Employment Law 

New Dept. of Labor Overtime Regulations              Recent Successes

We offer advice and representation on employer/employee relationship laws and regulations

We work closely with our other legal practice groups so that employment practices are properly integrated with all other business operations

Clients include union and non-union employers and public and privately held companies

Employment and labor law services include:

• Employment relationship (hiring, discipline and termination)
  • Contracts and related written agreements
  • Employment applications
  • Personnel handbooks and policies
  • Statutory compliance (WARN, ERISA, ADA, COBRA, FMLA, etc.)
  • Drug and alcohol testing
  • Immigration (including foreign staffing)
  • Discrimination and affirmative action
  • Wage and hour compliance
  • Prevention and training programs
  • Labor relations matters involving the National Labor Relations Board
  • Employment-related litigation
  • Examples of our capabilities:
    • Employment applications, personnel policies and employee manuals
    • Advice on the proper questions on applications
    • How to avoid creating contractual rights in policies and handbooks
    • Maintaining 'at will' employment status
    • Advice on essential policies, such as nondiscrimination, sexual harassment and medical leave
  • Employment-related contracts:
    • Employment agreements
    • Non-compete agreements
    • Confidentiality agreements
    • Severance and termination agreements
  • Employee discipline and termination:
    • Minimizing the risk of discrimination and wrongful discharge claims
    • Post-employment conduct to avoid claims for defamation regarding reference inquiries or retaliation in violation of anti-discrimination laws
  • Wage and hour:
    • Compliance with wage payment laws
    • Establishing pay dates
    • Deductions from wages
    • Payment on termination of employment
    • Compliance with minimum wage and hour laws
    • Analyzing exemptions
    • Proper record-keeping systems
  • Discrimination and Sexual Harassment:
    • Claims under federal, state and local laws
    • Creating policies against discrimination and sexual harassment
    • Conducting investigations and taking action regarding complaints
    • Advice on equal employment opportunity and affirmative action obligations for government contractors
  • Statutory compliance:
    • Federal, state and local laws, such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
    • Family and medical leave laws
    • COBRA and similar state laws on continuation of medical insurance
    • ERISA
    • The National Labor Relations Act
    • The Fair Labor Standards Act
    • Plant closing laws, such as WARN
    • The Immigration Reform and Control Act dealing with verification of eligibility to work in the United States
  • Litigation and Administrative Proceedings:
    • Representing clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state and local agencies
    • Wage and hour audits and litigation
    • Practice before the National Labor Relations Board
    • Disputes under employment and non-competition agreements
  • Training Programs:
    • Hiring and interviewing process
    • Discipline and termination
    • Preventing and responding to discrimination and sexual harassment
    • Workplace violence

Performance evaluations and supervisory responsibilities