Labor and Employment Practice

May Oberfell Lorber offers a unique combination of real-world experience and legal skills in labor and employment law.  Our labor and employment practice is committed to the pursuit of excellence in the resolution of client matters utilizing the highest ethical and professional standards.  Our labor and employment team is dedicated to assisting employers in the improvement of the quality of their work environment by providing sound, practical legal advice with a personal touch.  The efficient resolution of your labor and employment concerns is our highest priority.

Client Services

Our labor and employment attorneys concentrate their practice in the representation and defense of management in all areas of traditional labor and employment law.  We provide counsel to a variety of organizations in every area of the employer-employee relationship including daily preventive counseling on union avoidance and organizational matters, collective bargaining, contract and grievance administration, labor arbitration, NLRB and unfair labor practice matters, OSHA and general safety, including safety program development, FLSA/wage and hour issues, unemployment and worker’s compensation.  Equal emphasis is placed on employer defense in employment discrimination law, human resources and employee relations matters including Title VII, FMLA, ADA, ADEA, sexual harassment, recruitment and interviewing, employment agreements, personnel policy development and administration, facility audits, employee handbook development, employee discipline, terminations and reduction in force issues, benefit administration and the development of strategies to protect an employer’s competitive interests, confidential information and trade secrets.  All professional services are rendered to clients in both union or non-union environments.

Supervisory & Management Training Programs

In addition to our labor and employment practice, we provide management training in all areas of Human Resources Administration and Employee Relations, including, but not limited to:

  • Union Avoidance and Organization
  • Documentation
  • Employee Discipline
  • Employee Orientation
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (Wage & Hour)
  • Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Interviewing
  • Undocumented Workers:  I-9’s
  • Laws that Impact the Workplace
  • Performance Evaluations
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Terminations
  • Working Under a Collective Bargaining Agreement
  • Workplace Violence*

* Program based on Robert F. Conte’s book - "They Never Saw It Coming … An Employer’s Guide for Reducing Stress and Violence in the Workplace," ©2003, Bristol Banner Books.

 

ADR / Mediation Practice

We believe that, whenever possible, through careful planning and strategic negotiation, alternative ways to resolve disputes can be used to avoid costly and time-consuming lawsuits. Our lawyers have a great deal of experience in successfully concluding disputes without going to trial. Several widely-accepted resolution techniques are now used in the legal system, with each technique requiring skill and training to achieve the most effective results.

The following methods have proved to be effective in finalizing disputes quickly and efficiently:

  • Mediation - Utilizes an impartial person who is educated on the particular facts and legal issues in the case and then communicates directly with the parties and their counsel to focus solely on the settlement of all issues.

  • Arbitration - Binding and non-binding arbitration involves the use of individuals who sit in judgment of the case and render a specific opinion, essentially replacing a judge or a jury. This method is often used to resolve a dispute quickly if time is a factor.

  • Summary Jury Trial - Each party and their counsel present their respective positions before a panel of jurors, which then issues an advisory opinion regarding liability and damages. That opinion is then used in an effort to resolve the case.

  • Mini-trial - Each party and their counsel present an abbreviated version of the case to a third party who is knowledgeable about the particular complexities of the case. That person then assists the parties in resolving the dispute.

If you think your case might be resolved using any of these methods, please contact May Oberfell Lorber today.

 

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