Windsor, Colorado, Employment Law Attorneys
As your business grows, it becomes increasingly important to keep current with in-depth information about state and federal employment laws. Failure to do so may expose your business to the risk of litigation, draining critical resources. Smart business decisions involve partnering with a team of experienced lawyers to keep your business on track.
Lind, Lawrence & Ottenhoff LLP, with offices in Colorado and Wyoming, represents small- to mid-sized businesses in employment law issues. We primarily represent employers, with a focus on helping them partner with employees to achieve business goals.
Our focus is advising employers on how to stay out of trouble. We use 25 years of experience to counsel Colorado and Wyoming businesses in a broad range of employment law matters:
- ERISA and non-ERISA employee welfare and pension benefits
- EEOC and non-discrimination issues
- Counseling employees and drafting of employee handbooks
- Hiring and termination procedures
- Creation of other written procedures
If Your Business Becomes the Focus of Employment Litigation
Sometimes a disgruntled employee takes legal action, either on their own or by working with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission or the EEOC to bring a discrimination or wrongful termination claim. When this is the case, our civil trial lawyers work to minimize the costs of litigation while fully protecting your interests.
We make sure that our employment law clients know the estimated costs at the very onset of a case, so that they can evaluate which actions will be best for business. Depending on the situation, the strategy may be to settle — or it may be to take forceful legal action that gets results in the courtroom. Regardless of the decision you make, we will listen to your needs and use the strategies that work for you.
So You've Decided to Terminate
Terminating an employee is an unpleasant reality every employer must face sooner or later. While this task is not an easy one, it can be handled with minimal disruptions if you take the necessary steps.
First, make the decision. If employees are at-will, as most are, an employer can terminate without cause, notice, or reason. However, just because an employer can fire someone without reason does not mean they should. Whether its personality, quality control or insubordination, an employer should be able to articulate a reason for terminating employment.
Second, make sure you are in compliance. There are numerous federal and state laws that govern payment of wages, insurance, and return of company property. As a general rule, employees are entitled to all wages due and owing at the time of termination.
Finally, notify the employee. A well-prepared employer treats termination as a monologue not a dialogue. Employees may attempt to argue, persuade or cajole employers into changing their minds. Notification is not the place for discussion. The decision has been made, you’ve already taken the proper steps in preparation, and the final step is notifying the employee.
Terminating employees is rarely a pleasant experience and a knowledgeable employment attorney can help ease the process and ensure compliance with the law.
Contact Lind, Lawrence & Ottenhoff LLP
To speak with an employment law attorney at our Colorado and Wyoming law offices, please contact us at 970.674.7088 or 866.930.4138 and schedule a consultation.
