The employment lawyers at Lagasse Branch Bell + Kinkead are experts in all aspects of employment law, and they regularly receive recognition as being among the best in their practice area.
Our team of attorneys provide prompt and practical advice specific to our client’s business needs, with a view to preventing legal problems before they occur and promoting a productive work environment. We work closely with our clients, so we understand their goals, then we partner with them to achieve those goals. Not only do we provide a thorough analysis of legal risks, but we also help our clients balance legal and operational considerations, so they can make the best business decisions for their operations.
Our employment attorneys have the experience and depth to provide comprehensive advice and practical workplace solutions to ensure our clients remains in compliance with ever changing employment laws. We are experts not only in state and federal law, but also in the many city and county ordinances throughout California that regulate employer conduct, as well as the guidance issued by federal, state, and county regulatory agencies. While many of LBBK’s employment litigation attorneys provide guidance on employment related issues, we also have a dedicated team of experienced attorneys who focus their practice exclusively on advising employers. These attorneys previously worked as seasoned litigators, which enables them to foresee and consider potential risks when advising employers.
Our employment attorneys are available to assist with all aspects of employment law, including the following:
Preparation and review of policies, handbooks, and other employment documents:
Employers routinely look to us to develop, draft, review, and/or revise their personnel policies and handbooks to ensure compliance with applicable laws, while ensuring they are appropriately tailored to their operations. We also draft and review employment contracts, severance agreements, confidentiality agreements, arbitration agreements, affirmative action programs, and other employment related documents.
Advice and counseling:
We partner with our clients by offering real-time advice as employment issues arise. We ensure they appropriately handle and document all situations, whether having to do with hiring and firing, discipline, disability or religious accommodation, leaves of absence, harassment investigations, drug and alcohol testing, workplace violence, reductions in force, wage and hour issues, or other general human resource practices. We also guide clients through audits and investigations by administrative agencies.
Employment audits:
We regularly conduct employment audits of our clients’ human resource practices and evaluate levels
of compliance with state, federal, and local laws and ordinances. We tailor all audits to client needs, including by focusing on those areas where they may be most at risk:
- Wage and hour issues: meal and rest periods, timekeeping, compensation, overtime, bonuses, wage statements
- Recruiting Practices: background checks, drug testing, non-discriminatory hiring practices, reviewing job descriptions, classification issues
- Leave Management: sick leave, vacation, interactions of various leave laws, disability accommodation and interactive process, return to work, and prevention of discrimination and retaliation
- Discipline, Discharge, and Termination: crafting written warnings, performance improvement plans, reductions in force (RIF), WARN Act and Cal- WARN Act compliance, severance agreements
Upon completion of an audit, we work with our clients to revise their policies and practices to align with applicable laws. We also provide management training to ensure best practices.
Training:
We provide entertaining and interactive training tailored to our clients’ needs, including on topics such as best management practices, managing leaves of absence and remote work, and prevention of harassment and discrimination in the workplace, including training that meets the requirements of California and other state-mandated harassment training laws.