Central Florida Employee Dispute Lawyer

Protecting Employers from Serious Allegations

Whether it’s in the courtroom, the boardroom, or the lunchroom, when a business is accused of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or some other serious violation of ethics or law, owners and managers may choose to conduct their own internal investigation. As an owner, you want the guilty party, if there is a guilty party, to be held accountable; you want to avoid a lawsuit and litigation in the courts.

When you conduct an internal investigation, it’s generally advisable to have your own business lawyer to oversee the process. Your lawyer will be dedicated to your best interests and will ensure your policies comply with Florida and federal employment laws. The Lankford Law Firm is your experienced small business partner fully dedicated to protecting the interests of Central Florida’s small businesses and preserving their good reputations.

Our employment lawyer has helped many small business owners and managers protect themselves legally through excellent contracts, powerful negotiation strategies, and aggressive representation. We know Florida law and we are ready to put our knowledge and experience to work for you. Call our Daytona Beach employee complaints defense lawyers today if you are launching or considering an internal investigation for any reason.

Under What Circumstances Should I Conduct a Workplace Investigation?

Employers often wonder whether a complaint merits a full investigation. It’s true that some instances may not legally require you to investigate. Investigations can be uncomfortable and disruptive and may even cause further issues. However, when employees bring certain complaints, such as employment discrimination or sexual harassment, you could be legally required to investigate.

Some examples of cases where you might be legally bound to conduct an investigation are:

Violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act
Workplace discrimination
Sexual harassment or assault
Bullying
Theft
Workplace violence
Sex discrimination

To better understand your duties regarding employee complains and employee rights, we highly recommend you consult with employment lawyers like Attorney Melody Lankford at Lankford Law Firm. We will listen carefully to your story and help you determine whether to conduct an investigation. If taking a further look is necessary, we will stand behind you to protect your company’s image and get you the best outcome possible.

What Happens During a Workplace Investigation?

Most business owners would say that they hope a workplace investigation never happens to them. This process can disrupt your work flow and put employees on edge. However, knowing what to expect can help everyone feel more comfortable and confident. What’s more, hiring your own employment lawyers to handle your employment law case can help the process go more smoothly and have a better chance of favorable results.

Some of the steps that will likely occur during your workplace investigation include:

Listen carefully to the whistle-blowing employee to get all the details of the story
Speak with an employment lawyer to determine whether further action is necessary
Appoint an investigator to handle the case, which can be your company’s employment law attorney
Act quickly to perform the investigation so your employees know you take their complaints seriously
Work with your employment law lawyer to figure out what happened through evidence such as communication between the parties, surveillance footage, and eye witness accounts
Discuss possible outcomes with your attorney to ensure your response is consistent with Florida labor and employment law

For help navigating Florida’s complex employment laws during a complaint or dispute, please reach out to our law firm immediately. We will represent you confidently both in and out of court, including state and federal courts. Call now to schedule your initial case review.

How Will Your Lawyers Protect Me and My Company?

Facing legal action for an employee dispute can be disconcerting. Many business owners wonder how they can protect their company while respecting employee rights. Getting counsel from employment attorneys is one way to ensure your actions don’t violate state and federal laws. Employment lawyers like those at our law firm can conduct a thorough investigation to find the truth about what happened and negotiate a favorable solution.

A confidential internal investigation should determine if wrongdoing, in fact, happened and also determine the company’s liability, if any, for the employee’s unethical or illegal act. Internal employee investigations can effectively solve workplace problems, help you improve policies and procedures, and help you avoid litigation. But be cautious. It is imperative to have an experienced Daytona Beach employee complaints defense lawyer oversee any internal investigation. Otherwise, both the legality and the effectiveness of your investigation and its results may be questioned.

In today’s business environment, you simply can’t operate without the sound, dependable legal advice that a business attorney can provide. Trust your case to the Florida employee complaints defense lawyers with the Lankford Law Firm in Daytona Beach, FL.

What Types of Issues Typically Arise During Employee Disputes?

A countless number of issues could arise when you are working with employees in your company. These matters can be especially devastating for small business owners who depend on their workers to cooperate so the company can make a profit and maintain a good reputation. State and federal laws can be confusing, and it is crucial to know how you are legally required to respond to various employment complaints.

