Employment Law
We spend much of our lives in a workplace. Work is an important source of self worth, financial stability and the opportunity to utilize one’s talents and skills. Once an individual passes through his or her workplace door each day, there are important federal and state laws which pertain to the employer-employee relationship. We understand that while most people have a productive and satisfying career, there are times when the employment relationship needs to be documented, channeled, corrected, terminated, righted or resolved. We are available to consult and assist in all aspects of the employment relationship. having extensive experience in legal matters that involve addressing issues and rights in the workplace.
Our practice areas include:
- Affordable Care Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Compliance and Risk Analysis
- Covenants Not-to-Compete (Non-Competition Agreements)
- Employment Contracts
- Defense of employment discrimination involving age (Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), race, color, sex, religion, national origin (Missouri Human Rights Act and Civil Rights Act of 1964) or pregnancy
- Equal Pay Act
- ERISA Compliance
- Executive Employment Contracts
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Physician Employment Agreements
- Reasonable Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA)
- Severance Agreements
- Sexual Harassment
- Trade Secrets Law
- Union Labor Issues
- Wage and Hour (Fair Labor Standards Act)
- Whistleblower Litigation and Public Policy Exception
Employment Law Articles
Employers Cannot Average Hours to Avoid the FLSA’s Overtime Requirements
Section 207(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) provides that “no employer shall employ any of his employees…for a workweek longer than forty hours unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of the hours above specified at a...
SEC Adopts Rules to Establish Whistleblower Program Under Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Act
On May 25, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted rules to establish a new whistleblower program, implemented under Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Act” or “Dodd-Frank Act”). The Dodd-Frank Act was...
Missouri Governor Vetoes Proposed Bill on Discrimination
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has vetoed Senate Bill 188, stating that to thrive in a global economy, Missouri must be a state that continues to move forward – not backward - when it comes to civil rights and equal opportunity. "Senate Bill 188 would undermine key...
Missouri Court of Appeals Refuses to Apply “Abuse of Discretion” Standard to its Review of a Benefit Denial Despite “Firestone Language”
A recent decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals limited the scope of the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Burch, 489 U.S. 101 (1989). In Firestone, the Supreme Court held that “a denial of benefits challenged under § 1132(a)(1)(B)...