Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC

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Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC https://discriminationandsexualharassmentlawyers.com/

Leading Sexual Harassment, Discrimination
&
Employment Rights Law Firm
Over $400 Million Recovered
NYC, NJ, PHL, MIA, CA
Free Consultation | No Fee Unless We Win!

10/27/2026

Not every workday is a walk in the park, even for our office dog, Honey.

If you believe you’ve experienced discrimination, harassment, or retaliation at work, speaking with an employment attorney can help you understand your options. We offer free consultations at 800-807-2209 or dereksmithlaw.com.



https://go.discriminationandsexualharassmentlawyers.com/dslg/N9plyK

Nurses in Pittsburgh watched parents go back to work while their newborns were still in intensive care. So, they did som...
10/26/2026

Nurses in Pittsburgh watched parents go back to work while their newborns were still in intensive care. So, they did something about it.

Allegheny County just passed the nation’s first countywide 12-week paid parental leave law, which is expected to take effect one year after it is signed. It would generally apply to employers with 15 or more employees.

No matter where you work, you may already have rights when it comes to family leave. If you were denied leave, punished for taking it, or pushed out after having a child, you may have a claim.

Call 800-807-2209 or visit dereksmithlaw.com for a free consultation.

Attorney Advertising. This post is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

10/24/2026

Vampires need an invitation. Your boss’s 1 a.m. texts don’t. 🧛

A late-night message about how you looked in today’s meeting isn’t flirting, and it isn’t harmless just because it was sent off the clock. Unwanted messages from a supervisor may be sexual harassment.

Save the texts. Then call us.

📞 800-807-2209
🌐 dereksmithlaw.com

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

10/23/2026

When sexual harassment happens at work, knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming. What should you document? Who should you tell? Where do you start?

In this Q&A, Derek Smith Law Group attorney Kristen Pleszewicz discusses preserving evidence, documenting complaints, and why helping people pursue justice makes this work so meaningful to her.

Behind every case is a person whose career, confidence, and sense of safety matter. Your story deserves to be heard.

Watch the conversation, save it for reference, and share it with someone who could use this information.

Have questions about something happening at your workplace? Contact Derek Smith Law Group to discuss your options.

800-807-2209
dereksmithlaw.com



https://go.discriminationandsexualharassmentlawyers.com/dslg/N9plyK

10/22/2026

If your employer is building a record against you, you should know what’s in it.

Starting November 8, 2026, New York’s new personnel file law will give current and former employees important rights:

• A FREE copy of their personnel records within five business days of a written request.
• Notice within 10 days when negative information is added that could affect their employment, pay, promotion, or disciplinary action.
• Employers must retain personnel records for at least three years after employment ends.

The law also gives employees a way to respond to disputed information in their files.

Your personnel file can tell an important story, especially when positive reviews suddenly turn into write-ups after you report discrimination or harassment. Understanding that record can help you understand your options.

In this video, Ian explains what New York workers need to know.

Concerned about discrimination or retaliation at work? Contact Derek Smith Law Group to discuss your rights.

800-807-2209
dereksmithlaw.com

Save this video and share it with someone who works in New York.



https://go.discriminationandsexualharassmentlawyers.com/dslg/N9plyK

🎉🐾 Happy Birthday, Ash! 🐾🎉Today our Miami office is celebrating its most loyal team member, Ash! She’s the first to gree...
10/21/2026

🎉🐾 Happy Birthday, Ash! 🐾🎉

Today our Miami office is celebrating its most loyal team member, Ash! She’s the first to greet clients, the best at boosting morale, and an expert in finding dropped snacks under the conference table. 🍰

Ash, thank you for the tail wags, the happy greetings, and for reminding us every day what unconditional support looks like. You’re a very good girl, and we’re lucky to have you! 💙❤️

Drop a 🎂 in the comments to wish Ash a happy birthday!

Speaking up about sexual harassment should never cost you your shifts.Il Fornaio has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve...
10/21/2026

Speaking up about sexual harassment should never cost you your shifts.

Il Fornaio has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The agency said it learned of at least 100 women affected by the restaurant chain’s work environment. Many of the employees were teenagers.

According to the lawsuit, female employees experienced unwanted touching, sexual comments, and requests for sexual favors. The EEOC alleged that complaints failed to stop the harassment and that employees who spoke up faced retaliation. Some felt forced to resign.

Il Fornaio denies wrongdoing, and the settlement is not an admission of liability.

For restaurant and hospitality workers, the takeaway matters: cutting your hours because you reported sexual harassment can be illegal retaliation. So can other forms of punishment for speaking up, including threats, demotion, or termination.

A schedule change after a complaint does not automatically prove retaliation. The reason for the change matters, and documentation can help tell the story.

If you believe you are being punished for reporting harassment:

• Save your schedules from before and after your complaint.
• Keep relevant texts, emails, pay records, and copies of your complaints.
• Write down dates, witnesses, and what changed.
• Speak with an employment lawyer promptly, because filing deadlines apply.

You deserve to understand your rights. If you reported sexual harassment and then lost hours or faced other consequences, contact Derek Smith Law Group to discuss your options.

800-807-2209
https://dereksmithlaw.com

Save this post and share it with someone who works in a restaurant, bar, or hotel.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

10/20/2026

This pup came prepared. 🐾 Two walks a day, four water bowl refills, and 20 minutes of belly rubs. Request reviewed, paw shaken, accommodation granted.

Jokes aside, reasonable accommodations are no laughing matter. If you have a disability, your employer may be legally required to provide reasonable accommodations, such as a modified schedule, adjusted duties, or assistive equipment, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. If your request was ignored, denied without a real conversation, or followed by retaliation, you may have a claim.

Call 800-807-2209 or visit dereksmithlaw.com for a free consultation.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.



https://go.discriminationandsexualharassmentlawyers.com/dslg/N9plyK

10/16/2026

“Why didn’t they report it sooner?”

A delay in speaking up is not proof that an assault didn’t happen.

In this clip, we discuss Jane Doe’s allegations and a troubling expectation: that survivors must immediately tell someone, use specific words, or react a certain way to be taken seriously.

There is no perfect script for speaking about sexual assault. The evidence matters. So does questioning our assumptions about how a survivor is “supposed” to respond.

What needs to change to make it safer for survivors to speak up? Share your thoughts below.

Share this video to help challenge the stigma around delayed reporting.

Have questions about sexual assault, harassment, or your legal options? Contact Derek Smith Law Group.

800-807-2209
dereksmithlaw.com

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1 Pennsylvania Plza, Suite 4905
New York, NY
10119

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+12125870760

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