Legal Question in Employment Law in Virginia

Boss Unfair Treatment of Employee

My wife works for a small dental practice in Alexandria, VA. She feels that her employer (the dentist) is not compensating her fairly for her work. She found out that everyone in her office received a raise back in October 2007 except her. When she asked for a raise, her employer said that he will think about it. She asked why the dental hygienist always gets a raise every year and not her, the answer she received is that the hygienist has a degree and skills. She's been working for him for more than 10 years now and have done tasks beyond what is expected in her line of work. My wife feels her employer is treating her unfairly and she took his comment as saying that she does not have skills. She also found out that he pays the other dental assistant extra when my wife is not working but does not do the same for my wife when the other dental assistant is not working. Is there a law that protects her from what her employer is doing? If so, what are her options?


Asked on 4/23/08, 9:35 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Boss Unfair Treatment of Employee

No, not that I am aware of in an employment at will jurisdiction such as the Commonwealth of Virginia, as long as the disparate compensation cannot be linked to some form of discrimination prohibited under federal law.

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Answered on 4/24/08, 7:06 am


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