If there’s one thing that unites all of the services we offer at Punchwork Law, it’s the hardworking individual who wants to know that something will come from their injustice. You were wronged and it matters. Our job is to make sure they know it too.
Dealing with discrimination or harassment in the workplace? Wrongfully fired? Was part of your paycheck missing? Worried about losing your professional license when you did nothing wrong?
These are just a few of the employment law cases we see every day. And you better believe they get our blood boiling. At Punchwork Law, our Arkansas employment lawyers represent workers, not companies. Not the people signing your paycheck. Just you.
We talk straight, we actually listen, and we fight like the outcome is our own. Because your livelihood is on the line, and we take that seriously. When you need an employment attorney in Arkansas who treats you like a real person instead of a case number, that’s the whole point of what we do.
You get friends. You get fighters. And you get legal experts who won’t stop until justice is served.
Arkansas is an at-will employment state.
Punchwork Law’s Managing Partner and Attorney Chris Burks explains, “At-will means you can be fired for any reason, or no reason at all, as long as it is not an illegal reason. An illegal reason is a reason protected by law. So for example, there is a federal law that you can’t be fired on the basis of actual or perceived disability status. That’s protected.”
That line matters. An employer can let you go because business is slow or you keep showing up late. But according to both state and federal laws, they cannot fire or demote you because of:
They also can’t sack you for reporting something illegal (or refusing to participate in said activity), filing a workers’ compensation claim, or requesting protected medical leave. Knowing this difference is half the battle, and it’s where an Arkansas employee rights lawyer earns their keep.
The Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993 bars workplace discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, and disability. It applies to employers with 9 or more employees, which means a lot of small Arkansas businesses fall under it.
On top of state law, federal protections like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act cover Arkansas workers too. So does the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that handles discrimination complaints.
Most of the people who call us at Punchwork are dealing with one of a handful of problems. While wrongful termination and discrimination account for 80% of what we file, here’s a full view of what we see most at our practice:
Getting fired isn’t always legal. When you’re let go for reporting harassment, filing a workers’ comp claim, taking leave you’re entitled to, or refusing to break the law for your boss, that’s not at-will, that’s retaliation. A wrongful termination attorney in Arkansas can tell you which side of the line your firing falls on.
Treating someone poorly because of who they are is illegal under both state and federal law. If your race, age, sex, religion, or disability cost you a job, a promotion, or basic fair treatment, a workplace discrimination lawyer in Arkansas can help you do something about it.
A hostile work environment in Arkansas is more than a bad boss or a rude coworker. It’s conduct so severe or constant that it changes the terms of your job. Slurs, threats, unwanted advances—the kind of thing you shouldn’t have to clock in for. The law draws a clear line, and we help you hold your employer to it.
Most discrimination cases run through the EEOC before they ever see a courtroom. The deadlines are short, and the paperwork is unforgiving. An EEOC attorney in Arkansas makes sure your complaint is filed correctly and on time, so a technicality never costs you your case.
Not every fight is with an employer. Sometimes it’s the licensing board coming after the credential you spent years earning. If you’re a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, teacher, or any licensed professional facing a board complaint, our professional license defense attorneys stand between you and the people threatening your right to work.
We’re licensed across Arkansas, and we know these communities, because they’re ours too. Find your city below.
Yes. In Arkansas, an employer can fire you for almost any reason or no reason at all. The exception is an illegal reason, like discrimination or retaliation. At-will doesn’t mean anything goes.
You have the right to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment, the right to be paid what you’ve earned, and the right to report illegal conduct without being punished for it. Both Arkansas law and federal law back you up.
The Arkansas Civil Rights Act (ACRA) is the state law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, and disability. It applies to employers with nine or more employees and gives Arkansas workers a way to fight back at the state level.
Wrongful termination means being fired for a reason that violates state or federal law. That includes discrimination, retaliation for reporting misconduct, breach of contract terms, taking legally protected leave, or refusing to do something unlawful. If your firing fits one of those, you may have a claim.
You file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, usually within 180 days of the discrimination, though that window can extend to 300 days when state law also applies. The deadlines are strict, even if you have a strong case, so it’s worth talking to an attorney early.
Often, yes, but the path depends on the claim. Federal discrimination claims have to go through the EEOC first, and you can only sue once they issue a “Right to Sue” letter. State discrimination claims under the Arkansas Civil Rights Act can go straight to court, and so can claims that aren’t about discrimination at all, like unpaid wages, a broken employment contract, or being fired for a reason that violates public policy. An Arkansas employment lawyer can tell you which path best fits your situation.
Because the law is complicated, the deadlines are short, and your employer almost certainly has lawyers of their own. An Arkansas employment attorney levels the field, handles the process, and makes sure your story gets heard.
Don’t take on your employer and the EEOC process alone. We are ready to talk when you are, just say the word.
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Attorney Chris Burks and Punchwork, PLC operate out of 1 Riverfront Pl., Suite 745, North Little Rock, AR 72114. Our representation is limited to clients at the EEOC, and is authorized according to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.605. Prospective clients may not obtain the same or similar results. Nothing on this website is intended to imply any legal outcome. Chris Burks is admitted to the Bar of Texas and Arkansas.
Any awards listed on our website, including those from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Legal Eagles of America, and the Arkansas Times, are not conferred by virtue of being a member of the organization. All involve peer reputation, applications, and publicly available criteria, and none should be taken as a guarantee or warranty of success regarding the outcome of a legal matter as a result of representation.
