REPRESENTATION FOR EMPLOYEES

Fighting for Victims of Discrimination, Retaliation, and Misclassification:

Some employees and job seekers have been treated unfairly by an employer because of their race, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Others have been misclassified as “independent contractors” when they should really be W-2 employees (there’s no such thing as a “1099 employee”). New York workers have legal protections under laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law.

We advise these individuals and negotiate on their behalf with employers and their insurance companies. We also file charges and represent individuals and before agencies such as the New York State Division of Human Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. When all else fails, we have extensive trial experience in federal and state courts.

Review of Employment Offer Letters, Severance Offers, and Contracts:

For a reasonable flat fee, we review offer letters, severance/settlement agreements, and independent contractor agreements to protect that your rights are protected. We help translate legalese into plain English. We have successfully assisted workers in negotiating bigger salaries and severance payments.

NEW: For our guide on the basics of severance packages and tips about negotiating severance agreements, click here.

REPRESENTATION FOR EMPLOYERS

In New York, various Federal, State, and local laws govern compensation and treatment of employees. We help navigate issues both mundane and complicated so management can focus on day-to-day business operations.

Employment Law Advice and Consulting:

We offer advice and counseling to small- and medium-sized businesses on various employment-law related issues. Among other things, we assist clients in drafting handbooks and workplace policies. We also conduct sexual harassment and other preventative training.

Wage and Hour:

Federal and New York state laws establish the minimum hourly wage that must be paid to employees. The web of laws can be incredibly complex, even for experienced business owners. Most violations are unintentional but can be costly and hurt employee relations. Even minor mistakes can lead to significant liability, unnecessary litigation costs, and headaches. We provide counseling, advice, and litigation defense regarding topics including overtime pay, working hours, meal breaks, and tip credits.

Workplace Investigations:

Sometimes an employee complains that they have been treated unfairly by a co-worker or supervisor. An employer has an obligation to conduct an effective investigation that is timely, fair, impartial, and accurate. We conduct investigations in order to help reach an effective resolution and to preserve attorney-client privilege.

Litigation:

We have significant experience litigating employment law matters in the Southern and Eastern District of New York courts and before administrative agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We can help reach a successful resolution, whether that is in court or in mediation.