employment and labor

The Metz Lewis Employment and Labor Group counsels employers in virtually all areas of employment, labor and workers’ compensation law.  

Because prevention is the best medicine, we are particularly proud of the ways we can help you prevent lawsuits, union problems or injury claims. We can train your staff, draft or re-write your policies and procedures, assist in the handling and investigation of complaints, and guide you through recruiting, hiring, disciplinary and termination decisions – all with the goal of keeping you out of government agencies and courts while preserving your right to run your business.

If a lawsuit or claim has been filed, we can put our deep and broad experience to work for you. We have regularly appeared in federal and state courts and before government agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Department of Labor, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, and the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations.

If your workforce is non-union, we can provide union avoidance training and advice. In a union setting, we can negotiate your collective bargaining agreement, help you live and do business under that contract, and address the day-to-day controversies that arise – all with the goal of keeping you out of government agencies and courts while preserving your right to run your business. If a labor law matter goes before an arbitrator, government agency or court, we can put our deep and broad experience to work for you. We have regularly appeared in federal and state courts and before government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

Our defense philosophy is simple: advocate relentlessly and aggressively but never lose sight of your goals. We play to win outright, but create and capitalize on opportunities to resolve or compromise when it is in your best interests.

We have handled virtually every issue that can arise in the employment, labor and workers’ compensation arenas, including:

• Discrimination (Age, Color, Disability, Gender, National Origin, Religion, etc.)
• Drugs and Alcohol Policies
• Employee Benefits
• Employee Discipline, Terminations, Lay-offs, etc.
• Employment Contracts
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• Handbooks
• Harassment Claims and Investigations
• Immigration Law
• Labor Negotiations and Arbitrations
• Non-Compete, Confidentiality Agreements
• Occupational Safety and Health Law
• Reductions in Force
• Unemployment Compensation
• Union Avoidance
• USERRA
• Wage and Hour
• Workers’ Compensation
  

Publications Available For Download:

PENNSYLVANIA’S MINI-COBRA STATUTE
What is Mini-COBRA? Who is eligible? What is the cost? Gerri L. Sperling, Esq., provides these answers and more in her summary of the amendments made on June 10, 2009, to the Pennsylvania Insurance Law.

COBRA SUBSIDY REQUIREMENTS
This bulletin discusses the amendments made to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) as a result of the Federal Stimulus Package signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENT TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
An overview of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which was signed into law on September 25, 2008.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENT TO THE FAMILY AND
MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
A summary for employers covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act of changes to the FMLA signed into law on January 28, 2008.

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