If you've just been fired, denied your final paycheck, sexually harassed, or punished for speaking up at a Delaware job, you are not powerless and you are not stuck. Delaware is an at-will state, but at-will does not mean lawless: there are real deadlines, real agencies, and real money on the line. The hard part is that some of those deadlines start running the day it happens. Call 1-844-690-0555 now for free legal information about your situation in plain English, any hour, with no income test and no web form.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Delaware.
Right now, do three things. First, write down exactly what happened with dates, times, who said what, and any witnesses, while it is fresh. Second, do not sign anything your employer hands you, especially a severance or release, until you understand what rights you are giving up. Third, save your evidence off your work account: pay stubs, schedules, texts, emails, and your offer letter or handbook. Then call 1-844-690-0555. We will give you free legal information about which Delaware deadline applies to you, whether your claim belongs with the Department of Labor, a court, or the EEOC, and what to do this week.
Here is what blindsides Delaware workers: the single most important date in a discrimination or harassment case is the day it happened, because the clock starts then. You have 300 days to file a charge with the Delaware Department of Labor's Office of Anti-Discrimination in Dover, which cross-files it with the EEOC. Miss that window and even a strong case can be dead on arrival, no matter how badly you were treated. People lose months waiting to feel ready, hoping HR fixes it, or assuming they need a lawyer first. You do not need a lawyer to start, and you do not need money. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we will tell you, for free, exactly how many days you have left and where your charge belongs.
Legal Hotline gives you free legal information, but it is not a law firm or a public defender. If you need ongoing representation or a referral, these Delaware organizations genuinely handle employment and wage matters:
Delaware is an at-will state — does that mean my boss can fire me for anything?
Mostly, but not entirely. At-will means there usually has to be a contract or statute to challenge a firing. Delaware still bans firings that are discriminatory, retaliatory, or that breach the narrow implied covenant of good faith (for example, fabricating a record to justify the firing). Which exception applies decides everything. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information about whether yours fits.
How long do I have to file a discrimination or harassment claim in Delaware?
You generally have 300 days from the discriminatory act to file a charge with the Delaware Department of Labor's Office of Anti-Discrimination, which cross-files it with the EEOC. That is longer than many states, but it still runs out fast. After you receive a Notice of Right to Sue, you have 90 days to file in Superior Court. Call 1-844-690-0555 to learn exactly how many days you have left.
My employer hasn't paid my final paycheck. What can I do?
In Delaware your earned wages are due on the next regular payday after you leave. If your employer withholds them without a good-faith dispute, 19 Del. C. § 1103 lets you recover the wages plus liquidated damages — up to the lesser of 10% per day or the full unpaid amount. You can file with the Division of Industrial Affairs or sue. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on which path fits your amount.
What is Delaware's minimum wage right now?
Delaware's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on January 1, 2025 under Senate Bill 15. Tipped workers must receive at least a $2.23 cash wage, and the employer must make up the difference if tips don't bring you to $15. If you were paid less, that is recoverable back pay. Call 1-844-690-0555 to find out how to claim it.
I was punished for reporting something illegal at work. Am I protected?
Likely yes. The Delaware Whistleblowers' Protection Act, 19 Del. C. Chapter 17, protects you from being fired, threatened, or demoted for reporting (or being about to report) a suspected legal violation to a public body. It carries an unusually generous three-year window to sue, with reinstatement, back pay, and punitive damages available. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information about your situation.
Do I need a lawyer or money to start?
No. You can file a discrimination charge with the OAD or a wage claim with the Department of Labor yourself, and the hotline call is free with no income test. If you later decide you want representation, we can help you book a paid consultation with a Delaware-licensed attorney. Start by calling 1-844-690-0555 — it costs nothing to learn your options.
What is Delaware Paid Leave and can I use it?
The Healthy Delaware Families Act created Delaware Paid Leave. Payroll contributions began January 1, 2025, and paid parental, medical, and caregiving benefits became claimable starting January 1, 2026 for eligible workers, generally at larger employers. If your employer denied leave you were entitled to, that may be a violation. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on whether you qualify.
My boss is pressuring me to sign a severance agreement. Should I?
Not before you understand it. A severance or release almost always asks you to waive your right to sue — including discrimination, retaliation, and wage claims — sometimes for less than those claims are worth. There is usually no rush to sign, and certain age-based releases must give you review time. Call 1-844-690-0555 first for free legal information about what you'd be giving up.
Which Delaware court would hear my employment case?
It depends on the claim and the amount. Discrimination and wrongful-termination suits with jury demands typically go to the Superior Court. Smaller money claims can be heard in the Court of Common Pleas (up to $75,000) or Justice of the Peace Court (up to $25,000). Many claims start at an agency, not a court. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll explain where yours likely belongs.
Can I be fired for filing a complaint about discrimination or unpaid wages?
No — retaliation for filing or participating in a discrimination charge is itself illegal under the Delaware Discrimination in Employment Act, and retaliation for reporting legal violations is barred by the Whistleblowers' Protection Act. If you were demoted, cut, or fired after speaking up, that can be a separate claim. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information about a possible retaliation claim.
Does calling the hotline create an attorney-client relationship?
No. Legal Hotline gives legal information, not legal advice, and is not a law firm or a public defender. The call creates no attorney-client relationship and there is no charge. It is simply the fastest way to understand your Delaware deadlines and options. If you want a lawyer afterward, we can help you arrange a paid consultation. Call 1-844-690-0555 any time, 24/7.
We connect Delaware workers who need representation with licensed local employment attorneys. If you practice employment law in Delaware and want to receive vetted client matters, join our referral network. This path is for attorneys only and is kept entirely separate from the free worker hotline above.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
In Delaware, the strongest claim in the world is worthless once the 300-day discrimination window or your wage deadline passes. You do not need money, a lawyer, or the perfect words to start — you just need to know how many days you have left and where your claim belongs. Call 1-844-690-0555 now for free legal information, 24/7, in plain English. It costs nothing, creates no attorney-client relationship, and could be the call that saves your case.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.