Harris & Helwig PA - Lakeland, FL

Dedicated Workplace Rights and Labor Advocacy in Lakeland

Experiencing mistreatment or sudden termination in the workplace can jeopardize a person's livelihood and professional reputation. Situated in Suite 31 of the Christina Cove Office Park at 6700 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland, Harris and Helwig PA has championed the rights of employees and workers across Polk County, Winter Haven, and Central Florida for more than three decades. When individuals need to hire an employment lawyer in Lakeland to fight corporate mistreatment or challenge employer abuse, the firm delivers veteran litigation experience and strategic advocacy grounded in complex federal and Florida labor statutes.

Comprehensive Employment Discrimination and Harassment Advocacy

Workplace laws exist to ensure fair treatment and protect workers from discriminatory practices. The firm represents employees across a broad spectrum of employment disputes, holding private employers and public entities accountable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Florida Civil Rights Act:

• Workplace Discrimination: Assertive legal action for employees subjected to adverse employment actions based on race, sex, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, or national origin.
• Sexual Harassment: Protecting workers from hostile work environments, unwelcome advances, and coercive quid pro quo sexual harassment from supervisors or colleagues.
• Wrongful Termination: Investigating improper terminations that violate public policy, statutory employment agreements, or anti-retaliation protections.
• Whistleblower Retaliation: Defending brave workers who expose illegal activities or safety code violations under the Florida Whistleblower's Act and federal whistleblower laws.
• Family and Medical Leave Disputes: Addressing employer interference and retaliation against workers exercising their protected rights under the FMLA.

Wage, Hour, and Overtime Violation Claims

Employers frequently attempt to minimize labor expenses through illegal payroll practices. Harris and Helwig PA represents employees in disputes involving the Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need to find an employment attorney to recover unpaid wages, the firm tackles improper overtime exemptions, off-the-clock work demands, illegal payroll withholdings, and the misclassification of standard employees as independent contractors.

Counsel for Nonprofit Organizations and Leadership

In addition to employee advocacy, shareholder Peter Helwig provides seasoned legal advisement to nonprofit entities, charitable organizations, and educational associations. The practice assists nonprofit boards with executive governance, structural compliance, employee handbook development, and internal dispute mediation, enabling mission-driven institutions to manage workforce matters ethically and lawfully.

Florida Bar Board Certified Labor Law Leadership

Firm shareholder Peter F. Helwig holds Florida Bar Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law, an elite certification reserved for attorneys who pass rigorous examinations and demonstrate exceptional peer recognition and trial acumen. An alumnus of Dartmouth College and the University of Connecticut School of Law, he was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1986. Recognized as an AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and a perennial Florida Super Lawyers honoree, attorney Helwig provides clients with uncompromised integrity and decades of proven courtroom skill.