The relationship between an employer and an employee is inherently unbalanced. They control your paycheck, your schedule, and your livelihood. Because of this power dynamic, many bosses believe they can do whatever they want. They scream at you, they touch you inappropriately, they steal your overtime, and they fire you if you complain.

They are wrong.

At Freeman Childers, we level the playing field. We represent workers—never the corporations—in Kentucky and Tennessee. We know the federal and state laws that protect your dignity and your wallet. If your employer has crossed the line, we are the shield that protects you from retaliation.

The "At-Will" Reality (What You Need to Know)

Before we can help you, you must understand the rules of the game. Both Kentucky and Tennessee are "At-Will" employment states.

• The Bad News: Your boss can fire you for being late, for having a bad attitude, or for no reason at all. Being fired "unfairly" is generally not illegal.

• The Good News: They CANNOT fire you for an illegal reason. We investigate the real reason behind your termination. If they fired you because of your race, gender, age, or because you reported a safety violation, that is illegal, and we can sue them.

Our Employment Practice Areas

We handle cases involving serious violations of workplace rights:

1. Wrongful Termination

Fired for a discriminatory reason or in violation of public policy.

• Discrimination: Being fired because you are pregnant, disabled, or over 40.

• FMLA Violations: Being fired for taking medical leave you were legally entitled to.

2. Sexual Harassment

Unwanted sexual advances or a hostile work environment.

• Quid Pro Quo: "Sleep with me or you're fired."

• Hostile Environment: Crude jokes, groping, or gender-based slurs that management ignores.

3. Wage & Hour Disputes (Wage Theft)

Employers steal billions from workers every year by misclassifying them.

• Unpaid Overtime: If you work over 40 hours, you are owed "time and a half." Salaried employees are notautomatically exempt from this!

• "Off the Clock" Work: Being forced to answer emails or prep your station before you punch in.

• Tip Theft: Managers taking a cut of the tip pool in restaurants.

4. Retaliation (Whistleblower Protection)

It is illegal for an employer to punish you for asserting your rights.

• If you filed for Workers' Comp and got fired -> Illegal.

• If you reported OSHA violations and got demoted -> Illegal.

• If you complained about Harassment and got your hours cut -> Illegal.

The EEOC Process: Don't Wait.

Unlike a car accident where you can sue immediately, employment cases often require you to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) first.

• Strict Deadlines: You typically have only 180 or 300 days from the incident to file.

• Right to Sue: We help you navigate this bureaucratic process to get your "Right to Sue" letter so we can take your employer to court.

"Severance Package" Warning

If your boss offers you money to leave quietly, they will make you sign a contract.That contract waives your right to sue. Do not sign it until we review it. We can often negotiate a much higher severance payment by pointing out the legal liabilities they are trying to hide.

Afraid to Speak Up?

Your consultation is 100% confidential. Your employer will not know you called us. Dial 606-528-1000 to find out if you have a case.