Overview

Joseph M. Wientge, Jr. is Co-Chair of Littler’s Arbitration Practice Group, while also utilizing his extensive experience to represent employers in venues ranging from investigations to administrative agency proceedings, to litigation in state and federal courts.

Arbitration
In his role as Co-Chair, Joe counsels clients on all manner of issues regarding the drafting and enforcement of employment arbitration agreements. Joe also has experience successfully arguing arbitration enforcement issues in trial court and in Courts of Appeal.  

Litigation
Joe has significant experience successfully resolving state and federal matters through motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, at trial, and on appeal, including:

  • Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims
  • Wrongful termination claims
  • Family and medical leave claims
  • Breach of contract disputes

Administrative Proceedings
Joe has guided clients through administrative investigations and hearings before:

  • The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • The Missouri Commission on Human Rights
  • The Federal Department of Labor
  • The Office of Civil Rights
  • The Boards of Education for numerous Missouri school districts

Counseling
Joe regularly advises employers on hiring, discipline and termination procedures. He counsels employers on creating or revising employment policies, separation agreements, and employment contracts. He also conducts training and seminars on a wide variety of employment and education-related topics.

Joe has extensive experience representing employees in various industries, including healthcare, education, manufacturing and customer service.

Prior and Academic Experience
Prior to joining Littler, Joe worked for two other law firms in St. Louis, where his focus was education and labor and employment work. In law school, he was a note and comment editor for the UMKC Law Review and a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Negotiation Team.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Missouri Bar Association

Member

Illinois State Bar Association

Member

Council of School Attorneys

Missouri School Boards Association

Member, Alumni Mentor Program Committee

De Smet Jesuit High School

Recognition

Named, Rising Star

Missouri and Kansas

Super Lawyers

2014-2015

News, Analysis & Press

Workplace Violence Prevention Efforts and Responses to Tragedy

ACC-St. Louis Quarterly Newsletter

Fall 2016

The Big Move Toward Big Data in Employment

Littler Report

August 4, 2015

The E-Workplace: Internet Security, Privacy & Social Media Policies

White Paper, The National Employment Law Institute (NELI)

March 3, 2015

Your Best Defense Against Missouri Human Rights Act: Call Governor Nixon Today

MoASBO Magazine

Missouri Association of School Business Official (MoASBO)

April 2011

Protecting Your District in Trying Times: How to Properly Conduct Reductions in Force

MoASBO Magazine

Missouri Association of School Business Official (MoASBO)

April 2010

New FMLA Regulations: Complying with Additional Requirements

MoASBO Magazine

Missouri Association of School Business Official (MoASBO)

January/February 2009

Off Campus Misconduct: When Should A District Take Action?

MoASBO Magazine

Missouri Association of School Business Official (MoASBO)

July/August 2008

Student Discipline Update: Recent Case Law Concerning What Constitutes a “Weapon”

Focus

Missouri Association of Rural Educators (MARE)

October 2007

Unfunded Liability: The Legal Risks Posed by Employee Dismissals Supported by Inadequate Documentation

Focus

Missouri Association of Rural Educators (MARE)

March 2006

The Illusionary Threat Posed by the Age Discrimination Act

Focus

Missouri Association of Rural Educators (MARE)

December 2005

Foreseeable Change: The Need for Modification of the Foreseeability Standard in Cases Resulting from Terrorist Attacks After September 11th

74 UMKC Law Review 165

2005

Speaking Engagements

2022 St. Louis Regional Employer Conference

St. Louis, MO

September 22, 2022

Addressing Sexual Harassment: Best Practices in the New Legal Landscape

SHRM Legal Roundtable

February 17, 2021

Reasonable Accommodations in an Unreasonable World

October 27, 2020

Navigating the Choppy Waters of Illinois’ New Wave of Employment Laws

January 14, 2020

Take Cover – An Analysis of Missouri’s Mandatory Reporting Requirements

Central Office Administrators Conference

November 2017

A New Day – Understanding How the Changes to the MHRA Will Affect Your School District

Missouri Association of Rural Educators Fall Conference

October 2017

2017 Brings Sweeping Changes to Federal and State of Missouri Labor and Employment Laws

St. Louis, MO

June 8, 2017

A Never Ending Story – How to Avoid Pitfalls During Investigations

Missouri Association of School Business Officials Spring Conference

May 2017

Politics in the Workplace – Election and Employment Law Collide

HRMA Legal Roundtable

February 2017

Conducting Effective Investigations

Littler Roundtable Event

September 2016

Avoiding Legal Claims in the Hiring Process

2016 IPMA-HR Central Region Conference, St. Louis, MO

June 6, 2016

Surviving Expanding ADA, FMLA, and Paid Sick Leave Obligations

2016 IPMA-HR Central Region Conference, St. Louis, MO

June 6, 2016

The Essential Guide – Understanding the EEOC & MCHR Complaint Process

Missouri Association of School Business Officials Spring Conference

May 2016

HR Investigations – How to Avoid Common Pitfalls and Defend Your Investigations

HRMA Legal Roundtable

February 2016

Social Media in School Decision Making

Missouri Association of Rural Educators Fall Conference

October 2015

The Melting Pot – Religious Accommodations in the Workplace

HRMA Legal Roundtable

February 2015

Unruly Patrons: How to Handle Overzealous “Concerned Citizens”

Missouri Association of Rural Education

October 2014

Workplace Romance

Human Resources Management Association of Greater Saint Louis

March 2014

Navigating the First Amendment in a Sea of Social Media

Missouri Association of Rural Education

February 2014

Love in the Workplace - What's an Employer to Do?

February 14, 2013

Education

  • J.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2005cum laude
  • B.B.A., Marquette University, 2002cum laude

Bar Admission

Missouri
Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois