Palm Desert Employment Lawyer For Employers
Employers in California are subject to a variety of employment laws and regulations. Both federal and state laws apply to employers in California and compliance is challenging for companies. An employer can end up facing claims of employment law-related violations from employees even if that employer has the best intentions and believes they are in compliance. Sometimes an oversight or misunderstanding of the law can lead to an unintentional violation. Other times, employee claims can even be baseless or false. Regardless of the circumstances, California employers need to ensure that they are not exposing themselves to claims that could lead to extremely expensive litigation. Not every company is big enough to warrant having in-house counsel, but every business should have an attorney on hand who can protect the company’s rights as an employer. The attorneys at Sloat Law Group help Palm Desert businesses create training manuals, contracts, and handbooks to safeguard against future misunderstandings with employees.
The attorneys at Sloat Law Group regularly defend Palm Desert employers against allegations of employment-related harassment, discrimination, or violations of wage and hour regulations. Our dedicated attorneys also help businesses returning to work following the outbreak of COVID-19. The new landscape for many businesses can lead to exposure and vulnerabilities for employers who do not take steps to comply with new COVID-19-related best practices. Speak to one of our Palm Desert employment lawyers today to learn more about how we can help you protect your business.
Drafting Contracts and Agreements for Businesses in Palm Desert, California
Employment contracts and other agreements between employers and employees should be carefully constructed to protect the interests of the business. Certain employment relationships may warrant the use of an employment contract. Your attorney should thoroughly review the contract.
Severance agreements may protect the interests of a company. A valid, up-to-date severance agreement can insulate the business from civil lawsuits and other claims when an employee separates from the company. Your attorney will be able to let you know how to use such documents to protect yourself and what can and cannot be accomplished through severance agreements and other legal contracts with employees.
The attorneys at Sloat Law Group also consult with Palm Desert employers regarding HR issues and other aspects of employer-employee relationships that have legal implications. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
Defending Harassment, Discrimination, and Other Claims in Palm Desert, California
Facing allegations of workplace harassment can be stressful and confusing for an employer. Employees can accuse their employers of creating a hostile work environment if they feel as though they are being harassed at their workplace based on their age, race, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, disability, or many other categories. Harassment goes far beyond sexual harassment in the workplace. Palm Desert employers facing these allegations should take them seriously and address them head-on by contacting an employment law attorney.
Discrimination claims differ from harassment claims in that an employee accusing his or her employer of discrimination generally alleges that the employer made important employment-related decisions about his or her position with the company based on that employee’s status in a protected group. For instance, your employee may allege that you terminated her after learning she was pregnant. Other times, an employee may allege they did not receive a job offer because of their race. In addition to pregnancy and race, the law protects many other categories in California. Let a California employment attorney advise you on these important issues.
Wage and Hour Claims in Palm Desert
As an employer, you are limited in your ability to set your employees’ hours and wages. Obviously, you are obligated to pay at least a minimum wage and to pay overtime to employees unless they are part of an exempt class of workers. Meal and rest breaks are also mandatory, and technical, in California. If you failed to pay wages properly or provide compliant breaks, you could find yourself facing a potentially costly lawsuit. Sometimes, such lawsuits can result in class actions against the employer. Our Palm Desert employment attorneys can help defend such allegations. The attorneys at Sloat Law Group will analyze your business practices and determine the best strategy for fighting employee claims of wrongdoing.
Palm Desert Misclassification Claims
Sometimes as a business, you may benefit from hiring an independent contractor to perform certain work-related tasks for your company. When hiring a valid independent contractor, you do not need to provide employment benefits to that worker. For instance, true independent contractors do not receive health insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, or retirement benefits. However, if you engage in a relationship with your independent contractor that treats that contractor as an employee, you can find yourself facing claims that you have misclassified the worker and, therefore, denied benefits to which that worker is entitled. Ensuring that you understand the boundaries of an independent contractor relationship under the ever-changing California laws will help you avoid such circumstances. Contact a Palm Desert employment law attorney to discuss ways in which you can protect yourself from employee misclassification claims.
Alternative Dispute Resolution in Palm Desert, California
If you are facing a claim from an employee, there are multiple ways in which you may be able to resolve that complaint. Litigation can be extremely costly for businesses, and arranging an alternate form of dispute resolution may save a great deal of resources. To learn more about the options available to your business, contact a Palm Desert, California employment law attorney.
Palm Desert Employers, Call Sloat Law Group Today
At Sloat Law Group, our attorneys have decades of experience protecting the interests of California businesses in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County. Call 760-779-1313 to learn more about how our dedicated Palm Desert employment law attorneys can help you.
