Services for Employers:
Partnering with You to Protect Your Business
Counseling
The first line of defense in protecting your company against employment claims is practical, solid advice and counseling for the day to day decisions you must make. If you are a small or medium-sized employer, however, you may not be able to justify the expense of a full-time human resources professional or the hourly rates of a large law firm. That does not mean you must go it alone. At The Beale Firm, we offer practical legal advice designed to minimize your legal risk, while still allowing you to operate your business. If you are tired of your lawyer telling you, you can’t, give us a call. We see it as our job to tell you how you can.
Our counseling services include:
- Advice on employee discipline and terminations
- Reviews of employment policies and employee handbooks
- Advice on legal compliance, including Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws and regulations
- Assistance with Reductions in Force (WARN Act)
- Drafting or Reviewing Employment Agreements and Non-Competes
- Counseling and advice on payroll and employee classification compliance
And, because we understand that predictable and affordable services are essential to any business, we offer these services in a flat rate package at a significant savings over our standard hourly rates.
EEOC Charge and Other Agency Response
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other agency charges may appear simple on their face. They are usually just a few statements from an employee or former employee. Failing to respond to these charges, however, can result in serious penalties for a company. Failing to respond accurately can be devastating.
When you are facing a charge of discrimination from the EEOC or the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC), or another agency action, you need experienced counsel who routinely deals with the investigators and attorneys working for these agencies. Leslie Beale has investigated and responded to more one hundred such charges. Her experience includes mediation before the agencies, charge response and defense, and conciliation of enforcement actions. She knows the ins and outs of these procedures, and will use this knowledge to your benefit.
Unfortunately, even if you are successful in defending yourself at the agency stage, you likely can still be sued by the complaining employee. Therefore, it is critical that your response be thorough and accurate, but cost-effective in order to reserve resources in the event you face litigation in the future. Using her experience as a guide, Ms. Beale assesses cases early on, and in most instances, can offer charge response for a set flat fee. This limits your fee exposure and provides you with the cost predictability that is so vital for a business to operate successfully.
Workplace Training and Audits
To maintain a compliant company, workplace training is vital. Companies that train on topics such as harassment and discrimination avoidance can reduce their chances of getting sued, and if sued, strengthen their ability to defend themselves. But, not all training is created equally. You need a knowledgeable and experienced trainer with the legal background to answer your employees’ questions, while still being able to relate to them without relying on legal jargon. Ms. Beale has spent a significant portion of her career training supervisors, managers, and employees on a wide variety of topics. Her comfortable style will put your employees at ease and maximize the value they take from the training you provide.
In addition to workplace training, periodic audits of your employment practices can help to ensure compliance and reduce the possibility of costly litigation. Audits can be tailored to your particular business, and may include topics such as employee classification practices.
Litigation Defense
Even if you work to be proactive and reduce your legal risk, your company may still face a lawsuit from an employee or former employee. If that happens, you need aggressive legal counsel to represent your interests. Your company and your reputation are at stake, and you need someone who can represent your interests, both inside and outside the courtroom. The Beale Firm will passionately advocate for your interests in either state or federal courts, while still keeping an eye on your bottom line.
