You may be able to sue your boss in Pennsylvania in certain cases. Pennsylvania law makes it very difficult to sue your employer for work-related injuries, but you may still have legal recourse to receive the compensation you need. Lawsuits over wages, discrimination, harassment and retaliation are relatively common.
Work-related injuries
If you have suffered an injury on the job, state law typically does not allow you to sue your employer, but you may be able to bring a dispute to the Department of Labor and Industry. You may also be able to sue a third party if your injury was the result of third party negligence or product liability concerns.
To resolve a workers’ compensation dispute, first try everything you can to work out an agreement with your employer. If you are unable to come to a satisfactory agreement, you can bring the claim to a Workers’ Compensation Judge. Your next recourse may be to have the Workers’ Compensation Board adjudicate your claim.
Workers’ compensation can cover everything from doctor’s bills and disability payments to restitution for permanent injury. If the incident resulted in death, it may cover payments to surviving family members or dependents.
Labor code violations
In contrast to injuries, lawsuits for issues related to wage disputes, labor code violations, discrimination and whistleblower retaliation are relatively common. If you believe your employer has violated your rights as a worker, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor and Industry and attempt to have them resolve your issue. Alternatively, you can bring a civil suit against him or her to recover lost wages or get punitive restitution.
