A centerpiece of Littler’s practice is our ability to help employers take preventive measures to avoid costly litigation and administrative penalties, while improving productivity and helping to build a workplace of mutual respect. These efforts not only make good business sense, they come at a time when companies are under intense scrutiny, coping with added responsibilities and new workplace requirements, which are being vigorously enforced.

We have spent years working with businesses of all sizes and from different industries to help make certain that they comply with labor and employment laws. Whether an employer is seeking to update a policy or facing a government audit or employee lawsuit, we know how to create a system of internal controls to ensure it is operating lawfully and ethically.

These safeguards cover every stage, from drafting policies and developing best practices, to implementing procedures and conducting audits. Littler also has one of the most extensive employer training programs to make certain that companies understand their legal obligations and managers and employees are properly trained. Our audits help assure them that their policies and procedures are appropriately implemented.

Advisors

As business advisors, we provide practical and legal answers to complex compliance issues. Working with counsel, boards of directors, human relations professionals and managers, we know our recommendations help employers operate within legal guidelines and create a more productive workplace that is based on mutual respect.

Employers are facing an expanding body of laws and regulations, from Sarbanes Oxley to the amended Americans with Disabilities Act, increasing the risk of lawsuits and government investigations. Our lawyers stay on top of the latest developments and keep our clients informed on such critical issues as harassment, discrimination, employee leaves, labor, safety, and wage and hour requirements.

Our Services

• Providing assistance on whistleblower policies, including updating them to ensure employees have reasonable access to report good faith concerns about the company; reviewing and updating anti-retaliation policies; developing and implementing whistleblower reporting procedures; reviewing and revising, as necessary, arbitration agreements; advising on the implementation of codes of conduct; and cultivating a culture of compliance and transparency;
• Assisting with employment and HR policies and forms – from employment applications to Model ADR agreements  – by reviewing, drafting and updating them;
• Conducting audits of employment and human resource practices on issues such as wage and hour, EEO, safety and health, union avoidance, recordkeeping requirements, and benefits;
• Helping employers prepare for, and respond to, government audits and investigations, providing representation throughout the process;
• Offering seminars and training workshops for supervisors and human resource personnel in areas such as complying with employment laws and handling terminations to minimize the risks of litigation;
• Providing comprehensive guidelines and checklists for release agreements, reductions-in-force and other common workplace issues;
• Developing disaster preparedness and recovery plans, including organizing crisis response teams and procedures; and
• Advising on workplace violence prevention.

Valuable Resources

Littler has undertaken several projects to provide cutting-edge resources for employers. They include:

• Publishing a comprehensive report on required wellness initiatives, whether they involve smoking, exercise or other health-related programs. We have also developed a database of reference materials that we use when designing innovative programs and auditing them to verify that they comply with state and federal laws.
• Developing Littler GPS - A Guide to Policies by State, a state-by-state assessment of labor and employment statutes and regulations. The survey tool allows us to provide clients with information on a variety of employment law topics and swiftly respond to client inquiries, whether they involve single state, multistate or federal issues.
• Publishing the Littler Monitor, an interactive website service that keeps clients apprised of the latest legislation, regulations and trends that includes incisive analysis from our lawyers. The Littler Monitor enables employers to keep up with today’s complex legal and regulatory environment.
• Developing state-of-the-art compliance software which promises to become a customizable platform for multiple forms of employment law compliance.  This futuristic effort is first focused on fifty state compliance with the intention of evolving into a worldwide employment and labor law compliance system.   
• Offering a full complement of compliance training courses through our Littler Learning Group.  These live training events include core compliance courses and more specific programs on harassment, diversity, ethics, investigations, global issues, workplace violence and other more specific employment law topics.  In addition, Littler provides course content for ELT, Inc., an eLearning company specializing in online legal compliance programs for employees and managers.