New York City Disciplinary Charges Attorney

Lawyer Representing NYC Civil Service Employees in Disciplinary Matters

If you are a civil service employee who has been notified of pending disciplinary action, it is understandable that you might be feeling confused and overwhelmed, especially if you have been placed on suspension without pay while your case is pending. You could be facing the possibility of an additional suspension, demotion, or even the loss of your job.

With so much at stake, you need a qualified lawyer on your side, protecting your rights and your best interests. At The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC, our experienced team has helped hundreds of New York City civil service workers successfully defend against disciplinary charges filed by their employers. We will conduct a detailed review of the charges that you are facing and develop a strategy designed to get your charges reduced or completely dismissed. No matter what you have been accused of doing, we will do everything we can to help you secure a favorable resolution.

Understanding Disciplinary Charges in Brooklyn and The Bronx

Section 75 of the New York Civil Service Law states that a tenured civil service employee must be served with a formal notification of any charges of incompetence or misconduct that are filed against the employee by his or her employer. The notification must include the formal charges regarding the alleged behavior, as well as allegations of fact to support the charges.

Specifically, the employer must list what rule or rules were violated and/or what standard of performance you failed to meet. In order to face consequences for breaking a rule, you must have known of the rule and understood it. For example, if your workplace policy manual clearly states the disciplinary action possible for insubordination, repeated absences, or theft, it can be presumed that you knew and understood the rules.

The alleged behavior or offense must also be significant. In most cases, a single offense that is a technical or trivial violation of the rules is not usually sufficient to initiate disciplinary action. It is your employer's responsibility to keep careful records that support the charges, and those records should show more than a trivial or technical violation.

Disciplinary action is often related to alleged misconduct or incompetence while the employee was on the job. In some situations, however, you could face disciplinary charges from your employer based on off-duty behavior, especially if the off-duty behavior leads to criminal charges. Depending on the circumstances, simply being charged with a crime could lead to your employer filing disciplinary charges against you. If you are convicted in criminal court, the likelihood of your employer taking formal action increases. At The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC, we are equipped to help you handle both the criminal proceedings and the employer disciplinary process.

Experienced Queens Employee Disciplinary Defense Lawyer

Attorney Gregory J. Watford is an accomplished negotiator and litigator with more than 25 years of legal experience. Throughout his career, he has worked on behalf of unions and civil service workers, and he is familiar with all sides of such proceedings. Mr. Watford is also an appointed arbitrator, which means he understands how to analyze a situation and apply the law from a judiciary perspective.

With his experience and background, Mr. Watford is equipped to help you challenge disciplinary charges at your due process hearing. He and his team will question evidence, make arguments, call witnesses, and allow you to tell your side of the story. Your employer is responsible for proving the charges to the hearing officer, who will then issue a recommendation regarding guilt and the appropriate penalties. In the event of an adverse decision, we will also help you explore your options for filing an appeal.

Schedule a Consultation Today

For more information about our firm and how we help you defend against civil service employment-related disciplinary charges in New York City, contact our office. Call 646-580-6675 for a confidential consultation at The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC today. We represent civil service workers in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Mineola, New City, White Plains, Mt. Vernon, Nassau County, Rockland County, Westchester County, and the surrounding areas.