EMPLOYMENT LAW

Palmer Kazanjian’s attorneys advise and counsel management regarding all aspects of employment law.  Our advisory practice includes assisting clients with compliance with all applicable employment laws and representation in matters involving a wide range of issues.  Palmer Kazanjian attorneys have extensive experience representing employers before state and federal courts, both trial and appellate.  However, we also represent clients before government boards and commissions such as state and federal OSHA, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) and the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (“DLSE”) and the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.

We pride ourselves in responsiveness and efficiency and therefore our services often lead to unique client relationships wherein we provide employment law counsel on a fixed fee basis.  Our clients value these types of professional engagements because they can contact us on a moment’s notice in order to obtain advice that will reduce or eliminate liability.

We regularly provide employment law counsel and representation regarding issues such as:
General Compliance Issues and Preventative Counseling

  • Confidentiality and Trade Secret Agreements

  • Conflicts of Interest

  • Discrimination and Retaliation Policies

  • Dress Codes

  • Drug and Alcohol Testing

  • Employee Benefits, e.g. issues involving COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA and Other Related Legislation

  • Employment Contracts

  • Fiduciary Duties

  • Leaves of Absences

  • Manuals (e.g. Employee Handbooks) and Other Policy Documents

  • Paid Time Off (“PTO”) or Sick Leave and Vacation Policies

  • Occupational Health and Safety, i.e. federal and Cal-OSHA compliance

  • Severance Agreements

  • Sexual Harassment Policies

  • Technology Policies

  • Union Avoidance Policies (see Labor Law)

  • Wage & Hour, e.g. Overtime, Meal and Rest Periods, Bonuses and Commissions

  • Workplace Privacy

  • Workplace Violence

Management Decisions

  • Employee Discipline

  • Hiring

  • Interviews

  • Performance Evaluations

  • Record-Keeping

  • Referrals (Former Employees)

  • Terminations

  • Training

In addition to the above counseling and other services, Palmer Kazanjian regularly provides human resources services for many of our smaller and medium sized clients.  These clients engage our firm to assist them with services such as development of personnel policies; supervisory manuals and employee handbooks; total quality management programs; and advice regarding the implementation and maintenance of health insurance, pension and deferred income programs.

Palmer Kazanjian’s employment law–related services also include:

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AUDITS

We review employee files, forms, policies, procedures and employment practices to identify and correct possible exposure to liability under federal and California wage and hour, discrimination, and leave of absence laws, and employment contracts.  Palmer Kazanjian’s audits can also be specifically designed to evaluate benefit plan documents and practices to identify operational and structural compliance.  Many of our audits uncover possible improvements or alterations that are an effective way to limit or eliminate government imposed penalties.

SEMINARS AND TRAINING

We instruct management and supervisory employees about how to avoid expensive employment claims, as well as key management techniques such as discipline administration and complaint resolution.  Palmer Kazanjian conducts seminars and interactive trainings, including sexual harassment training required under California law.  This also includes legal update seminars covering the most recent developments affecting California employers.