Pasadena Employment Litigation
Your Company May Be at Risk
Employment law is complex and constantly changing. With a vast array of state and federal standards, it is in a company's best interests to seek the advice of an attorney to review human resources policies and practices before becoming a party to litigation.
In the event you are sued on an employment law issue, your best bet is to immediately contact a skilled and experienced attorney. Litigation can be costly and can wreak havoc on employee morale. A knowledgeable lawyer able and willing to be with you every step of the way can save you thousands of dollars in this technical and potentially treacherous process.
Prevention is the First Priority
A company's first and often best protection is to develop sound employment policies and procedures that will head off disputes before they become lawsuits. An employee handbook that contains all such guidelines is a common tool. With employment laws changing regularly, you should review your handbook periodically and revise it appropriately. Well crafted policies skillfully applied can contribute to:
- Avoidance of wrongful termination charges
- Prevention of sexual harassment
- Management of proper disciplinary actions that promote overall productivity
- Compliance with wage and hour rules
- Prevention of overtime and overtime exemption disputes
- Application of meal and rest break requirements
- Proper accommodations process for disabled employees
- Proper accommodations process for workers seeking religious exemptions
- Compliance with applicable leave laws, including pregnancy
It is far preferable for a company to have its written workplace policies and procedures serve as tools for productivity and prevention of distracting disputes than as targets for challenge and attack in a lawsuit. This requires a regular process to ensure all such policies are clearly written to match the current realities of a company's operations and the current law. In the unhappy event an employee does challenge a business in employment litigation, employee handbooks, employment contracts, severance agreements, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements often become the target of intense scrutiny.
The Pasadena, California - based Law Offices of Timothy Bowles specializes in a broad range of employment-related work, representing companies of all sizes to prevent and, as needed, to deal effectively with government complaints and audits as well as litigation.
