Employment Attorney Serving Alabama
The employment law practice at The Hawkins Law Firm focuses on providing advice and counseling to keep employers in legal compliance with state and federal labor laws. We also draft agreements that meet employee needs while protecting the rights of the employer.
Agreements
Alabama is an employment at-will state, meaning that employers may terminate an employee at any time for any reason, as long as it is not an unlawful reason, such as illegal discrimination in violation of Title VII and other federal laws. This right can also be restricted by the terms of an employment contract or related agreements that provide protections to the employee.
Why would the employer agree to a contract of employment that restricted its right to fire an employee at will? Job security is often cited as the main concern of employees, even more than the amount of pay. Providing a measure of job security through an employment contract or written policy is often necessary to attract and retain a competent and productive workforce. Nevertheless, it is important that any document which lessens the employer’s inherent rights be carefully drafted so as to avoid unnecessarily tying the employer’s hands or providing benefits to the employee that the employer cannot afford.
Our office assists employers in drafting or reviewing a range of employment contracts and related documents, such as:
- Non-Compete Covenants
- Trade Secrets and Confidentiality Agreements
- Non-Solicitation Agreements
- Separation/Severance Agreements
We also utilize our knowledge and experience in business and corporate law to advise and assist employers on fashioning different forms of equity compensation packages, ranging from stock options and profit sharing plans to early retirement incentive programs.
Compliance
New laws are constantly being promulgated at the local, state, and federal levels, and existing laws continually receive new interpretations from regulatory agencies and court decisions. Staying in compliance with all of the rules and regulations requires persistent attention to the current state of labor and employment law in Alabama.
At The Hawkins Law Firm, we work with employers of any size to review policies and procedures. We can draft, revise, or update any policy or document, or advise you on current company practices regarding their compliance with the scope of state and federal labor laws. Important areas to consider include:
- Employee Handbooks
- Required Policies on federal laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Hiring and Firing Practices
- Personnel Policies such as Drug Testing, Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment
- Job Descriptions
- Required posters, notices, and other documents related to Wage and Hour Laws
For Experienced Employment Law Attorneys
For advice and counseling in employment law compliance or the drafting of employment agreements, contact an employment law attorney at The Hawkins Law Firm.
