Many small businesses think of employment and labor law attorneys only when they’re faced with a lawsuit or grievance of some kind. When that happens, they call in an attorney or firm to manage the process and represent them. But these firms can help businesses prevent these problems before they even start. In fact, the vast majority of employment and labor law attorneys aren’t involved in litigation at all. Rather, they help businesses of all sizes avoid litigation by making sure the business’s policies and procedures are in compliance with current labor laws.
Helping You Develop Policies And Procedures
Employment and labor law firms provide legal expertise on a wide range of business practices. They help their clients achieve compliance with state and federal laws and can even help draft policy manuals and develop procedures for their clients’ business. These types of attorneys commonly assist with the following:
Compliance with State and Federal Laws and Regulations including:
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Equal Pay Act
• The WARN Act
• The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• State-specific laws
Development, Creation And/Or Review Of Internal Policies And Procedures Such As:
• Employee handbooks and procedures manuals.
• Workplace policies and programs including, for example, substance abuse programs, employee assistance programs or employee leave programs.
• Assistance and/or recommendations involving every day employee relations.
• Contract design and/or review, including employment contracts, severance agreements, confidentiality and trade secret agreements, non-competitor and non-solicitation agreements.
Sometimes these law firms are even called in when a new facility is opened. This is done to make sure the employer is compliant with all local labor laws and aware of union activity in the area.