Employment Lawyers Near Me: Jacksonville Florida Guide

11 min read

Introduction: Why Jacksonville Employees Need to Know Their Rights

Jacksonville’s thriving logistics, health-care, and tech sectors employ more than 700,000 workers across Duval, Clay, and St. Johns Counties. Whether you off-load ships at JAXPORT, code near Southside, or serve patients in Riverside’s medical corridor, understanding Florida employment law is critical when problems arise. Employees routinely confront issues such as wrongful termination, unpaid overtime, racial or gender discrimination, retaliation for whistleblowing, and sexual harassment.

Florida’s "at-will" doctrine lets employers dismiss workers for almost any non-illegal reason, but state and federal statutes create powerful exceptions. If you suspect your employer crossed the line, acting quickly—and knowledgeably—can preserve your job, your back wages, and your peace of mind. This guide offers Jacksonville employees a step-by-step roadmap, from documenting misconduct to filing complaints and, when necessary, hiring an attorney. While slightly tilted toward protecting workers, all information is factual, drawn from the Florida Statutes, the U.S. Department of Labor, and recent court decisions.

Understanding Your Employment Rights in Florida

Florida’s At-Will Employment Rule—With Important Limits

Like most states, Florida is an at-will jurisdiction: employers may terminate employment for any lawful reason—or no reason—without advance notice. However, termination is illegal when it violates:

• Anti-discrimination statutes such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Florida Statutes Chapter 760.

• Public-policy protections (e.g., firing someone for jury duty or military service).

• Contractual guarantees in individual or collective bargaining agreements.

• Retaliation prohibitions (e.g., whistleblowing under F.S. §448.102).

Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Tip Credits

Florida’s minimum wage adjusts annually. As of September 2023 it is $12.00 per hour—higher than the federal $7.25. Tipped employees may be paid a direct wage $3.02 below the state minimum, provided tips make up the difference. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates overtime (1.5×) for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Florida has no separate overtime statute, so the FLSA sets the rule statewide, including Jacksonville.

Protected Classes Under Federal and State Law

• Title VII: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), and national origin.

• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): age 40 and older.

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): qualified disabilities.

• Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) – F.S. §760.01 et seq.: mirrors Title VII plus marital status.

Other Key Rights

• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): up to 12 weeks unpaid, job-protected leave.

• USERRA: military service protections.

• Workers’ Compensation Retaliation: F.S. §440.205 forbids firing for filing a comp claim.

Common Employment Disputes in Florida

1. Wrongful Termination

“Wrongful” means unlawful—not merely unfair. Examples:

• Firing a Jacksonville warehouse clerk one day after she reports sexual harassment.

• Letting go a 55-year-old technician and replacing him with a 25-year-old without performance issues.

• Terminating an employee in retaliation for taking FMLA leave.

2. Wage and Hour Violations

Typical scenarios include misclassifying employees as independent contractors, off-the-clock work, improper tip pools, and denying overtime. Under the FLSA, aggrieved workers may recover unpaid wages plus liquidated damages equal to the amount owed—essentially doubling recovery—unless the employer proves good faith.

3. Discrimination and Harassment

Both state and federal law forbid discrimination in hiring, pay, promotions, or termination. Harassment—severe or pervasive conduct creating a hostile work environment—is actionable when based on a protected trait. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Faragher v. City of Boca Raton (1998) originated right here in Florida and held employers vicariously liable for supervisor harassment unless certain defenses apply.

4. Retaliation and Whistleblowing

Retaliation claims now make up the majority of EEOC filings nationwide. Under F.S. §448.102 (Florida Whistleblower Act), private-sector employees may sue for lost wages, emotional distress, and attorney’s fees when punished for objecting to or refusing to participate in illegal activity.

Florida Legal Protections & Regulations

Key Florida Statutes

• F.S. Chapter 448: wage protections, whistleblower rights, child labor.

• F.S. Chapter 760: Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA).

• F.S. §95.11: general statute of limitations (4 years for contract and certain tort claims).

