Vaughan Baio & Partners’ Employment team helps clients in manufacturing, retail, hospitality, restaurants, construction, financial services,and other industries navigate the legal and safety obligations of today’s complex employment relationships.
We believe that our clients’ interests are best met by lawyers who invest in understanding their needs and challenges and provide tailored guidance that aligns with their business objectives. Our goal is to deliver critical advice and advocacy as we work with our clients to develop practical responses to federal and state employment laws and regulations, resolve workplace disputes and employee claims, and craft policies and procedures that minimize risk while maximizing productivity.
Our employment advice encompasses the full range of strategic and legal issues facing employers, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as workplace safety precautions, employee travel, worker furloughs, working from home and the reopening of businesses as conditions improve.
LITIGATION
Our experienced trial attorneys litigate a broad range of individual and class action employment claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to pay wages or benefits, breach of contract, employee classification, wrongful termination, negligent hiring or retention, and defamation. In addition, we defend our clients’ interests before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and other federal and state regulators.
We also represent clients in administrative agency proceedings and litigation related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Equal Pay Act, Title IX and a multitude of other federal and state employment laws.
COUNSELING
To help employers identify and prevent employment litigation and employee claims before they arise, our lawyers conduct ongoing audits of workplace procedures, operational practices and training programs. Employers count on us to draft and provide guidance on policies regarding drug testing, the prevention of workplace violence, independent contractors, employee privacy and cyber liability, and hiring, discipline and termination practices, including in particular employment agreements, disciplinary procedures and employee handbooks. We also assist employers covered by Executive Order 11246 with the preparation and maintenance of affirmative action plans.
We have significant experience helping clients draft and enforce employment contracts, executive and confidentiality agreements and covenants restricting employees’ post-employment conduct. Notably, we have developed and implemented a number of mandatory employment and arbitration programs that require employees to submit employment disputes to binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act as an alternative to costly litigation.
INVESTIGATIONS AND TRAINING
Our lawyers perform workplace investigations and interviews to determine responsibilities and understand the facts surrounding employment issues. We also provide a wide range of employee education and training programs, including on anti-discrimination, anti-bullying, anti-harassment and related issues.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
With years of experience helping clients respond to the complex and ever-changing standards and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), our team works with employers to identify and eliminate safety problems that might otherwise lead to citations. Should catastrophic accidents, fatalities or other tragedies occur in the workplace, we manage OSHA inspections on behalf of our clients to protect their interests and ensure their rights and obligations are met.