Employment & Labor
Employment
Kotz Sangster regularly obtains favorable litigation results and dismissals of state, federal, and administrative claims from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. We resolve discrimination and harassment matters -- where advisable -- before they reach a judge or a jury. In resolving disputes, our primary strategy is to protect a client from exposure or damage through creative and situation-specific negotiation. If a matter does proceed to trial, we are adept and conscientious in handling the trial (or arbitration) and any subsequent appeals. We take pride in our ability to advise on when and how to be proactive and, when appropriate, employ aggressive and creative strategies, all aimed to minimize expense, disruption and damage to our clients. Kotz Sangster regularly defends clients in the following areas:
- Civil Rights and EEO laws
- Whistleblower claims
- Wrongful discharge
- Retaliation claims
- Non-competition and trade secret agreements
- Breach of contract
- FLSA
- FMLA violations
- Unemployment compensation
- EEOC and MDCR Charges
- Teacher tenure proceedings
Labor
Kotz Sangster's philosophy on labor and employment relations is to deal with employees and labor unions in a manner that fully reflects the policies and goals of the employer. In any matter, we meet privately with the employer to discuss the full range of issues, options and risks, so that the employer may select a position that mirrors the employer’s goals and objectives for the workforce and the organization. Aggressive advocacy and attention to detail, combined with practical experience, thorough analysis and intensive research are the tools we bring to every task. We have assisted clients in the following areas:
- Union avoidance
- Collective bargaining
- Administrative proceedings (federal and state, including MERC and NLRB)
- Union election campaigns
- Labor contract and grievance administration
- Grievance arbitration
- Employee drug and alcohol testing
- Pension plan and ERISA delinquency and withdrawal liability
