Corporate HR Policies & Procedures

Your partners in employment law matters
Gross McGinley Allentown PA Human Resources Attorneys

Corporate Human Resources Policies and Procedures

Reduce Your Risk with Informed, Reliable Legal Counsel

Our employment attorneys assist with designing and implementing employment policies and recommending proactive steps to limit your liability.

Whether you need help setting up procedures or assistance with oversight, we’ll leverage our knowledge to offer counsel in:

  • Administrative proceedings
  • Employee relations
  • Background checks and drug screening
  • Employee handbook/ policy development
  • Investigations
  • FMLA and disability leave
  • Social media checks
  • Compensation issues

Solutions

When businesses or individuals face litigation, you can talk to one of the experienced attorneys in our employment group. We stand ready to defend clients in workplace lawsuits including:

  • Discrimination claims
  • Harassment claims
  • Wrongful discharge
  • Restrictive covenant and trade secret violations
  • Workers’ Compensation claims

We’ve appeared on behalf of our clients in:

  • Local, state, and federal courts
  • National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
  • Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC)
  • Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Local human relations commissions

Companies and businesses must take responsibility for preventing and addressing a range of problems — like conflicts, sexual harassment, leave disputes, and other employee relations issues — before they become a concern or escalate into a huge problem.

Our employment attorneys advise you so that you know you’re complying with employment law and lowering your risk of litigation. Collaborate with us for:

  • Help addressing work performance/ attendance issues
  • Assistance with requests for accommodations/ leaves of absence
  • Assistance with employee discipline/ discharge issues
  • Determining and implementing audit wage/ hour practices
  • Preparing affirmative action plans
  • Creating strategies to assist with reductions in force/ corporate restructurings

You want to hire the best, most qualified employees. You also want to minimize exposure to employee theft, turnover, or harassment. Our attorneys will guide you to make sure you comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other state or local laws. We’ll make sure you understand the legal implications of obtaining and using information from prospective and current employees.

Keeping up with constantly-changing employment laws is a challenge. We’ll help you design appropriate HR strategies and processes for employee background checks so that you know you’ve hired the right talent with the best fit.

Different industries — and employers — require diverse background checks. We’re well-versed in assisting with:

  • Criminal background checks
  • Employment/ academic verification
  • Drug and alcohol testing
  • Professional skills and cognitive assessments

Once you’ve identified the relevant tests you need, we’ll guide you on how to legally apply the results.

While you can write an employee handbook that includes policies unique to your situation, an attorney can verify its legal compliance. It makes good business sense to review its contents periodically, too.

If you employ 15 employees, you enter a new legal realm that includes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) becomes applicable once your company employs 50 or more workers. It’s worth the investment for us to provide oversight on your handbook to avoid potentially expensive issues in the future.

We offer counsel and advice on workplace investigations including those involving employee misconduct. Our investigations include:

  • Allegations of discrimination
  • Compliance with corporate ethics policies
  • Employee theft
  • Harassment associated with disability, sex, race, religion, or ethnicity
  • Possession, use and/or sale of controlled substances
    Workplace violence

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) law protects employees’ rights. But the law covers employers as well when they meet certain criteria. Our up-to-date knowledge enables us to answer your questions and provide guidance on the act and all its complex details.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects employees from discrimination from their workplaces. We can verify that your company policies comply with the act’s legal requirements. We also defend employers accused of alleged FMLA and ADA violations.

If your company checks social media during the vetting process of job applicants, we can help you design your policy. To avoid a potential discrimination claim, you must apply your social media policy to all applicants.

Sometimes, employers accrue wage and hour violations when they mistakenly classify their employees as independent contractors. Other areas that might lead to costly litigation include:

  • Minimum wage compliance
  • Overtime compliance
  • Spread-of-hours pay
  • Exempt vs. non-exempt employee status
  • Independent contractor status
  • Federal and state recordkeeping compliance
  • Improper wage deductions
  • Tip credit issues

Our attorneys are well-versed in state and federal wage and hour laws; we’ll evaluate your processes to make sure you’re in compliance. We can also review your company’s employment policies and practices. Whether you’re addressing a Department of Labor concern, fighting a wage and hour lawsuit, or conducting an in-house audit, we’re on your side.

Companies use ESOPs — or stock purchase plans — for a variety of reasons:

  • To create economic value
  • To build employee engagement
  • To address estate and succession planning issues

To create and establish ESOPs, however, requires specific knowledge. We can help you to establish them and ensure their compliance with tax and ERISA codes. We also offer ESOP litigation services, counseling on SEOP feasibility and in third-party M&A, and more.

Corporate HR Policies & Procedures Team

View Profile Gross McGinley Allentown Law Firm Attorney Paul A. McGinley

Paul A. McGinley

Partner
View Profile

Thomas E. Reilly, Jr.

Partner
View Profile Gross McGinley Allentown Law Firm Attorney Lauren Speziale

Loren L. Speziale

Partner
View Profile Gross McGinley Allentown Law Firm Attorney Jason A. Ulrich

Jason A. Ulrich

Partner

Frequently Asked Questions

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