Skip to main content

Labor & Employment

Our Labor and Employment Team attorneys advise university clients on a wide range of federal and state employment and labor laws, including those governing discrimination and harassment, wages and hours, leave and accommodations, employee discipline and separations, and workplace investigations. The team works closely with Human Resources and university leadership to support compliance, risk management, and consistent employment practices.

The Labor and Employment team also advises on labor relations matters, including collective bargaining, contract administration, and union‑related issues. Attorneys represent the university in employment‑related litigation, administrative charges, arbitrations, and mediations before state and federal courts and agencies, including the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, DOL, SERB, and SPBR.

In addition, the practice group provides counsel on employee benefits such as retirement and welfare benefit plans, taxation, payroll, compensation matters; executive and physician employment agreements, as well as other employment‑related contracts. 

Areas of Responsibility

  • Employment misconduct matters and workplace investigations
  • Employee discipline, dismissal, and separation matters
  • Recruitment, hiring, and selection issues
  • Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims
  • Compliance with federal employment laws, including:
    • Title VII
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
    • Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
    • Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
    • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
    • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
    • Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
    • Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
  • Compliance with Ohio employment laws and regulations
  • Labor relations matters, negotiations, and grievances, including issues arising under Ohio’s collective bargaining law (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4117)
  • Physician employment agreements
  • General employment‑related contracts
  • Employee benefits, including retirement, health and cafeteria plans, tuition assistance, life insurance, disability and family building benefits
  • Compensation issues
  • Payroll issues
  • Executive employment agreements
  • Incentive plans

Resources

 

Please contact Maggie Smith for general information or questions regarding the Labor and Employment practice group.

Labor & Employment Practice Group Leadership

Labor & Employment Contact List