EMPLOYMENT & LABOR LAW

   Whether you are an employee who is being sexually harassed, discriminated against or wrongfully deprived of salary or benefits, or an employer being accused of employment law violations, you will likely find the experience As experienced Employment and Labor Law Attorneys, we can help you navigate

through the legal process to a satisfactory result. We use our extensive knowledge of employer concerns to articulate and resolve problems employees are having at work or because of work including discriminatory terminations, failures to promote, unequal pay and position, on the basis of sex, race, national origin, religion, disability or otherwise.

   We advise employers on compliance and regulatory issues and represent them in disputes with employees charging discrimination, whether in mediation,

arbitration or in court.  We also design and implement employment practices for companies intended to reduce disputes with employees and promptly resolve disputes that arise.

EMPLOYMENT LAW - includes all rights and obligations within the employer-employee relationship, including current employees, job applicants and former employees.  It covers a wide range of legal issues, ranging from employment discrimination and wrongful termination to matters involving wages and workplace safety.  Many employment law issues are governed by applicable federal and state employment law, but a number of issues are determined according to basic contract law including but not limited to the following:

WRONGFULL TERMINATION encompasses a variety of situations in which an employee has been dismissed from employment. In most states, employment is presumptively "at will," which means that an employer may discharge an employee at any time for any reason and, correspondingly, an employee may quit the employment at any time for any reason. However, certain reasons for dismissing an employee are illegal and a violation of the employee's rights. Such reasons include discrimination on the basis of gender (including pregnancy), race, national origin, age, disability and religion. It is also illegal to terminate an employee for making a workers' compensation claim, serving on a jury, or for refusing to comply with an illegal directive of the employer. These are just some examples of exceptions to the employment at will presumption.

LABOR LAW - focuses on such matters as eliminating unsafe workplace conditions, securing a living wage for employees, and eliminating, or at least, tempering the strife that often occurs between employee and employers.  Since the appearance of organized labor, laws have established collective bargaining rights, and have sought to prevent either employers or employees, individually or through associations or unions, from engaging in unfair labor practices.  It is well-established, by various statutes, that both sides to a labor dispute are legally required to engage in good faith collective bargaining.  

   Modern labor laws also address such complex and often emotionally charged issues as strikes, picketing, mutual injunctive relief and lockouts.  As Labor and Employment attorneys we can help employers with the following:

• Reviewing client employee handbooks, manuals and policy statements
• Assisting with federal and state wage and hour law issues and claims
• Representing employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state human rights agencies
• Providing advice on issues involving National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) representation and elections including campaign assistance
• Representing employers in unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and state labor agencies
• Providing representation for grievance and arbitration hearings under collective bargaining agreements
• Collective bargaining on behalf of clients including strategic planning and acting as spokesperson
• Counseling on issues related to strikes or lockouts and providing related litigation support