LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Underwood, Perkins & Ralston’s Labor and Employment section counsels businesses and executives in their relationships with each other and with their employees. Our attorneys provide services to navigate the extensive state and federal statutes regulating these relationships. With its full range of services, and tough, aggressive and practical representation, we can provide services comparable to much larger firms at more affordable rates. Our Labor and Employment attorneys have in excess of 100 years of experience in this area and are called upon often to provide our business clients throughout the area, state and nation with advice in their employment relationships, helping resolve workplace disputes of all kinds.

Employee Relations

• Answer day-to-day employment questions,
• Advise on the hiring, evaluation, discipline and termination of employees,
• Draft agreements impacting the employment relationship, including:
  • Employment contracts,
  • Executive contracts,
  • Arbitration agreements,
  • Confidentiality agreements,
  • Noncompetition agreements,
  • Employee handbooks and policies and procedures, and
• Counsel and assist employers faced with labor organizing activities.

Risk Management

• Advise employers on new employment issues,
• Audit existing employment policies, procedures and practices for compliance,
• Update policies, procedures and practices,
• Provide assistance in complying with federal immigration statutes and policies, and
• Provide training to implement the proper policies, procedures and practices.

Workplace Injuries

• Counsel employers regarding the viability of workers’ compensation in Texas,
• Advise companies whether nonsubscribing is appropriate for their business,
• Draft ERISA plans for nonsubscribers to provide occupational injury benefits, and
• Advise and represent employers on workplace injury issues under OSHA before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Defense

• Defend in court or arbitration, employment claims of all kinds, including statutory employment, tort, contract and wrongful discharge claims,
• Represent companies before the various governmental administrative agencies, including the following:
  • EEOC,
  • OSHA,
  • NLRB,
  • Department of Labor,
  • Office of Federal Contractor Compliance,
  • Texas Workforce Commission, and
• Defend employee grievances.

Underwood, Perkins & Ralston’s Labor and Employment attorneys strive to provide counseling, representation and defense to allow companies to continue to conduct their business.