Labor and Employment Law

Hoffman and Hlavac focuses on Labor and Employment Law.  Our L&E practice covers the entire spectrum of employer/employee relations.  With extensive experience in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law, we represent our clients in a variety of capacities--as counselors, negotiators, advocates, and litigators.

Our attorneys have extensive litigation experience with respect to employment discrimination and harassment claims involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.  In this regard, we regularly represent our clients before courts and administrative agencies at the federal and state levels.  We also have extensive experience defending wrongful termination claims and claims involving alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Law, and the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law. 

We routinely provide guidance to employers with respect to hiring, discipline, and termination issues.  We assist in investigations after a charge of discrimination or other employment-related claim has been filed.  We draft and negotiate pre- and post-employment agreements with employees and independent contractors, including:

 ·      employment agreements

·       consulting agreements

·       independent contractor agreements

·       non-competition agreements

·       confidentiality agreements

·       training expense reimbursement agreements

·       separation agreements

·       severance and release agreements

·       tuition reimbursement agreements

Our attorneys regularly review and revise employee handbooks, draft employment policies, and counsel employers about their personnel practices.  We help clients devise and implement effective workplace policies and conduct training and audits of employment practices — all to ensure that our clients comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

We represent both union and non-union employers.  In representing unionized employers, our attorneys regularly negotiate collective bargaining agreements in both the public and private sectors, assist with handling grievance arbitrations and unfair labor practice charges, and counsel employers of all sizes with respect to other labor-management issues.  For non-union employers, we provide advice and guidance with respect to lawful union avoidance techniques and, where necessary, representation in union election campaigns.  In this regard, we provide comprehensive election campaign materials and counsel employers with respect to permissible conduct during a union organizing campaign.