Employers today face a myriad of laws and regulations concerning employee rights and employer responsibilities.  Keeping up with the dictates of the EEOC, OSHA, DOL, OFCCP, ICE, and other state and federal agencies can be daunting.  Potential exposure from individual or government-instituted litigation is unprecedented.

The McDowell, Rice employment and labor practice group is led by experienced senior attorneys, including a former Kansas Civil Rights Commissioner, a former prosecuting attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, and a former Senior Litigation Counsel for the U. S. Department of Justice.  The practice group’s attorneys represent a wide range of clients from small businesses to large public and private corporations.

The law firm takes a proactive approach with its clients and believes it is important to:

• Identify and fix small problems before they become costly and time-consuming serious issues.
• Respond quickly to any type of administrative complaint with the goal of getting the matter dismissed before it morphs into expensive litigation.
• Take advantage of alternative dispute resolution procedures when practical and advantageous for the client.
• Defend vigorously against all claims by being better prepared and more persuasive than opposing counsel.
• Be responsive to the client’s needs and goals.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Employment and labor law covers a broad range of topics.  Some of the areas in which our attorneys can offer guidance are:

Litigation:

• Defense of all types of employment discrimination litigation, including claims under Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, and similar state laws.
• Defense of wage and hour claims, including overtime and improper exemption classifications.
• Enforcement and defense of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.
• Defense of class action litigation.
• Defense of wrongful discharge lawsuits.

 Human Resources Preventative Counseling: 

• Preparation or review of employee handbooks, job application forms, I‑9's, and other internal documents and procedures to ensure compliance with changing laws.
• Completion of wage and hour audits.
• Preparation of OFCCP affirmative action plans and audits of existing plans.
• Preparation or review of employment contracts and non-competition agreements. 

Labor Law:

• Resisting union organizing campaigns.
• Representing management with regard to National Labor Relations Board proceedings.
• Representing management in collective bargaining negotiations and contract administration, including arbitrations.
• Advising management during strikes and boycotts.

Our attorneys’ diverse experience and extensive knowledge translate into consistent, practical advice and good, timely results.