Every business relies on the strength of its employees. When conflicts arise, however, you want to have a plan in place so your business is protected. An experienced employment law attorney can help you develop strong employment law strategies and provide you with defense counsel in the event of any type of lawsuit.
At the law offices of Bennett, Weston, LaJone & Turner, our Dallas employment law lawyers have been protecting the rights of Texas companies for more than a decade. With most of our attorneys claiming more than 25 years of business and employment law experience, we are prepared to handle a wide range of concerns. Contact us today to learn more about protecting your rights.
Protecting Employers Across Texas
- Employee Relations: We are prepared to answer all types of employment questions, draft or update employment policies and procedures, advise on the hiring, discipline and termination of employees, and draft employment-related agreements including employment agreements, executive compensation contracts, arbitration agreements, confidentiality agreements and noncompete agreements. If challenged or breached, we also have the experience to pursue or defend the litigation necessary to uphold and enforce these agreements with your employees.
- Internal corporate disputes: A wide range of internal corporate disputes can arise between your business and your employees. We can help you resolve them. We can also advise your company whether to implement an internal dispute resolution program, like arbitration. It helps some employers in Texas, but is certainly not appropriate for all.
- Discrimination and harassment claims: We can protect the rights of your business, shareholders or other employees charged with discrimination or harassment based on disability, race, gender, religion or any other protected factor, from former employees in court, administrative hearings, mediation or arbitration. We can also represent you in investigations from various governmental administrative agencies, including the EEOC, OSHA, the NLRB, the Department of Labor, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance and the Texas Workforce Commission. These initial administrative claims are important and, if not handled properly, can lead to further litigation.
- Nonsubscriber ERISA plans: Texas does not require workers' compensation insurance, but a "nonsubscriber" employer can still be responsible by providing benefits to its injured employees through an appropriate ERISA plan and insurance. We can advise companies regarding nonsubscriber issues and draft an appropriate plan in compliance with ERISA
- Non subscriber defense: When a business does not carry workers' compensation insurance, it could face a lawsuit from an injured worker. We have successfully protected and defended nonsubscriber companies in court and in arbitration throughout Texas.
- OSHA Risk Management: Through our experience defending nonsubscribers from employee injury lawsuits, we have gained experience and expertise advising risk management in avoiding and defending OSHA claims.
- False Claims Act: Federal law not only protects but encourages employees to file whistle-blower claims against their employers for potential wrongdoing. We can protect your rights against these claims.
- Breach of fiduciary duty: If one of your employees has started a competing business on the side, it may constitute a breach of fiduciary duty. We also handle covenant not-to-compete claims for businesses that face new competition from a former employee.
- Union relations: Although labor unions are not as prevalent in Texas as many states, our attorneys also have experience representing unionized employers. We have defended grievances, helped negotiate union contracts, and helped companies avoid unionization.
Contact a Fort Worth Employment Discrimination Lawyer
at Bennett, Weston, LaJone & Turner, P.C.
Employee Benefits law
Dallas Employee Benefits Lawyer
Most employers sponsor one or more employee benefit plans to provide tax advantaged benefits for their employees. Plan design involves compliance with state and federal laws, which includes compliance with tax law and labor laws. Once a plan is established, it is the responsibility of the employer to remain in compliance with these laws through proper administration. Our employee benefits attorneys have been designing and administering plans since 1975, the year ERISA was adopted. Even the most well run plans are subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor. Our employee benefits attorneys are experienced in representing plan sponsors and resolving issues that arise during audits. Should a dispute arise between the plan and plan participant, we can assist the plan resolve the dispute at the administrative level, or represent the plan in litigation. Nothing lasts forever, when the needs of the employer and its employees have been met by the plan, the employer is responsible for the plan's termination. Our attorneys can assist the employer prepare and file the appropriate notices, documents, and forms to terminate the plan.
The federal government and the state of Texas both have strict employer laws, but employers have rights as well. Contact our Dallas attorneys today to learn more about what you can do to protect your business from employment litigation.
