St. Joseph Employment Lawyer

Are you being harassed at work? Fired for an unfair reason? Denied overtime pay you earned? Workplace problems can leave you feeling powerless, stressed, and uncertain about your future. Many employees suffer in silence, afraid of losing their job or facing more mistreatment if they speak up.

You don’t have to face these challenges alone. If you’re facing problems at work, our experienced St. Joseph, MO employment lawyer is ready to fight for your rights. We’ve helped hundreds of workers hold employers accountable for illegal practices and recover the compensation they deserve.

Call us at Murphy, Kinney, & Sumy, LLC today for a free and confidential consultation. Let us help you understand your options and take the first step toward justice.

Your Employment Law Attorney in St. Joseph, Missouri

When your workplace rights are violated, having skilled legal representation can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Our firm is committed to providing thorough, strategic, and compassionate advocacy for employees facing unfair or unlawful treatment at work.

We begin every case with a detailed investigation. That means taking the time to listen carefully to your story and understand what happened from your perspective. We review relevant employment contracts, personnel files, and company policies, and gather key evidence such as emails, text messages, performance reviews, and witness statements. When necessary, we also consult with experts to strengthen your claim and ensure nothing is overlooked.

Our firm handles the entire legal process on your behalf. This includes filing complaints with government agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), negotiating directly with employers and their attorneys, and preparing and filing lawsuits when litigation becomes necessary. We also represent you in mediation, arbitration, or court, advocating for your rights at every stage of the process.

Throughout your case, we provide dedicated support and clear communication. You can expect regular updates on your case’s progress, prompt responses to your questions and concerns, and proactive steps to protect you from further retaliation. We also recognize the emotional toll employment disputes can take and strive to offer steady guidance during a difficult time.

Employment disputes are often stressful, both financially and emotionally. Our goal is to handle the legal burden so you can focus on moving forward with your life and career. Call us today to get honest answers and real support—your consultation is completely confidential.

Employment Law Cases We Handle

Our employment attorneys have extensive experience representing workers in a wide range of workplace disputes:

• Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome advances, inappropriate comments, or a hostile work environment

• Wrongful Termination: Being fired for illegal reasons such as reporting safety violations, taking family medical leave, or refusing to participate in illegal activities

• Workplace Discrimination: Unfair treatment based on race, age, gender, religion, disability, pregnancy, or national origin

• Wage and Hour Violations: Unpaid overtime, minimum wage violations, illegal deductions, or misclassification as an independent contractor

• Retaliation: Being punished for reporting illegal behavior, filing workers' compensation claims, or exercising your legal rights

• Whistleblower Claims: Facing consequences for reporting fraud, safety violations, or other illegal activities

• Hostile Work Environment: Persistent offensive conduct that makes doing your job difficult or impossible

• Family and Medical Leave Violations: Being denied leave you're entitled to or punished for taking it

No matter what type of employment issue you’re facing, we’ll listen to your story with compassion and help you understand your legal options.

Real Case Results

Here are some of the results we’ve obtained for our clients. While every case is unique, our record shows our commitment to results:

• $275,000 - Retaliation

• $220,000 - Whistleblower retaliation

• $200,000 - Sexual harassment

• $195,000 - Breach of contract

• $160,000 - Race discrimination

• $127,500 - Whistleblower retaliation

• $107,500 - Whistleblower retaliation

• $100,000 - Sexual harassment

• $100,000 - Age discrimination

• $95,000 - Retaliation

• $90,000 - Sexual harassment

These results don’t just represent financial compensation—they represent accountability for employers who violated the law and justice for workers who were wronged.

Who Can File an Employment Claim?

Many workers don’t realize they have legal protections when an employer treats them unfairly. If something at work doesn’t feel right, it may not be. You may have grounds for an employment claim if your rights have been violated in any of the following ways.

Unfair Termination

Missouri is an “at-will” employment state, but that does not mean employers can fire workers for illegal reasons. If you were terminated because of your race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, religion, pregnancy, or national origin, your termination may be unlawful.

Wage Issues and Retaliation

You have the right to be paid fairly—and to speak up without fear of punishment. Employment claims often involve unpaid overtime or minimum wage violations, misclassification as an exempt employee or independent contractor, illegal paycheck deductions, or retaliation for reporting workplace violations or asserting your rights.

