EMPLOYMENT & LABOR

Employers facing the complex network of laws governing labor and employment can find all of the expertise and experience needed to meet this challenge at McShane & Bowie, PLC. Our employment attorneys provide a comprehensive approach, including   advice, strategic planning, training, preventive action, alternative dispute resolution, and employment-related litigation of all types.

Employment issues:

• Affirmative Action Plans, Audits, and Proceedings
  
• Alternative Dispute Resolution of Labor and Employment Claims, including Arbitration and Mediation
• Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance
• Drug and Alcohol Issues
• Employee Handbooks and Policies
• Employee Discipline and Terminations
• Employment Discrimination Claims
• Employment Litigation of all types
• Harassment Claims
• Labor and Employment Aspects of Sales, Mergers, and Acquisitions
• Litigation Avoidance Counseling
• Non-Competition Agreements and Other Restrictive Covenants
• Occupational Safety Laws and Regulations
• Reductions in Force and Other Corporate Reorganizations, Including Due Diligence
• Trade Secrets/Confidential Information
• Wage and Hour Law
• Whistleblower/Retaliation Litigation

Labor Related issues:

• Union Avoidance.  We assist non-union employers in remaining union-free.  This includes establishing lawful policies and procedures aimed at maintaining a satisfied and productive workforce.  We also work closely with our clients to develop effective strategies for communicating the benefits of a union-free workplace. 

• Organizing Drives.  We represent employers faced with union organizing drives.  We work aggressively to ensure our clients’ legal rights are respected, and often we are able to obtain dismissal of the election petitions.  When an organizing drive goes to election, we work with our clients to conduct a lawful campaign that emphasizes the positives about their company and the negatives of unionization. 

• Collective Bargaining.  We know how to negotiate union contracts which guarantee our clients their rights to manage their businesses and control their expenses. 

• Arbitration.   Winning an arbitration begins with the right contract language.  It also depends on good advice on the issue at hand, whether it be how employees should be paid or discharge/discipline issues.  We negotiate the right language and we give the right advice so that we are in the best position to successfully litigate the arbitration. 

• Unfair Labor Practices.  We efficiently and successfully defend employers charged with unfair labor practices.  We also prosecute unfair labor practice cases against unions when they break the law.

• Strikes.  Tough negotiations sometimes result in strikes.  We make sure the rights of our clients to continue operations through a strike are respected.  We help clients develop strike plans to minimize the financial and emotional impact of a strike. 

• Union Violence/Picketing.  When unions resort to violence or unlawful picketing, we sue them.  We obtain court orders to stop the violence and we recover monetary damages for our clients. 

Our experienced employment and labor attorneys include: