We represent schools, private business and non-profit employers in human resources matters to ensure compliance with California state and federal labor and employment laws. We are experienced in providing labor and employment legal services impacting the entire employment relationship from before hire through termination, and are experienced in handling the following:

• Leading negotiations on behalf of management with labor unions, including experience bargaining with the California Teachers Association and California School Employees Association.
• Drafting collective bargaining agreement language.
• Processing, responding to and managing union grievances, including representing management at mediations and other administrative proceedings.
• Responding to Unfair Labor Practice charges.

• Rules regarding employment applications, interviews, background checks, drug screenings and making offers of employment.
• Preparing executive level and school administrator employment agreements.
• Employee handbooks and workplace policies.
• Drug and alcohol testing both prior to and during employment, including impact of marijuana laws.
• Employee exempt status or “salaried” classifications.
• Wage and hour compliance, including complex multi-rate pay issues, prevailing wage requirements for public works and public-private partnerships, and pre-litigation settlement of wage claims including appearing before the Labor Commissioner and PAGA claims.
• Sick leave, vacation, and leaves of absence, including pregnancy leave, long-term illness leave, and school employee leaves under the Education Code.
• Compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act interactive dialogue process for disabled employees.
• Advising and preparing documents related to employee performance and discipline for misconduct, including both minor and serious violations of law or policy (e.g., physical abuse, unauthorized weapons, fraud, misappropriation of employer funds).
• Advising and preparing documents related to unique issues associated with contracted employees as well as classified, certificated and administrative employees working in the K-12 systems.
• Employee privacy and off-duty conduct.
• Last chance agreements
• Severance/settlement agreements.
• Terminations of at-will, contracted, and union employees.
• Discrimination, sexual and other harassment & retaliation claims, including workplace complaints, demand letters, DFEH/EEOC complaints, and related coordination with insurance carriers.
• Workplace trainings for employees and/or managers on various areas of employment law compliance, including sexual harassment prevention training required under California Law.