Nevers Palazzo employment law attorneys proactively advise employers from their first point of contact with job applicants through hiring, training, disciplinary matters, and pre- and post-separation issues. Areas of counsel include:

Employment, Benefit, and Compensation Agreements

• Employment offer letters and agreements
• Independent contractor and contingent workforce agreements
• Employee stock restriction agreements, employee bonus plans, employee stock option plans (ESOP), phantom stock and stock appreciation rights (SARs) plans
• Trade secrets and confidentiality agreements, invention assignment agreements, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements

Employment Policies and Trainings

• Employee handbooks
• Sexual harassment training
• Leaves of absence
• Workplace privacy
• Standalone policies and agreements – telecommuting, cell phone and social network policies

Regulatory Compliance

• Wage and hour issues under federal, state and local law: meal and rest periods, overtime, off-the-clock work, misclassification of employees, business reimbursements, wage statements, record keeping
• Discrimination and retaliation
• Reasonable accommodation, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
• Federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Transactions

• Reduction in force, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN)
• Purchase and sale of a business

Internal investigations and audits

Union organizing campaigns, negotiations, and contract administration

Working with Employers

When counseling employers and their human resource teams, the critical first step is understanding the company culture and business goals of our client. We then establish tools for clear employer-employee communications, such as handbooks, written policies, and agreements. These tools help employees understand what is expected of them, avoid confusion in the workplace, and mitigate the risk of costly litigation. Nevers Palazzo attorneys also stay abreast of new and pending state and federal employment laws to ensure our clients remain in compliance.