Michigan Employment Law Violation Attorney for Teachers

Teachers’ and Professors’ Employment Rights in Michigan

Employment discrimination is a constantly-evolving area of law. Complicated procedural rules, defenses, and remedies can stymie employees who try to confront workplace discrimination. An experienced employment attorney can help workers understand their options, protect their rights, and pursue legal remedies.

At the Michigan employment law firm of Sommers Schwartz, P.C., we proudly represent teachers, professors, and other educators in employment disputes and related claims. Our attorneys have earned a national reputation for excellence through more than 45 years of dedicated service and aggressive advocacy. Regardless of the nature of your issues or where you are in the process, we are immediately available to assist you in obtaining your desired result.

Federal and State Anti-Discrimination Statutes

Many federal and state laws prohibit discrimination. They work together to protect American workers from discrimination based on protected characteristics, including age, gender, national origin, and more. They also protect individuals who report wrongdoing (“whistleblowers”) and others from retaliation for acting in the public interest.

Some important protections include the following:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) applies to most employers with at least 15 employees. It prohibits discrimination based on specific protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission specifically prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against employees and job applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age.
• The Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) is a state law covering all Michigan employers. It prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, marital status, and retaliation.

Together these laws prohibit discrimination in many areas, including employment, education, housing, public accommodations, and public service. However, despite these protections, many Michigan employees still encounter discrimination, retaliation, and other unlawful adverse employment actions.

Teachers’ Rights in Michigan

While discrimination is reprehensible in any workplace, it is particularly egregious when employers unlawfully infringe on the rights of the state’s educators. Although unions protect many teachers, professors, and educators, their union representatives may fail to address the extent of a school’s issues or achieve a genuinely equitable outcome. Further, most Michigan private school employees do not have any union protection.

Teachers, professors, instructors, and school staff deserve the support, advocacy, and representation of an experienced Michigan employment attorney in their discrimination and harassment claims.

Michigan Educator Employment Law Claims

Teachers, professors, and other school employees subjected to discrimination may have several causes of action. The type of action they can pursue depends on the adverse employment action they experience. These claims can involve:

• Disciplinary proceedings.
• Integrity investigations.
• Tenure disputes.
• Intellectual property matters.
• Licensure restoration.
• Harassment.
• Layoffs.

Michigan public school teachers and other employees may have additional protections because the government employs them. They may be able to pursue due process, First Amendment, or equal protection claims, depending on the facts of their case.

Tenure and Special Protections for Michigan Teachers

Tenure is a policy that provides professors and teachers with a permanent contract, often guaranteeing employment for life. Teachers who achieve tenure status cannot be terminated unless their employer establishes “just cause.” Some critics claim tenure inappropriately protects underperforming teachers. However, tenure often protects good teachers from excessive political pressure and instability, allowing them more academic freedom.

Historically, Michigan tenure rights have been a core part of job security; however, recent legislative changes have limited the scope of protections available to tenured teachers. Michigan tenured teachers are now subject to an annual year-end performance review. These annual reviews can be used as a pretext for discrimination and retaliation.

Tenured teachers deserve to assert their rights if they are unlawfully discharged, demoted, or suspended without pay. An experienced attorney can assist educators in pursuing unlawful discrimination claims against their employers.

Contact Our Experienced Michigan Employment Lawyers

If you are an educator with an employment dispute, contact Sommers Schwartz, P.C. for assistance. At Sommers Schwartz, we’ve assembled a dedicated team of Michigan employment lawyers who command an impressive knowledge of the substantive legal principles governing this area of the law. We have a passion for advocating on behalf of teachers and professors.

We offer free consultations to all educators, where we will answer all your questions, provide you with well-reasoned guidance, and explain what we can do to help. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation, contact Sommers Schwartz at 800-783-0989 or connect with us through our online contact form.