The Labor & Employment Law Practice Group at Thomas, Thomas & Hafer has grown rapidly due to the ever-changing statutory framework applicable to employment relationships. With the adoption of numerous federal laws in this area, including Title VII, The Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADEA, and innumerable other federal, state and local laws, employers are increasingly the subject of litigation as a result of all types of labor and employment decisions.

We have a team of attorneys trained to counsel employers on how to make these decisions to avoid litigation, and to ensure compliance with employment-related statutes. Our attorneys regularly consult with clients on day-to-day employment matters including: drafting employee manuals and job descriptions; consulting on hiring practices, disciplinary and termination decisions; and investigation of claims of harassment and discrimination. We are experienced employee and management trainers on employment topics such as discrimination and harassment, hiring and firing, FMLA, and FLSA issues. Our attorneys routinely provide in-house training directly to clients, as well as seminars sponsored by industry groups.

For many companies, avoiding litigation and its costs is priority number one, and our attorneys recognize that settlement is often desirable to our clients in these contentious cases, and are committed to communicating early and often with clients about the benefits and merits of settlement and negotiation. We are not proponents of settlements on the steps of the courthouse, after significant costs have already been accrued. We understand that clients’ legal fees are most affordable when the client is able to avoid litigation, and our first goal is to attempt to prevent a case from ever going to court through proper counseling, training and educating its client base in the intricacies that now dominate the field of employment law.

When litigation cannot be avoided through negotiation or training, however, our team is fully equipped to handle litigation in federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies such as the Human Relations Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We regularly appear in employment cases in federal district courts and federal appellate courts.