Several federal laws and state laws regulate the relationship between employees and their employers. Handling all the labor laws for both parties can be cumbersome. As an employer, you need to be educated in statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
You might need to ask employees to sign a non-compete agreement or separation agreement.
This is why every employer in Washington, D.C. needs to hire an employee counseling lawyer.
An employee counseling lawyer can provide legal advice and representation on several employment issues including:
- Employment litigation
It is crucial for an employer to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently to protect the firm and employee. Employment lawyers can provide the legal counsel you need to resolve litigation and also offer counsel on issues such as:
- How to avoid union issues
- Discrimination in employment
- Disciplining and discharging employees
- Supervising workers properly
Preparing Employment Policies
To minimize risks, employers should have clear rules on the conduct and responsibilities of employees. While having a handbook is recommended, you can hire an employee counseling lawyer to help with:
- Designing personnel practices and policies documents
- Providing summary plan descriptions
- Outlining employee benefits
- Outlining sexual harassment and equal employment rules
- Drafting employment discipline and termination agreements
Offer Counseling on Employment Law and Regulations
Employment laws and regulations are continually changing. If companies aren’t aware of these changes, they risk huge losses stemming from penalties for non-compliance issues. An employee counseling attorney can help you navigate complicated employment laws that address:
- Discrimination and harassment in the workplace
- Whistleblower rights
- Corporate compliance on wage and independent contractors
- Picketing laws
Workplace Investigations
Workplace investigations are necessary should any issue occur between employees. Although they are complicated, such investigations are necessary if there is a formal or informal complaint made by an employee.
An employee counseling lawyer can give advice:
- Ethics investigations
- Investigations for alleged misconduct among many employees
- Senior management alleged misdoings
Workplace Reduction and Downsizing Processes
In some instances, employers may have to reduce their workforce. Since this process could impact employees, employers need to exercise caution to avoid wrongful termination or contract breaches. An employee counseling lawyer’s practice areas include:
- Coming up with downsizing plans
- Providing advice on possible WARN liabilities
- Implementing voluntary early retirement processes
- Labor relations or union relations
- The result of mass termination on the employer’s tax-qualified plans
- Coming up with employee’s severance packages and benefits
Hiring an experienced employee counseling law firm is essential. HKM Employment Attorneys LLP, located in the District of Columbia, has four decades of experience handling employment issues. Our attorneys will work hand-in-hand with human resources, ensuring employment policies are in line with district employment laws.
