Knowing and understanding your rights and responsibilities as an employee or your obligations as an employer in the workplace today is essential for the smooth flow of business operations. However, employment laws can be complex and multifaceted. Issues arise at the workplace and need to be settled amicably.

This is where employment legal experts come in. They are well-versed in employment laws. So, they are effective in helping people navigate through issues concerning employment. In this article, we will discuss who employment legal experts are, and how they can assist both employees and employers.

Understanding the Profession: Who are Employment Legal Experts?

Employment legal experts are professionals well-versed in labor law and regulations. In other words, they know the rights and responsibilities of both employees and employers. Their profession doesn’t stop at being knowledgeable in labor law. They also offer counsel and represent both employers and employees in employment-related issues.

Some of these issues include wrongful termination cases and workplace disputes. These experts ensure that both employees and employers adhere to the labor laws at all levels of government. They offer their services in mediation, negotiation strategies, and litigation for people in the workplace. To better understand this profession, here are some of their primary roles and responsibilities:

Legal Counsel

Most employees and employers find it difficult to keep up with the laws and regulations guarding their practices. They often don’t know their rights and responsibilities. This is where these professionals come into play. They offer counsel to people in the workplace regarding the laws that guide them and help them understand what their responsibilities and rights are.

Drafting and Reviewing Contract

Employment contracts, workplace policies, and agreements have to adhere to the laws governing them. Employment lawyers are tasked with the responsibility of reviewing contracts to ensure they are lawful while protecting their client’s interests. In some cases, these lawyers might even draft contracts and agreements for their clients.

Compliance Training

These lawyers also train employees and employers alike on the relevant rules and regulations guiding their operations and conduct. They are sometimes employed by companies to train recruits. This helps to create a more productive and compliant workplace.

Discrimination and Harassment

All employees are to be treated right and equally in the workplace, however, wrongful conduct like harassment and discrimination sometimes occur. When there is a case like this, employment lawyers are the best fit for tackling such issues. You can visit here https://news.va.gov/  to learn about the effects of harassment on mental health. The employee who has been affected can hire these professionals who will investigate the complaint and advise the employee on the best action to take to resolve the issue.

Wrongful Termination

There are cases in the workplace where an employee is allegedly terminated wrongfully. These professionals investigate the issue and provide counsel on how to resolve it. They also represent their client in court if the case requires that.

There are several other responsibilities and roles that these lawyers perform to ensure that people in the workplace adhere to labor laws. Not all companies have these professionals working as personnel in their organization. However, it is always in the best interest of those in the workplace if there is one available.

Legal Expertise for Employers

In the business world, employers need to have access to legal expertise. These professionals cover a wide range of legal services designed to help employers effectively navigate and comply with labor laws and regulations. The following are some areas where employers benefit from legal expertise:

Compliance

As the business and labor world evolves, so do the rules and regulations guiding them. Not only that, there are several of them and thereby can be hard to keep up with. Lawyers for employers help businesses to comply with the various laws and regulations across all levels of government. They aid in drafting policies, company’ handbooks, and employment contracts that are in line with the latest laws.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict is one of the occurrences in a workplace that often arises due to the different backgrounds and perceptions of people in the workplace. You can check here to learn how to manage a team from different backgrounds.  It can be quite costly and disruptive to the flow of work. Handling it alone can be burdensome and tasking for employers, especially as they have to resolve without the rights of their employees and the law.

Employment lawyers help to guide employees through the process of resolving conflicts. They offer mediation services and come up with solutions to resolve the conflict. This helps to minimize expenses and work disruption.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Merging or acquisition of a business is a legal procedure. Business owners need the help of experts to ensure that it goes smoothly. The services these experts offer during a merger or acquisition include conducting due diligence, evaluating employment contracts, and others.

Termination/ Layoffs

When terminating or laying off an employee, an employer needs to follow the due process to ensure that they don’t go against labor law or regulation. Legal experts assist employers through the process while minimizing risk. These experts work to ensure that the termination is fair and does not go against anti-discrimination laws or violate the employment contract.

Legal Expertise for Employees

As employers get to enjoy the services of legal experts, so do employees. These experts serve as a source of knowledge for employees. They help employees understand their rights in their workplace and also help them protect those rights. The following are ways employees benefit from these experts:

Knowing Their Rights

It can be quite challenging to navigate employment laws. As a result, most employees don’t know what their rights are. So, legal experts educate them about their rights such as overtime, anti-discrimination protections, and minimum wage. The knowledge they get from these experts empowers them to effectively demand their rights in the workplace.

Whistleblower Protection

Whistleblowing is the act of reporting the wrongful, illegal, or unethical conduct or activities of an organization to authorities that can address them. It is one act that takes courage as it can pose potential consequences such as retaliation, loss of employment, and others. So, when an employee is a whistleblower, they have to be protected against those potential consequences

Legal experts protect these employees. They let the employees know of the legal protections they will be under. These experts will then guide them through the process of reporting to the relevant authority.

Contract Negotiation

Legal documents such as severance packages, employment contracts, and non-compete agreements are often difficult to understand due to the terms in them. So, employees need the help of employment attorneys and legal advice to decode those documents. They also help them to negotiate the terms and conditions for it to be favorable and protect their interest and rights.

Wage and Hour Disputes

Sometimes, employees face issues and disputes concerning their wages and working hours. Some of these disputes include overtime violations, missed breaks, and unpaid or incomplete wages. All of which are violations of their rights as workers in their organization. So, employment lawyers help them to rectify these issues by initiating their claims and advocating for compensation.

Tips for Hiring an Employment Lawyer

Having an employment lawyer as an organization, employer, or employee is essential for effectively navigating the workplace. Although, you might not need to have a lawyer on your payroll. If you need one, here are some tips you have to consider to hire right

Experience

You don’t want a lawyer who is not experienced in handling your case or giving you advice. Rather, you need someone who has successfully handled different employment cases. This way they will be strategic in approaching your issue and achieving the best result.

Communication Skills

These lawyers play the role of counselors. They educate you on your rights and responsibilities and guide you on the best approach to take when dealing with employment-related matters. So, you need to ensure that they can effectively communicate with you. Seek experts who have good communication skills to avoid misunderstandings.

Support/Resources

Your lawyer needs all the help they can get because employment cases are often multifaceted. When your lawyer has access to researchers and paralegals, it will work well in your favor. You can check here https://www.totallylegal.com/ to learn about the duties of paralegals. So, seek a lawyer with a strong support and resource team.

Conclusion

With the guidance of employment lawyers, navigating the workplace becomes easier. These experts provide services that enable both organizations and individuals in the workplace to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the ever-changing employment laws and regulations at all levels of government. Their expertise protects both employees and employers from legal pitfalls while fostering a fair and law-abiding workplace.