Employee Handbooks
Does your business have an employee handbook? Is it regularly reviewed and automatically kept up to date? Do you know which employees have or haven’t signed it? Our member clients receive access to a platform to guide that ensures they’re in compliance with all state and federal employment laws, even if they have employees outside Louisiana!
Noncompetes and Confidential Agreements
Do you want to prevent employees from leaving your business and taking your clients or other employees? We can give you guidance regarding legal implications of a noncompete agreement or represent you in a non-compete dispute.
Avoiding Discrimination Lawsuits
Discrimination lawsuits can cost businesses thousands of dollars. We can help you spot issues before they arise.
Employees or Independent Contractors?
Are you unsure whether you should classify a worker as an employee and an independent contractor? We can help you properly compensate workers to avoid IRS penalties.
How can I prevent allegations of misconduct in my business?
At Spera Law, we are all about prevention. Most of the workplace problems our clients face could have been avoided with just a few hours of preventative work on the front end. That’s why we work so hard to help you put into place the systems that will put you on the path to success.
We can help you strategize in any of the following aspects of your business:
What is a non-compete agreement?
A non-compete agreement prevents employees from taking your business after they’ve stopped working for you. This type of contract should include specific dates during which the employee will be barred from working in a competitive manner in a specific location. If you are creating this type of contract, however, you’ll often have to compensate the employee for the agreement.
It’s important to have an attorney read through the agreement to ensure it protects you and your business.
What is a confidentiality agreement?
Also known as a non-disclosure agreement, is a contract between two or more parties that the information shared will remain confidential. These types of agreements are particularly important when dealing with intellectual property and trade secrets. Businesses can use confidentiality agreements regarding any information that is not generally known.
Keep in mind that these agreements should be written and signed in order to be reliable in most courts.
What if an employee accuses my business of discrimination?
Each case and accusation is different, but any notice of anticipated or threatened legal action triggers legal obligations for your company, as well. Your best course of action is typically to contact an employment law attorney who can help you through these matters.
Your attorney will help walk you through the following procedures:
- Filing a claim with your Insurance company so they cover your legal fees
- Investigating the claim
- Interviewing employees or witnesses about the claim
- Preserving relevant documentation regarding the accusation
- Issuing legal holds
- Creating a legal strategy for your case
Should I classify this worker as an employee or an independent contractor?
Because businesses do not generally have to withhold or pay any taxes on payments to independent contractors, this distinction is important. But when you’re unsure about how to classify an employee, it all comes down to providing evidence of control and independence.
Things to examine:
- Whether you control how the worker does their job
- Whether expenses are reimbursed
- Whether you provide the worker with tools, supplies, etc.
- Whether the worker has a written contract with you
- Whether you have given the worker benefits (vacation time, insurance, etc.)
- Whether you control how the worker does their job
- Whether expenses are reimbursed
- Whether you provide the worker with tools, supplies, etc.
- Whether the worker has a written contract with you
- Whether you have given the worker benefits (vacation time, insurance, etc.)
These types of questions can help determine the worker’s role in your company and how you should report them in business documentation and compensation.
”“As an attorney and business owner, I also have legal needs from time to time. I have used Spera Law Group to help me create agreements for my business. Andrew and his team are smart and use technology to better serve their clients. I highly recommend this firm.”
Seth Smiley
Schedule your consultation with Spera Law today
Running a business is complicated, and issues can and will arise. Our job at Spera Law Group is to help you prepare for and prevent those issues ahead of time as best we can, and help you through them if you are faced with issues. Schedule your free consultation with us today.
How we work with our clients:
- Providing predictable flat monthly fees
- Advising on specific legal issues OR through general consultation and guidance over time
- Eliminating the uncertainty of cost
- Systematically updating you on a regular basis
- Switching from legal issues reactions to legal problem prevention
