Puerto Rico Employment Lawyers

Employment law are those laws passed in Puerto Rico that apply to employers, employees and independent contractors. These laws apply to every aspect of workplace endeavors, such as hiring practices, wage disputes, and firing of employees. Puerto Rico's employment laws set forth specific mandates that need to be understood by both employers and employees.

At-Will and Contract Employment

Most job relationships in Puerto Rico are on the basis of "at will" employment, but in other cases there may be an employment contract with a set term. "At will" employment implies that either the employee or the employer may end the relationship at any point, so long as the reason for the termination is not illegal. If the employer and employee are working according to an employment contract, Puerto Rico employment law will govern the various clauses contained in the contract.

The Law of Discrimination in Puerto Rico

The laws of the state of Puerto Rico make it illegal to discriminate in any area of the employment, such as when hiring an employee, upon issuing a promotion, or when terminating the employment. The laws of Puerto Rico create various categories against which employers may not discriminate. These may include religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, and race. Lawyers who specialize in workplace discrimination in Puerto Rico can help clarify when behavior may be considered employment discrimination.

Interesting Facts About Puerto Rico

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean. The islands were ceded to the United States in 1898, as an outcome of the Treaty of Paris. Although Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state, U.S. federal laws apply to Puerto Rican citizens, who were declared U.S. citizens in 1917.

Puerto Rico has a republican form of government similar to that of the U.S. with its three branches. Its capitol is located in San Juan, and is home to the Legislative Assembly. Puerto Rican law is a hybrid system of common law (similar to U.S. case law) and civil law (statutes created by legislature). Thus, lawyers in Puerto Rico must study and examine these two overlapping systems when assisting clients.

Puerto Rico's court system is composed of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, a Court of Appeals, and the Court of First Instance. Selected fundamental rights from the U.S. Constitution apply to Puerto Rican citizens. U.S. Supreme Court cases have commented on which other specific rights apply to the territory. For example, residents of Puerto Rico generally do not have the right to vote in U.S. presidential elections

Lawyers in Puerto Rico assist clients by providing a wide range of legal services. Puerto Rico lawyers are available to assist with legal issues that can be very unique to the area. Attorneys in Puerto Rico are also available for representation in court during lawsuits and other types of legal claims.