There are a wide array of labor and employment laws that regulate employment relationships in New York. Effective management of today’s workforce often requires advice of experienced counsel. We provide advice and counsel to employers on day-to-day decisions concerning employment relationships. Typical areas of advice include responding to issues of discrimination, determining whether circumstances warrant an employee’s discharge, addressing leave issues, and addressing questions that start with “will we get in trouble if . . .”
Most employers in New York are subject to “employment-at-will,” which means that, in the absence of an employment contract, an employee can be terminated at any time, without warning, for any reason or no reason at all, so long as the termination does not violate anti-discrimination laws. But, but, but… there are many laws and regulations that may make decisions to hire, fire, and promote employees a risky proposition. It is in these situations where the advice of an employment attorney is of great value.
In forty years of practice, including as in-house labor counsel for the New York Daily News, Lou Pechman has counseled employers in a wide variety of industries about how to avoid litigation. Prior clients have included fortune 500 companies, Broadway theaters, health care institutions, restaurants, and “mom and pop” businesses. The keystone to avoiding lawsuits by employees is getting the proper guidance before making the employment decision. Pechman Law Group assists employer in developing up to date employment policies and handbooks and giving insightful advice on employer relations issues. Often times, we are asked whether a company is required to have an employee handbook or manual. While the law does not require an employee handbook or manual, that is an effective method of ensuring that employees are aware of company policies. Every employer should have an anti-discrimination/anti-harassment policy and ensure the pay and benefits practices are clear to employees.