Good employee relations are important to the long-term success of any business. By applying a preventative approach to employment issues, employers can reduce the risk of employment claims and simultaneously improve employee relations and production. The attorneys at Beard St. Clair Gaffney have experience helping both businesses and individuals with the following employment issues:
Creation and Audit of Employment Documents
We help our clients by auditing employment documents including contracts, applications, handbooks, and manuals and revising them to comply with the requirements of both federal and state employment laws.
Non-Compete & Confidentiality Agreements
In the Information Age the protection of trade secrets and goodwill are becoming ever more important. We have extensive experience in advising employers on the protection of trade secrets and goodwill through the drafting and enforcement of non-disclosure, trade secret, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements.
Compensation Planning
Employers often need to tailor the compensation of key employees and executives to reward and retain these employees, which have been identified as integral to the future success of the organization. We help employers design specific compensation plans for its key employees to provide them with incentives and rewards that are fair both internally and externally. Compensation must be fair to shareholders and employees, ensuring appropriate performance hurdles are in place and providing payouts that are clearly aligned with actual performance.
Employment Litigation
Unfortunately, no matter how well informed an employer is, claims by employees cannot always be completely avoided. The litigation attorneys at Beard St. Clair Gaffney have considerable experience representing both employers and employees in a broad range of employment disputes before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. We offer aggressive, cost-effective strategies that will succeed in court, arbitration, or mediation.
Creation and Implementation of Policies and Procedures
A crucial part in managing employment risk involves the development and implementation of well-integrated, concise and understandable policies and procedures. We advise, counsel and teach you about the important legal issues you need to consider while hiring, employing, and, when necessary, firing employees, which may include the following:
- Interviewing and hiring
- Harassment and discrimination
- Leaves under the ADA, FMLA, and workers’ compensation laws
- Benefits, including vacation and PTO
- Discipline and discharge
- Severance and separation
