Labor & Employment

SWR labor and employment attorneys have represented employers faced with claims of discrimination, retaliation and unpaid wages for over 25 years. We have experience handling everything from single-plaintiff claims to class actions and have litigated virtually every type of employment claim, including:

• Discrimination claims based on race, gender, pregnancy, national origin, and religious affiliation under Title VII, the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA), and the Kansas Act Against Discrimination (KAAD)
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Workers’ Compensation Retaliation
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Civil Rights Claims under Section 1981 and Section 1983
• Retaliation and whistleblower claims
• Common law and statutory claims recognized by various state courts, including wrongful discharge in violation of public policy, tortious interference, and trade practice/trade secret litigation

In addition to a significant litigation practice, SWR attorneys regularly represent employers during investigations conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Missouri Commission on Human Rights, the Kansas Human Rights Commission and the Department of Labor (DOL). SWR attorneys have also assisted employers with traditional labor issues, such as compliance with collective bargaining agreements and responses to claims made to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In either case, SWR employment attorneys work closely with our clients and their insurers to determine as quickly as possible which claims are best-suited for early resolution and which should be aggressively defended.

SWR also works with employers to prospectively avoid claims. We help our clients navigate the often convoluted, complex, and ever-changing laws governing the workplace by providing advice, counseling, and consultation to executives, HR professionals, and small business owners facing almost any type of legal concern. For example, SWR can offer assistance with non-compete or non-solicitation agreements, guidance in making termination decisions and drafting of severance agreements and releases—all with the goal of avoiding potential legal claims after an employee separates from the company. Our attorneys can also help employers maintain a harmonious workplace for current employees, by providing employee training on employment issues, assistance with drafting company handbooks or written policies and guidance through the maze of investigations and regulations that can come up when current employees make or threaten claims of discrimination or retaliation. SWR attorneys emphasize to their clients the importance of preventing potential employment claims before they arise, which is best accomplished by engaging expert legal counsel to develop and implement sound employment practices.