The Goodwin FirmThe Goodwin FirmThe Goodwin Firm
(727) 316-5333
9am - 5pm
St. Petersburg, FL. 33701

Employer Rights

Contact us

  • 475 Central Ave. Suite 202
    
St. Petersburg, FL. 33701
  • info@goodwin-firm.com
  • 727-316-5333
  • Mon to Fri - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
friends-at-a-cafe

Employers have rights, too! The attorneys at The Goodwin Firm fight for these rights for small businesses every day, from protecting them before any issues have arisen with the drafting of Florida legally compliant handbooks, policies, and contracts, to defending against claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, interference, wage violations, and more.

Small businesses face just as much exposure to costly labor and employment litigation as the big corporations, and usually have neither the capital nor the public goodwill to withstand the hits to both their wallets and their reputation that accompany employee disputes.

Regretfully, whether it’s due to the perceived cost or a lack of understanding of the ramifications of exposing themselves to potential litigation, many small business owners fail to retain the services of a qualified employment lawyer until it is too late.

The Goodwin Firm provides employee handbooks, contracts, and policies, skillfully crafted to ensure your small business is protected. The Goodwin Firm also works with you to enact systems and procedures, and even training, to increase your team’s compliance with local, state, and federal labor and employment laws.

In the event a lawsuit or administrative complaint is filed, or threatened to be filed, against your business alleged violations of labor and employment laws, The Goodwin Firm will vigorously defend against the allegations. The attorneys at the Goodwin Firm always consider that small business owners need to be more mindful of the financial, emotional, and reputational consequences of walking the tightrope between engaging in extensive litigation and not giving in to a former disgruntled employee trying to make a quick buck in the hopes of a quick settlement just to make the case go away.

The local, state, and federal laws regulating employment and labor are a complex web that can trip up even attorneys who are unfamiliar with them. These laws include:

Federal

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Section 1981
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Equal Pay Act (EPA)
Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
Rehabilitation Act
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act)

State

Florida Civil Rights Act
Florida Minimum Wage
Florida Unpaid Wages
Florida Whistleblower
Florida Workers’ Compensation laws
Florida Re-employment (Unemployment)

Local

All Florida counties, and many municipalities, have their own laws regulating employers. These laws are usually enforced by local administrative agencies and the administrative courts, but claims under these laws can be just as expensive to fight as those filed in state or federal court.