Prevention is the best policy.  Numerous state and federal court decisions and federal and state laws have expanded the obligations of employers to be proactive in preventing discrimination and harassment and providing reasonable accommodations.  Training is essential in these and other areas such as diversity, and safety in the workplace.  The Firm provides comprehensive training for all levels of a corporate environment, including executive, management and employees.  Training covers all federal and state laws and regulations such as the ADA, FMLA, harassment and discrimination and wage and hour issues.

The Firm helps clients manage and minimize workplace risks associated with state and federal regulatory compliance issues, such as:

                  ·        Anti-harassment and anti-discrimination strategies

·        Drug and alcohol testing

·        Electronic monitoring

·        Employee handbooks

·        Employee hiring, appraisals, and disciplinary actions

·        Reductions in-force

·        Unemployment claims and Workers’ Compensation

·        Executive compensation and Wage and Hour laws

·        Family and Medical leaves

·        I-9 compliance

·        Privacy issues

·        Violence in the workplace and disaster plans

·        Union organizing drives and collective bargaining

The Firm believes that with the best advice and understanding of a company’s economic and cultural climate, most litigation can be avoided.  Our experience with different corporate clients gives us the breadth to provide unique responses to employment challenges.  Having been trained by the American Arbitration Association in mediation, Diane Rosse is able to bring an added dimension to resolving employment conflicts.

Being able to predict and recognize signs of union activity is difficult. The Firm has the experience to respond to any unionizing campaigns which may occur.  Ms. Rosse is a former attorney for the General Counsel of the NLRB in Washington, D.C..  As a private management attorney for over 15 years, she has handled many representation and unfair labor practice hearings before the NLRB.  She was lead counsel to three companies where decertification occurred.  She has worked extensively in cases involving the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Massachusetts Federation of Teachers, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Massachusetts Nurses Association, International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Service Employees International Union and International Ladies Garment Workers Union (UNITE). 

With the recent passage of the Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (“FACT”), outside attorneys may once again be retained to investigate workplace complaints and possible violations of workplace and state and federal laws without having to have the consent of the accused or providing the report to the accused.   Ms. Rosse regularly performs such independent  investigations.

For more information concerning the Labor and Employment Practice contact Diane Rosse at DRosse@RosseLaw.com.