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Was what happened to you at work actually illegal?

Not everything unfair is against the law — but a lot is, and most people never find out. Tell us what happened and your request goes to one independent employment lawyer in your area. It's free, confidential, and there's no obligation to hire anyone.

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$0 to talk
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Firms contacted
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Start here

Tell us what happened

Takes under a minute. A lawyer reviews it, not a bot.

Notice at collection. We collect your contact details and what you tell us about your legal matter. We share it with one independent law firm in your area so that firm can contact you — we do not send it to anyone else. That firm pays us an advertising fee, which California law treats as a "sale" of personal information, so you can opt out at any time. Kept up to 24 months. Privacy Policy · Your Privacy Choices.

We do not recommend or choose a lawyer for you. WorkRights Legal is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Your request goes to one independent law firm that handles your practice area in your state. That firm pays WorkRights Legal an advertising fee whether or not you hire anyone.

Free and confidential. Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.

The line the law draws

"Unfair" and "illegal" are not the same thing

Most jobs are "at-will," so a boss can be a bad boss for almost any reason. But there are lines an employer cannot cross — and when they do, you may have real rights. A lawyer can tell you which side of the line your situation is on.

Usually just unfair

  • A manager who plays favorites or is rude
  • Being passed over for someone more liked
  • A sudden layoff for "business reasons"
  • A schedule or workload you didn't sign up for

Often illegal — worth a review

  • Fired or demoted because of race, sex, age, disability, religion or pregnancy
  • Punished after you reported harassment or a safety/legal problem
  • Not paid overtime, or made to work off the clock
  • Denied leave or a reasonable accommodation you were entitled to
The clock you don't know is running

You may have as little as 180 days

For most discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims you have to file a charge with a government agency before you can sue. In some states that window is only 180 days from what happened. It is the deadline people miss most — usually because no one told them it existed.

Wage and contract claims run on different, often longer clocks. A lawyer can tell you the exact deadline for your situation — which is the fastest reason to get a free review now rather than later.

Before you talk to anyone — start a record

What to save, quietly

  • A written timeline: dates, what was said, who was there
  • Emails, texts and messages — forward them to a personal account
  • Pay stubs, your offer letter, the employee handbook
  • Performance reviews — especially good ones before things changed
  • Names of coworkers who saw what happened

General information, not legal advice. Don't take anything you're not allowed to; a lawyer can tell you what's safe to keep.

What happens next

Three steps, no cost

  1. Step 01

    Tell us what happened

    A short form — name, number, and a couple of sentences. Free and confidential.

  2. Step 02

    It goes to one local firm

    One independent employment lawyer who covers your state, chosen by area — not by who paid most. How firms are selected.

  3. Step 03

    You find out where you stand

    Ask whether what happened was illegal and what your options are. No obligation to go further.

Coverage

Cities we cover