Investigations and Complaint Resolution

Employee complaints about workplace disputes, policies and practices, and employee misconduct occur in every workplace, even at the best-run organizations. Bringing in a neutral third party to provide an objective perspective on the situation is an important step toward resolving such issues, and it shows employees that their company takes complaints and concerns seriously. Jenny is adept at investigating allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other employee issues swiftly, thoroughly, and effectively. She is a thoughtful and creative problem-solver and will help develop a plan for resolution and corrective action where appropriate. Specific services in this area include:

• Conducting investigations;

• Working with in-house counsel or human resource professionals to develop a plan for investigation and consultation throughout the process;

• Developing resolution and corrective action plans as appropriate depending on the outcome of the investigation; and

• Helping companies to implement action plans and mediate employee disputes towards resolution.

Compliance Advice and Counseling

Every business, even those with only a few employees, must make daily decisions that have legal implications. While common sense and good intentions are a great foundation for effective management, they won’t adequately protect your business in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. The law changes frequently and can be counterintuitive.  Unintentional missteps can lead to legal risk and significant expense in defending against employment litigation and governmental audits and investigations (not to mention attendant penalties and remediation costs if violations are found).

Jenny helps managers and HR personnel navigate those questions in real-time. She also partners with employers to craft employee handbooks and other workplace policies and develop, refine, and implement compliance initiatives, including with respect to:

• Day-to-day questions around performance management and discipline; requests for leave and accommodations; among many others;

• Recruiting and onboarding;

• Timekeeping, minimum wage, and overtime issues;

• Managing a remote workforce;

• Pay equity;

• DEI initiatives;

• Separation of employment and layoffs.

Whatever the issue, Jenny facilitates problem solving in real time, easing the administrative burden on your managers and human resources personnel. Jenny’s goal is to provide advice that facilitates reduced exposure and boosts workforce morale and productivity.

Regular, effective training at all levels is critical to fostering a safe, happy and productive workforce. A modest investment in training equips supervisors and managers with the tools to identify and resolve employee issues before they become out of control can prevent litigation and government investigations and audits. This, in turn, can reduce legal spend in the long run. Jenny designs and delivers training tailored to her clients’ business needs. She has experience educating both managers and rank and file employees on the many aspects of the employment relationship. She also provides individualized coaching to managers and executives. Jenny offers training and coaching on the following:

• Onboarding / hiring best practices;

• Equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and harassment;

• Employee relations and management best practices;

• Performance management, discipline and termination best practices;

• Timekeeping; and wage and hour compliance; and

• Managing the leave of absence process and requests for workplace accommodations.

Employee Mobility