Manhattan Employee Discipline Defense Attorney

Lawyer for Civil Service Worker Disciplinary Proceedings

If you are a tenured civil service employee in New York City, you are entitled to certain protections under the law and your collective bargaining agreement. In most cases, for example, your employer must give you the opportunity to attend a due process hearing when you are served with any notice of possible disciplinary action.

At The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC, our team has the knowledge and resources to help you when your public sector employer is threatening to take disciplinary action of any kind against you. When you are facing possible disciplinary action, your union representative can provide some assistance, but only an attorney can offer legal advice and ensure that your rights under the law are fully protected. Our team will work closely with you to help you obtain the best possible outcome for your situation.

The Rights of Tenured Civil Service Employees

In order to obtain the highest level of protection regarding your civil service job, you must be "tenured." The specific rules that address tenure are generally contained in Section 75 of the New York Civil Service law and will depend on several factors, including the classification of your job and how many years of service you have. Some positions do not have a minimum years of service requirement, but others require you to have at least three or five years in your position.

Once you are tenured, you will automatically have certain rights under the law when you are facing possible disciplinary action. If you are also a union member, however, your collective bargaining agreement could affect your specific rights. In general, your rights include the right to a timely process, the right to representation during questioning and investigative interviews, and the right to advance notice of the charges against you. You also have the right to a due process hearing before adverse action can be taken against you.

It is your employer's responsibility to schedule the hearing, and you have the right to representation by your union rep and an attorney if you choose. While your case is pending, you could be suspended for up to 30 days without pay, especially if you are facing disciplinary action related to being arrested. If you are an NYC corrections officer, and have been charged with a felony offense, you could be suspended indefinitely. You will have the right to collect back pay for your period of suspension if the charges against you are cleared.

Experience Matters in The Bronx and Brooklyn

Attorney Gregory J. Watford has more than 25 years of legal experience, and he has spent a large portion of his career working on behalf of unions and civil service workers. He represents those who work for the NYPD and FDNY, as well as transit employees, school employees, and many other public sector workers. Mr. Watford has worked on a wide variety of employee disciplinary proceedings, and he understands what is at stake. You could lose hours, pay, or even your job.

He and the team at The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC will help you determine the best course of action for protecting your rights and your job. If appropriate, we can assist you in negotiating a settlement that will resolve your disciplinary matter in advance of your hearing. In many cases, a negotiated agreement can include terms and solutions that are not available by law following a hearing. For example, you could be allowed to come back to work on a conditional, probationary basis—an option that is not offered by the laws that govern civil service employee disciplinary hearings.

We are also fully prepared to coordinate with your union representative to protect your interests at your hearing. In the event of an adverse outcome, we will help you explore your options for filing an appeal as well.

Schedule a Consultation Today

For more information about our firm and how we can help with your employment-related disciplinary proceedings, contact our office. Call 646-580-6675 to schedule a confidential consultation and case review at The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC today. We serve clients in Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Mineola, New City, White Plains, Mt. Vernon, and the surrounding areas.