If you’re unsure whether what you experienced qualifies as an employment claim, we encourage you to call us. The consultation is free, and many workers are surprised to learn that what they’ve been dealing with is actually illegal.

Support You Can Count On

Employment disputes can take a serious toll, both financially and emotionally. Throughout your case, we provide clear communication, regular updates, and prompt responses to your questions. We also take steps to protect you from further retaliation and offer steady guidance during an otherwise stressful time.

Our goal is simple: to shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on moving forward with your life and career. Call us today for honest answers and real support. All consultations are completely confidential.

Employment Law FAQs

What Qualifies as Wrongful Termination?

Wrongful termination occurs when an employee is fired for an illegal reason, such as discrimination based on a protected characteristic (race, gender, age, disability, etc.), retaliation for reporting illegal activity or safety violations, taking legally protected leave (such as FMLA), refusing to engage in illegal activities, or exercising workplace rights like filing a workers’ compensation claim.

While Missouri is an “at-will” employment state, meaning employers can generally terminate employees for any reason or no reason, they cannot fire employees for illegal reasons. Each case is unique, and our attorneys can help determine if your termination was wrongful.

Can I Sue for Harassment Even if I Didn't Report It to HR?

Yes, you may still be able to pursue a harassment claim even if you didn’t report it to HR, though it can make your case more challenging. Courts often look at whether you took reasonable steps to use your employer’s complaint procedures.

However, there are many valid reasons why employees don’t report harassment, such as fear of retaliation, previous inaction by HR, or if the harasser is your direct supervisor or in HR. The key is documenting the harassment as it occurs and consulting with an employment attorney as soon as possible. We can help evaluate your specific situation and determine the best course of action.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive?

Compensation in employment cases varies widely depending on factors such as the nature of the violation, the strength of your evidence, the size of your employer, your lost wages and benefits, and any emotional distress or other damages you suffered.

Potential compensation may include back pay (wages lost due to the violation), front pay (future lost earnings), compensatory damages (for emotional distress, damage to reputation, etc.), and in some cases, punitive damages designed to punish especially egregious employer behavior. Some laws also allow for reinstatement to your position and payment of your attorney’s fees. During your consultation, we can provide a preliminary assessment of your potential compensation.

What if I Signed an Employment Contract or Waiver?

Employment contracts, arbitration agreements, and waivers can impact your legal options, but they don’t necessarily prevent you from seeking justice. Some agreements are unenforceable if they violate public policy or were signed under duress. Even if you signed an arbitration agreement, you may still have legal recourse—just through arbitration rather than court.

Non-compete agreements may be limited in scope or enforceability. And importantly, you cannot waive certain rights, such as the right to minimum wage or overtime. Our attorneys will review any agreements you’ve signed to determine how they affect your case and what options are still available to you.

How Long Does an Employment Law Case Take?

The timeline for employment cases varies significantly based on complexity, whether government agencies are involved, and if the case settles or goes to trial. Simple cases might resolve in a few months through negotiation, while more complex litigation can take one to two years or sometimes longer.

The process typically includes filing administrative complaints with agencies like the EEOC (which has its own timeline), attempting settlement negotiations, and possibly proceeding to courtroom litigation if necessary. While we work efficiently to resolve your case, we never sacrifice the quality of our representation or the compensation you deserve just to reach a quick conclusion. Throughout the process, we’ll keep you informed about your case’s progress and expected timeline.

Ready to Stand Up for Your Rights

Employment cases have strict deadlines. Depending on your situation, you may have as little as 180 days to file a complaint with government agencies. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights and building your case.

Many of our clients come to us after trying to resolve workplace issues on their own, only to face more problems or be ignored. Having an experienced employment attorney by your side shows your employer that you’re serious about protecting your rights.

Contact Our Employment Law Firm Today

We charge nothing unless we win. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs or hourly fees. We only get paid if we secure compensation for you through a settlement or court award.

Call us today and speak with a trusted employment lawyer in St. Joseph who puts your rights first. Your initial consultation is free and completely confidential.