Reflecting the critical role of employee relations in the success of any business or organization, Bricker & Eckler has developed a comprehensive range of services in employment and labor law for employers in both the public and private sectors.

Public sector clients include municipalities, public service agencies, educational institutions, school boards, hospitals, nursing homes, and various professional associations. In the private sector, Bricker & Eckler represents the management of unionized and non-unionized manufacturers, retailers, supermarkets, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate developers, transportation companies, hospitals, nursing homes, and professional associations.

Employment lawyers have experience representing employers before federal and state courts, regional offices of the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, and various state agencies such as Ohio's State Employment Relations Board and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

This group regularly advises clients about compliance with various federal, state, and local regulations, including non-discrimination requirements, minimum wage and overtime laws, and occupational health and safety issues. These attorneys represent public and private employers in all phases of employment discrimination claims, including state and local agency investigations and fact-finding conferences, EEOC investigations, OFCCP audits, and discrimination suits on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, and disability.

Regarding labor law issues, the firm is experienced in collective bargaining, with services ranging from advising on negotiation strategies to conducting negotiation sessions with employee representatives. The firm has negotiated collective bargaining agreements on behalf of public and private employers in such diverse areas as health care, education, municipal government, public service agencies, construction, supermarkets, manufacturing, and service industries.

Among the additional labor matters handled for management are representation in union organizing campaigns, union elections, unfair labor practice proceedings, arbitrations, enjoining work stoppages and picketing, wage-hour matters, unemployment and workers' compensation claims, civil service cases, teacher termination and nonrenewal cases, employment contracts, and discipline of at-will employees.

The lawyers practicing in this area advise clients who are planning plant relocations or corporate restructurings. Bricker & Eckler is particularly active in counseling regional health care clients, including health care institutions that have converted from public hospitals into private institutions and hospitals that have formed multi-corporate structures.

The Labor Law and Employment Practices Review illustrates the firm's emphasis on the prevention of labor-management disputes. The program is specially tailored to the needs and concerns of each client, whether to ensure EEOC or OSHA compliance, to achieve maximum flexibility in employment policies and contracts under the doctrine of employment at will, or to ensure that management policies are responsive to the business needs of the company and the workforce. After reviewing all relevant personnel policies and practices, such as employment application forms, personnel policies, safety procedures, employee handbooks, disciplinary policies, grievance programs, and termination procedures, Bricker & Eckler LLP presents recommendations designed to correct potential trouble spots. When desired, lawyers are available to assist in implementing the recommendations.

The management viewpoint is essential to the employment and labor lawyers at Bricker & Eckler. This viewpoint enables them to serve a wide variety of clients, and they invite additional opportunities to be of service.