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Employment Law

Experienced Attorneys Assisting Employers with California’s Changing Employment Laws

California’s employment laws are some of the toughest and most stringent in the nation, and employers must stay abreast of an ever-changing legal landscape. WHGC is dedicated to providing employers with sophisticated legal counsel on employment law. We know how hard it is to build a business, which is why our attorneys are here to help you keep the focus on your customers and the bottom line.

EMPLOYMENT COUNSELORS

With that in mind, one of the most important, and least costly, portions of our practice is employment counseling. Because California employment law is so stringent, it is all too easy for businesses to violate laws and regulations without knowing that they are doing so.

For growing businesses, those who are beyond the start-up phase but are not large enough to employ in-house counsel, we offer a one-stop shop for employment law. We focus on education, prevention, and response. This includes:

  • Holding regular seminars to help our clients keep abreast of the latest developments in the Sacramento region
  • Assisting businesses in developing sound policies so that they can avoid needless lawsuits and legal expenses
  • Offering legal strategies and rapid responses when plaintiff lawsuits are filed

When it comes to your employment law needs, WHGC is with you from start to finish. We counsel businesses on issues involving job applicants, employees, and former employees. Our lawyers assist employers with employment policies and agreement drafting, employee benefits, agency audits and investigations, and specific state regulation requirements.

ASSISTING ON A RANGE OF EMPLOYMENT ISSUES

Our employment lawyers can assist you with the whole range of employment law issues, ranging from employment counseling, hiring, discipline and termination, discrimination and harassment, family leave, paid time off and sick pay, pay equity, disability (including both accommodation and discrimination claims), immigration, wage and hour counseling and litigation, and trade secrets and protection of intellectual property.

We also have a robust practice in both employment law and immigration, and are uniquely qualified to resolve matters where these two legal areas overlap.

Immigration: Many of our clients have an international dimension to their business, and it is natural that these businesses must deal with matters where immigration and employment intersect (including various work visas, such as the EB-5 visa program). We recognize the close connection between a company’s immigration program and its employment policies, and support companies on U.S. visa and permanent residence applications. We also provide immigration services for the movement of employees to the United States and between nations worldwide, and counsel companies on related compliance issues.

Wage and hour counseling and litigation: Wage and hour violations represent a significant area of liability for employers in California. We counsel employers on compliance with federal and state laws, with particular attention to the California wage and hour regime, which imposes stringent requirements on employers. Counseling clients about wage and hour issues, conducting wage and hour compliance reviews, and defending litigation and agency investigations comprise a major portion of our practice. From experience, we know it is critical that businesses address potential wage and hour issues before a lawsuit or investigation begins.

Trade secrets and protection of intellectual property: When employees leave there is the danger they will depart with your trade secrets and intellectual property. Intellectual Property is one of WHGC’s core practices and has been for nearly 20 years. Our experienced intellectual property lawyers know how to help you protect your trade secrets.

Hiring, discipline and termination: We counsel businesses on issues involving the hiring process, performance appraisals, discipline, probation periods and termination. In the modern workplace, the wrongful hiring, discipline or discharge of an employee can create significant liability for employers. Our employment lawyers help with sample interview questions (as well as advising on what questions to avoid asking), performance appraisals, progressive discipline and the proper way to discharge an employee.

 

Discrimination and harassment: When a current or former employee accuses your company of discrimination or harassment, you want experienced counsel in your corner. We assist companies with individual and systemic discrimination charges brought by both the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Family leave: There are now a wide array of federal, state, and local leave laws that affect California employers. We can help you navigate and put in place the required policies to stay in compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Paid time off and sick leave: This is an area of the law where it pays to be in compliance and it is critical to understand the fine print. We can help.

Pay equity: California is at the forefront of states that have enacted aggressive laws to ensure pay equity between genders as well as in regard to race and ethnicity. We can help you navigate these new laws. The new EEO-1 reporting requirements, which ask companies to report pay data to the government for the first time, may have serious ramifications for the operation of your business.

Disability: We advise companies on the full spectrum of issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II, III, and related state accessibility laws governing public accommodations. We defend companies against single plaintiff and class-action matters under ADA and state laws. Our practice covers both accommodation and discrimination claims.

No matter your employment law needs, we are here to help. For more information on how we can help your business and your employees thrive in today’s marketplace, call our firm at 949-652-2934 or 866-970-0186 to set up an initial consultation.