Services For Employers
Employment Law Associates provides employers with advice and litigation services at a fraction of the fees of what larger corporate law firms charge. Our firm is a member of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce and we understand the economic threat that a potential lawsuit has on small businesses. The employer/employee relationship can easily become emotionally charged, and can disintegrate with negative consequences. We see our role as helping you prevent litigation through education and timely interventions, and helping you to litigate or resolve such disputes once they have occurred.
Personnel Policies Drafting & Handbook Reviews:
An employer's written personnel policies serve several important functions, such as communicating to employees your key policies and philosophies and serving as a reference for employees. Written personnel policies also can help an employer attain consistency in enforcement. In some instances, the employer is required to create and disseminate personnel policies in various areas of law.
While written policies can be effective tools for employers, they may create significant liability if they are not carefully drafted. Just as importantly, the absence of a written policy can increase the likelihood of liability for certain types of claims. For example, a company that does not have a written sexual harassment policy can weaken its defense in the event it is sued for sexual harassment.
Employment Law Associates can work with your business to draft policies and handbooks, to review, analyze, and edit existing policies and handbooks, and to recommend policies that should be implemented. It is important that your business clearly address the following areas in its policies and handbook:
* Sexual Harassment
* Equal Employment Opportunity
* Leaves of Absence
* Complaint Procedures
* Drug and Alcohol Testing
* Non-Competition
* Confidentiality
* Vacation and Holiday Pay
* At-will Status
* Discrimination
* Code of Ethics
Employment Law Associates provide comprehensive severance advice to executives and employees. Severance negotiation involves understanding each party's respective interests, expectations, legal positions, and financial incentives. This is a business transaction and should not be confused with a legal battle. The end result is a complete waiver and release of all claims up to the date of the executed agreement. The dollar amount and comprehensiveness of severance agreement varies and is a function of the company's policies, the level of the employee’s position, employee performance, potential liability, and previous agreements.
Litigation & Litigation Prevention
Unquestionably, the best approach to litigation is prevention when possible. Policies and procedures designed to reduce or eliminate circumstances giving rise to litigation can significantly reduce a company's exposure to claims. Our experience has provided Employment Law Associates with business knowledge to advise employers how to best prevent employee related litigation. If you have questions concerning potential liability as an employer in the hiring, training, managing, or terminating an employee, please contact us immediately
Employment Law Associates is committed to providing small businesses with quality and affordable legal representation in the following areas of practice:
* Affirmative Action
* Disability Issues
* Confidentiality Agreements
* Covenants Not to Compete
* Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace
* Defending Employee Lawsuits
* Unemployment Compensation Hearings
* Employment Agreements
* Employee Leaves
* Employee Manuals
* Employee Privacy
* Employee Discrimination Prevention Training
* Employment Litigation
* Family & Medical Leave Act
* Investigations of Discrimination/Harassment Claims
* Defending Gender Discrimination Claims
* Handbooks
* Hiring Employees
* Hostile Work Environment
* Independent Contractors/Employees
* MCAD Legal Compliance
* Personnel Policies
* Defending Race Discrimination Claims
* Reduction in Force (Layoff)
* Retaliation
* Severance Packages
* Sexual Harassment Prevention and Defense
* Terminating Employees
* Wage and Hour Issues
* Whistle Blower Suits
* Unemployment Compensation Benefits
* Vacation Pay
* Workplace Accommodation
* Workplace Violence
* Wrongful Termination
* Training and Education of Staff
57 Wharf Street, Suite 2A
Pickering Wharf
Salem, MA 01970
Tel: 978-744-7002
Fax: 978-744-7009