The Labor and Employment Law Group of Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C., puts more than 90 years of management side experience to work in the resolution of labor and employment law issues. Our labor lawyers are full-time practitioners in the field, with experience in both the private and public sectors.

Our labor practice includes the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements for private and public sector employers as well as guidance in the interpretation and administration of those agreements.

We are also directly involved in:

	Grievance processing
	Labor arbitration
	Bargaining unit issues
	Union organizing campaigns and elections
	Union-related litigation in federal and state courts

In the area of employment law, we provide advice and counsel to clients on a daily basis to enable them to meet their goals and objectives in the workplace, where state and federal laws have such a huge impact. Our work for clients may include:

Representation in:

	Claims of discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age and disability brought before the EEOC, PHRC and the courts
	Unemployment compensation claims
	Claims filed with OSHA and the Department of Labor

Preparation of:

	Employee handbooks and personnel policies
	Supervisory manuals
	Severance agreements
	Waivers and releases
	Independent contractor agreements
	Executive employment agreements
	Affirmative action plans
	Non-compete and confidentiality agreements

Consultation on:

	Investigations into employee misconduct
	Investigations of sexual harassment complaints
	Implementation of drug and alcohol testing
	Use of performance appraisals and evaluation of employees
	Proper interviewing procedures
	Hiring, disciplining and terminating employees

With the workplace becoming increasingly more complex, we also help clients effectively manage critical workplace issues through education and awareness. We train management teams in such areas as:

	Union avoidance
	Sexual harassment prevention
	Discipline and discharge procedures
	Employee handbook implementation
	Work performance evaluation

It's not by chance that our Labor and Employment Law practice is the largest in the region. We represent companies, institutions and governments with as few as five and as many as 3,500 employees, in both union and non-union environments. Our client list includes some of the largest employers in the communities we serve and some of the area's primary non-profit and governmental institutions.

National Fuel Gas, Hamot Medical Center, Lord Corporation, United Refining and the Times Publishing Company are among our clients. So too are a number of growing entrepreneurial enterprises, local school districts and governments. Whether you're the CEO of a large area company, the manager of a smaller business, or a school board president or superintendent, you'll get the representation you require at a cost that reflects our local market, not that of a big-city law firm.

Working cooperatively with other groups in our firm is a hallmark of our service to clients. Our group works closely with the firm's Business, Municipal Law & Finance, and Workers' Compensation groups to provide the comprehensive legal resources to meet all of your organization's needs.