maybe you’re just tired of being paid less than your coworkers for doing the exact same job.
Tennessee might be an at-will employment state, but that doesn’t mean your employer can do whatever they want. There are lines they legally can’t cross under federal and state laws. And when they do? That’s where we come in.
At Punchwork Law, we’re employment attorneys in Knoxville, TN who actually give a damn. We don’t do the stuffy lawyer thing. We listen. We explain stuff in words that make sense. And we fight like hell because your problem matters.
Your first conversation with us is free. No pressure. No judgment.
Schedule a free strategy call today
Knoxville Employment Law Exists to Protect Workers Even in an At-Will State
Knoxville workers hear this all the time: “Tennessee is an at-will state. They can fire you for any reason.” But that’s only half true.
Yes, Tennessee allows at-will employment. But both federal and Tennessee employment law still prohibit workplace discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
What Are My Rights at Work in Knoxville?
Here’s what most Knoxville workers don’t realize: Tennessee’s state-level anti-discrimination protections are pretty thin. Most workplace protections come from federal law enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and apply to all workers across the United States.
This makes timing and strategy critical. By the time many workers realize something is wrong, the clock is already running. An experienced employment attorney at Punchwork Law can help make sure you don’t miss any important deadlines and file your claim correctly.
State Law
The Tennessee Human Rights Act (THRA) protects against discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- Creed
- Religion
- Sex
- Age (40+)
- National origin
But its scope is narrower than federal law. The THRA doesn’t explicitly cover disability discrimination. For that, you’d rely on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
You can file with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) or the EEOC. If you file with one, it usually gets cross-filed with the other. Our Tennessee employment lawyers know how to navigate both systems to your case’s advantage.
Federal Law
If your employer has 15 or more employees, federal law is your primary protection:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Race, color, sex, religion, and national origin
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978: Adverse treatment related to pregnancy or childbirth
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Workers age 40 and over
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Reasonable accommodations for qualified workers with disabilities
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Job-protected medical leave for eligible workers
Under federal law, Knoxville employers cannot discriminate based on your protected status, retaliate for reporting illegal conduct, fire you for requesting reasonable accommodations, or allow a hostile work environment tied to protected traits.
These protections are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and upheld by the United States Supreme Court and the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Wage Protections
Tennessee doesn’t have its own minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25/hour applies. You’re entitled to overtime pay at 1.5x your regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek unless you’re properly classified as exempt. Wage theft is serious. Our Knoxville employment attorneys handle it regularly.
