Practice Strengths

Navigating the intricacies of the ever-changing federal and state laws and regulations that impact the workplace can be difficult, and non-compliance carries the risk of costly employment litigation and government penalties. At Baker Hostetler, we work proactively with our clients to help them establish effective practices and policies and understand how the numerous statutes, regulations, codes and ordinances that govern the workplace affect their business.

Our skilled lawyers partner with clients to provide creative solutions that address their day-to-day workplace issues. Our lawyers have experience both as in-house counsel and with a number of regulatory agencies, providing us with critical insight into offering our clients effective human resources solutions that help reduce their risk.

We counsel clients on the full scope of workplace issues including:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Title VII
• Workers' Compensation
• Unemployment Compensation
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
• Immigration
• Reductions in Force (RIF)
• Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)
• Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance

Our attorneys know which federal, state and local laws apply to businesses nationwide. We conduct on-site compliance reviews, provide management training and work with companies to develop compliance programs. We also provide legal counsel and representation to clients found to be noncompliant. We represent clients before governmental agencies and boards and work out programs to bring them into compliance.

Our employment counsel helps clients reduce the risk of costly litigation.

Electronic Communications and Social Media
Electronic communication systems and tools continue to gain prominence as outlets for both commercial and personal expression, and businesses of all sizes increasingly rely on various electronic tools to enhance their branding and marketing strategies. As a result, companies increasingly find themselves grappling with potential liability issues, employee conflicts and corporate image crises.

In the area of corporate presence and marketing through electronic communication, we assist businesses in:

• Assessing their comfort level with technology and electronic communication.
• Developing policies for their corporate-level communications including webinars, email campaigns, company-sponsored blogs and interactive website pages.
• Expanding their public relations and brand management guidelines to address the actions of making statements and posting graphics on social networking sites.
• Resolving “brandjacking” situations when an unauthorized party creates a bogus online profile or page and misrepresents the brand.
• Avoiding anti-spamming law violations.
• Establishing blogger policies and training programs to minimize threats including libel, harassment and running afoul of securities regulations or trade secret laws by revealing company information.

As social networking and use of social media become more prevalent, we work with companies in evaluating and drafting communication policies, procedures and training tools to cover use of Facebook, Twitter and other tools while using company resources or even away from the office. We also help companies develop standards for monitoring of employee postings and participation in social media. And our attorneys stay abreast of federal and state laws as well as court decisions that may impact an employer’s ability to control employee conduct during or away from work.

Recognition

• Eleven employment partners listed are in The Best Lawyers in America.
• Our employment and labor practice is ranked among the leading practices in Ohio and Florida (Chambers USA, 2011).
• Chambers USA 2011 lists a total of nine Florida and Ohio employment partners as leaders in the field.
• Employment lawyers have received special regional recognition in Florida Trend's “Legal Elite" publication.

About Our Employment Team
Ranked among the Top Employment Law Firms by Workforce Management Magazine, Baker Hostetler counsels many of the nation's leading companies on all aspects of employment law. With more than 100 lawyers coast-to-coast, Baker Hostetler's Employment and Labor Group represents numerous FORTUNE 500 companies, and for many of these companies, we serve as their national employment and labor counsel. Our comprehensive employment practice is comparable in size and depth to the largest employment law boutiques, but we offer the broader resources of a leading, full-service firm.

Solution
An HR Audit can dramatically improve not only your human resources function, but also your bottom line. For example, we assisted one of our FORTUNE 500 clients in reducing its annual cost of handling employment and labor matters by nearly 65 percent by improving their efficiency and reducing their risk of costly litigation.   Read More