Administrative Enforcement Bodies

Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR): investigates discrimination/retaliation. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO): wage-payment complaints, unemployment benefits. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): federal discrimination & retaliation enforcement.

Filing Deadlines

• FCHR: 365 days from the discriminatory act (F.S. §760.11).

• EEOC: 300 days because Florida has a dual-filing agency; 180 days if you bypass FCHR.

• FLSA Wage Claims: 2 years (3 for willful violations, 29 U.S.C. §255).

• Florida Whistleblower Act: 2 years from retaliatory action.

Recent Florida Cases Employees Should Know

• Schmidt v. City of Jacksonville (11th Cir. 2021): reaffirmed ADA interactive-process obligations.

• Ramirez v. R+B Transport, LLC (M.D. Fla. 2022): awarded truck driver double back pay under FLSA for willful misclassification.

• Green v. Seminole Electric (Fla. 1st DCA 2023): allowed punitive damages under FCRA where employer ignored repeated harassment complaints.

Steps to Take After an Employment Dispute

1. Preserve Evidence Immediately

• Save emails, texts, timecards, and supervisor directives.

• Write a contemporaneous diary of incidents (dates, times, witnesses).

• Back up pay stubs and performance reviews to a personal device or cloud account—not company hardware.

2. Review Employer Policies

Obtain the employee handbook and any arbitration agreements. Some Jacksonville employers require internal reporting before litigation; skipping that step can cost you legal protections or damages.

3. Report Internally—Strategically

• Use designated HR channels; copy yourself on emails.

• Request a written acknowledgment of your complaint.

• Remain professional; avoid social-media rants that could hurt credibility.

4. File with the Appropriate Agency

Claim TypeWhere to FileDeadline From Incident Discrimination/HarassmentFCHR or EEOC365/300 days Unpaid Wages (FLSA)U.S. Dept. of Labor or state court2–3 years Whistleblower RetaliationCircuit Court2 years

5. Calculate Damages

• Lost wages and benefits.

• Front pay if reinstatement isn’t feasible.

• Emotional distress (available under FCRA).

• Punitive and liquidated damages where statutes allow.

6. Mitigate and Keep Looking

Under Florida law, you must seek comparable employment to offset back-pay claims. Keep a job-search log with applications, interviews, and offers.

When to Seek Legal Help in Florida

Red Flags for Contacting an Attorney

• You receive a severance agreement with a release of claims.

• The company threatens countersuits or accuses you of misconduct.

• Deadlines are approaching or HR is unresponsive.

• Complex claims involve multiple statutes or class actions.

Florida attorneys must be licensed by the Florida Bar and, for federal actions, admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida—covering Jacksonville. An experienced lawyer can:

• Analyze whether arbitration clauses are enforceable.

• Draft EEOC position statements and negotiate conciliation.

• File federal lawsuits and take depositions of corporate witnesses.

Important: Most employment claims in Florida allow fee-shifting, meaning your attorney may recover fees from the employer if you prevail.

Local Resources & Next Steps

Jacksonville-Area Agencies and Support

• EEOC Jacksonville Field Office (7771 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 83): 1-800-669-4000.

• Florida Commission on Human Relations Tallahassee Headquarters: filings can be submitted online for Duval County employees.

• U.S. Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division—Jacksonville District Office.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA): free or low-cost counsel for income-eligible workers.

• City of Jacksonville Human Rights Commission: mediates local civil-rights disputes.

Your Next Move

Time limits can run out quickly. If you suspect your employer violated Florida workplace laws—whether through unpaid overtime, discrimination, or retaliation—acting promptly maximizes your options.

Call to Action: If you believe your workplace rights have been violated, call Louis Law Group at 833-657-4812 for a free case evaluation. Our Jacksonville-based attorneys understand the local labor market, know the judges, and will fight to protect your Jacksonville employee rights.

Disclaimer

This guide provides general information for educational purposes and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently; consult a qualified Florida employment attorney about your specific situation.