Seattle & Minneapolis Employment Lawyers
MacDonald Hoague & Bayless is one of the leading plaintiffs' employment firms in the country. With more than 70 years of experience, we've achieved significant results in employment law cases against powerful defendants, handling complex employment disputes with high stakes.
Our employment lawyers in Seattle and Minneapolis represent workers in both private companies and government jobs. We handle all forms of litigation, from initial negotiations through appeals.
We focus on cases involving workplace discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage disputes, and retaliation. Our team also works on employment contracts, whistleblower protections, and workplace accommodations. Whether you face pregnancy discrimination, need help exercising disability rights, or are dealing with harassment at work, we're here to help.
Our legal services cover every aspect of workplace disputes, from initial consultation through appeal.
Overview of Employment Law
Employment law covers the legal relationship between employers and workers. These laws exist to protect employees from unfair treatment and make sure workplaces follow federal laws and state regulations.
When companies violate these laws, workers often need legal help to stand up for their rights. That's where an employment lawyer comes in. We help people who've been treated unfairly at work get the compensation and justice they deserve.
Discrimination Based on Race, Gender, Age, Disability
Federal and state laws prohibit employers from making decisions based on protected characteristics. This means your boss can't fire you, refuse to promote you, or treat you differently because of your race, sex, age, disability, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation.
Discrimination isn't always obvious. Sometimes it shows up in who gets promoted, who receives training opportunities, or how discipline gets applied across different groups of workers.
Sexual Harassment or Hostile Work Environments
Sexual harassment includes unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. But harassment can also be based on other protected characteristics like race or religion.
A hostile work environment exists when the harassment becomes so severe or frequent that it makes it hard to do your job. You shouldn't have to tolerate offensive jokes, slurs, or intimidating behavior at work.
Wrongful Termination and Retaliation
Most employment in Washington and Minnesota is "at-will," meaning employers can fire workers for almost any reason. But there are important exceptions. Your employer can't fire you for illegal reasons like discrimination or because you complained about illegal activity.
Retaliation happens when your employer punishes you for standing up for your rights. This could mean firing you, demoting you, or making your work life miserable after you file a complaint or participate in an investigation.
Wage and Hour Disputes, Including Unpaid Overtime
Workers deserve to be paid for all hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Washington and Minnesota state laws. Some common wage violations include not paying overtime, misclassifying employees as independent contractors, or requiring off-the-clock work.
If you're not getting your full paycheck or your employer isn't paying you overtime when they should, you may have a legal claim.
Types of Employment Cases We Handle
MacDonald Hoague & Bayless handles a wide range of employment disputes. Here are the main types of cases we work on:
Discrimination and Harassment
We represent employees facing discrimination because of their gender, race, age, national origin, pregnancy, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. We also represent employees experiencing harassment related to those characteristics. These cases can involve hiring decisions, promotions, pay differences, or daily mistreatment that makes work unbearable.
Our victory at the Washington Supreme Court struck down race-based staffing assignments at Western State Hospital, setting a national precedent. This unanimous decision protects workers from being assigned to certain areas based solely on their race.
Wrongful Termination
Wrongful discharge cases happen when employers fire workers for illegal reasons. This includes terminations based on discrimination, retaliation for reporting violations, or firing someone who refused to break the law.
We secured a $3.3 million verdict against a local healthcare provider that fired our client because she supported coworkers seeking better pay.
Breach of Contract
Employment contracts spell out the terms of your job, including pay, responsibilities, and sometimes how and why you can be fired. When employers break these agreements, you may have grounds to sue.
We review employment contracts, severance agreements, non-competition agreements, non-solicitation clauses, and confidentiality agreements. If your employer violated the terms, we'll fight to hold them accountable.
Whistleblower Retaliation
Whistleblowers report illegal activity, fraud, safety violations, or other wrongdoing at their workplace. Federal and state laws protect workers who speak up about these issues.
If your employer fired you or punished you for reporting violations, you have legal protections. We've won a series of federal appellate decisions confirming that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from punishing employees for their testimony in court.
Accommodations for Disabilities, Pregnancy, and Religious Practices
Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities or religious practice requirements. This might include modified work schedules, specialized equipment, or adjustments to job duties.
We won $1.8 million against a public utility district that fired our client because of perceived side effects from her disability treatment. In another case, we secured $415,000 against a large private ambulance company that subjected our client to pregnancy discrimination and harassment after she gave birth.
Wage and Hour Violations
These cases involve unpaid wages, overtime violations, or employers not following minimum wage laws. Many workers don't realize they're entitled to overtime pay or that their employer is breaking the law.
Medical Leave and FMLA
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees the right to take unpaid leave for serious health conditions or to care for family members. Employers can't fire you or retaliate against you for taking protected leave. Washington and Minnesota law also protect employees who need to take family or medical leave. When employers refuse to grant that leave or retaliate against employees who take it, they can sue for damages.
How Our Employment Lawyers Can Help
Our Seattle employment lawyers and Minneapolis employment law attorneys bring decades of combined experience to every case. At our law practice, we are not afraid to go against powerful corporations and government entities, and we know how to win.
We're leaders in the legal community. Our lawyers have served as leaders of the Washington Employment Lawyers Association (WELA) and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers' Association (MN-NELA). We've led the employment section of the Washington State Bar Association and served on subcommittees of the Pacific Labor & Employment Law Conference committee.
We shape employment law. Our attorneys have written groundbreaking legislation that advances employee rights. We've testified before state legislatures and guided bills through the lawmaking process. We regularly file amicus briefs with Washington, Minnesota, and federal appellate courts on behalf of WELA, MN-NELA, and the ACLU-WA to protect workers' rights.
We get results. Our recent victories speak for themselves:
- A unanimous Washington Supreme Court decision that set national precedent on race-based workplace policies
- Multiple federal appellate decisions protecting First Amendment rights of government employees
- A $3.3 million verdict for retaliation
- A $1.8 million verdict for wrongful termination related to disability
- A $415,000 verdict for pregnancy discrimination
We focus on you. Every case is different, and every client deserves individual attention. We take time to understand your situation, explain your options clearly, and develop a strategy that fits your goals.
When you work with us, you're not just another file number. You're a person who deserves respect at work and fair treatment under the law.
We handle cases from start to finish. Whether your case settles in negotiation or goes to trial, we're prepared. We represent clients through every stage, including appeals if needed. Our experience in employment litigation across Washington and Minnesota courtrooms means we know what it takes to win.
Contact Our Law Office in Seattle & Minneapolis
If you're dealing with employment discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, or any other workplace legal issue, don't wait. Employment cases have strict deadlines, and evidence can disappear quickly.
Our employment attorneys in Seattle and Minneapolis are ready to review your case and discuss your options. We offer consultations to help you understand your rights and the strength of your potential claim.
Fill out our contact form to get started. Our team offers legal advice on employment issues, legal assistance throughout the claims process, and legal representation if your case goes to trial.
You deserve fair treatment at work. Let MacDonald Hoague & Bayless fight for your rights.
Our employment law firm represents individuals in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma, King County, and throughout the state of Washington. In Minnesota, we’re proud to represent individuals in the Twin Cities and across the state.
Our law offices are located at 705 2nd Ave, Unit 1500, Seattle, WA 98104, and 801 S Marquette Ave #200, Minneapolis, MN 55402.