Even the most diligent employers occasionally require the services of an attorney to help them navigate difficult employment law issues. These issues can arise at any time, so companies must be prepared to deal with them with the legal assistance of an employer defense attorney.
Employee Classifications
Employers who misclassify their employees can face legal action or significant fines. For example, classifying staff members as individual independent contractors instead of employees could cause an employer to be sued by employees who feel they are misclassified. The guidance of an attorney during the filing process can help prevent these types of incidents.
Representation in Court
Employment lawsuits are complex and can take months or longer to resolve, especially if the parties involved do not cooperate. An employer defense attorney can save time by attending court hearings required for the client to continue their business. The lawyer will also be in charge of collecting and preserving the evidence for the case.
Review of Agreements and Contracts
Clauses in contracts and agreements can be used as the basis for filing a court case. A lawyer can review the contract to make sure that all the necessary legal terms are applied correctly and can be enforced in court. Also, the lawyer can give you information about when to use contracts to protect your business from legal trouble. For example, issuing an employment contract to each new employee before a suitability assessment is carried out could spell trouble for the company.
Review manuals and policies
An attorney can review the employee handbook and company policies in depth to ensure that none of the statements or policies violate state or federal law or create unwanted liabilities. After thoroughly reviewing the documents, the attorney may recommend the implementation of additional policies to protect the business from legal trouble.
An employer defense attorney can also review employment decisions, especially those that affect a significant number of staff members, before they are implemented. Examples of decisions that require the intervention of a lawyer include a change of pension plan, the discontinuation of an employee benefit, and the termination of some of the employees.
first line of defense
Finally, a lawyer can deal with some of the often overlooked day-to-day business facts, such as license reviews, intellectual property violations, and potential tax liabilities, and act as a company’s first line of defense against malicious lawsuits. . Legal advice and recommendations provided by lawyers will help avoid hidden legal cases and streamline business operations.
