Helping Employers Resolve (And Prevent) Conflicts
As a business owner, you have noticed that the more your business grows, the more issues you have to deal with. It never gets easier, and the stakes only increase. To avoid conflicts or get ahead of the legal issues that your enterprise may encounter, you need the help of a skilled employment law team.
At the York law firm of FrancePaskeySwope, you can meet with a team of experienced litigators and counselors who are dedicated to resolving your immediate problems and supporting your long-range goals. We are proud to help businesses flourish throughout south central Pennsylvania and beyond, and we are eager to address your legal needs and help you and your business overcome them.
Our Employment Law Practice
Our employment law attorneys have a unique range of clients, including:
- Police labor unions in negotiating collective bargaining agreements and representing the union in labor grievances.
- Law enforcement officers in need of defense against civil litigation over complaints of alleged excessive force and civil rights violations, as well as workplace claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination.
- Private-sector employers accused of employment discrimination or dealing with labor grievances from a union.
However complex or high stakes your legal issue is, our experience in labor and employment law will give you the advantage. We have earned the respect of the region’s legal community thanks to our fearless litigation strategies and impressive success in the courtroom on behalf of the business community and police. Our firm takes the cases that other lawyers hesitate to accept. Despite this, we remain highly approachable to our clients, who are always welcome to contact us for answers to their questions and updates on their cases.
Comprehensive Support In Employment Law For Employers
Even the most successful businesspeople may not be fluent in employment law. As a result, it can be difficult to spot potential legal issues before they become real problems for an employer and their business. FrancePaskeySwope provides seasoned knowledge and representation for all employment law conflicts, including experience in defense against:
- Employment discrimination claims
- Wrongful termination lawsuits
- Claims of retaliation
- Allegations of sexual harassment or other harassment
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues
- Disability accommodations under ADA
- Employee contract development and violations
- Wage and hour disputes
Our lawyers can also assist employers with the development of clear and enforceable workplace policies and employee handbooks to prevent conflicts and add a layer of protection against employee claims.
What To Expect Next In Your Case
A discrimination claim or labor dispute requires you to begin gathering evidence to prove your position. For a discrimination complaint, this could include all relevant correspondence, job applications, and details of the job to show that you did not fail to hire or punish the complainant for illegal reasons and were acting within your rights regarding the hiring, firing, promotion or disciplining of an at-will employee. Similarly, a company facing a complaint under the law or terms of the CBA should collect as much paperwork and other evidence as possible supporting its position that it acted properly.
A labor grievance often ends up in arbitration. In fact, requiring arbitration to settle a dispute instead of a lawsuit in court could be a requirement in the CBA. Arbitration has the advantage of being more private than a public lawsuit and generally costs less in legal fees. It works similarly to a trial, with a neutral arbiter hearing evidence from both parties and reaching a final ruling.
A discrimination complaint could start with a report to the employee’s manager or your HR department, if you have one. If that fails to resolve the matter, the employee could escalate a complaint to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), which will serve you with a copy of the complaint within 30 days. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will also get a copy if the PHRC believes federal laws are involved. As the respondent, you have 60 days to file a formal response, after which the PHRC will investigate the complaint to see if probable cause exists to proceed.
If it does, the PHRC will seek to conciliate, or settle the dispute between you and the worker. If a settlement does not occur, a public hearing may be necessary.
Our Experience Can Benefit Employers
Instead of trying to juggle business operations and legal conflicts yourself, allow our team to manage the details of your employment problems while you focus on the continued success of your business. Our skilled trial lawyers can advise on effective and cost-conscious strategies to defend your interests and reputation or resolve conflicts with minimal cost and disruption.
Our deep knowledge of employment law can be the advantage you need in whatever employment law matter you are facing. If you want to learn more about how we can help you, schedule your initial consultation with our Pennsylvania lawyers today. Call us at 717-931-5994 or email us here to meet with our team.