Some issues we typically see in our employment law cases include claims such as:

Violations of wage and hour laws
Discrimination based on national origin
Breach of employment contracts
Violations of Medical Leave Act
Unpaid wages
Employees treated unfairly because of marital status
Hostile work environment
Exposure of trade secrets
Workplace violence
Sexual harassment
Violations of non-compete agreements

Employees and employers can often work together to resolve disputes, which can save you money and time spent on litigation. However, whatever legal issues you’re facing with your Florida employees, we can provide guidance and help find positive solutions. Contact our law firm right away for help with your employment legal matter.

How Can Valid Contracts Protect Me from Employee Complaints and Lawsuits?

Employers can often avoid serious disputes by preparing ahead of time through strong contracts. Potential claims can either be avoided or minimized when you are protected by solid legal documents like employment contracts, business-to-business contracts, shareholder agreements, and lease agreements.

Having adequate contracts in place can make all the difference for employers and employees in the middle of disputes. When you have legally sound non-competition documents, employment agreements, and other contracts in place, you can hold other parties accountable for breach of contract. Without these vital documents, or if your contract is not legally valid, you may have no hope of recourse.

Our employer attorney understands the importance of contracts and has extensive experience helping employers create documents that protect them and their companies. We offer contract services that include reviewing current contracts and the creation of new contracts to give your company the firm foundation it needs for the protection you need during disputes or complaints. Reach out to our legal team for more information about our contract services.

What Can I Do to Get Better Performance from My Employees?

Many times, an employer comes to us wanting to know what they can legally do to encourage better performance among their employees. Having carefully crafted employee handbooks and contracts is a great first step. You can work with your employment law attorney to create these documents and get started on the right foot. However, what happens when your employees have issues that affect their performance?

It is crucial to remember that your employees have legal rights that must be respected. Our law firm understands the nuances of employee rights in Florida, and we can help you come up with a plan that doesn’t jeopardize your company or your rights as an employer. We can coach you on how to interact with employees during interviews and will help negotiate positive solutions during disputes. If legal action becomes necessary, we will vigorously defend you in state and federal courts.

You can rely on the team at Lankford Law Firm. Unlike other law firms, we have experience with a wide range of employment law issues. We also know how to apply this knowledge to a range of business sizes, including Florida small businesses.

What Other Business Services Does Your Employment Law Firm Provide?

Our employment law services encompass a wide range of issues. We help small businesses get started through creating effective business plans. We can also help structure your new or growing business to meet your needs. Whether you are a prospective business owner or currently own or manage a company, we can help.

The following are some areas where our employment lawyers provide excellent legal services:

Employment litigation
Contract law, including employment agreements, severance agreements, commercial and residential leases, non-compete agreements, and more
Business structuring, including forming LLCs, corporations, sole proprietorships, and partnerships
Creating of business plans and other business planning services
Negotiations between employees and employers
Representation in federal and state courts
Prevention and resolution of employment discrimination based on national origin, sex, and more
Legal support for federal government contractors
Trademark law issues
Beneficial owner information reports (BOIR)

Running a business doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Even if you are a small business owner, you should take the time to address these critical issues to avoid serious legal problems. The good news is that you don’t have to navigate these processes on your own. Let our employment lawyer handle your delicate legal needs so you can focus on supporting and running your business. Reach out to Attorney Melody Lankford to schedule your initial consultation today.

Should You Hire Our Central Florida Employee Dispute Lawyer?

Facing employee complaints, disputes, and investigations can be discouraging. But you don’t need to go through this difficult process alone. You can hire employment attorneys like those at Lankford Law Firm to handle your legal matter and get you the results you need.

Our Daytona Beach employee complaints defense lawyers know how to conduct in-house investigations, and we advise central Florida business owners, managers, and HR professionals regarding internal investigations and their results. Don’t hesitate to contact the Lankford Law Firm regarding an internal investigation or any other business or employment-related legal concern. Our legal team can assist with a variety of business law matters, including wrongful termination, employee contracts, workers’ compensation issues, wage and overtime disputes.

Attorneys with the Lankford Law Firm represent and serve small businesses throughout Volusia, Brevard, Flagler, Orange, and Seminole counties. Employment law lawyer Melody Lankford takes great pride in her ability to provide a comfortable, friendly setting for clients and potential clients to discuss their business and legal needs by setting appointments around her clients’ schedules and even coming to their place of business for meetings. If you are interested in our services, you can pay upfront to enjoy priority scheduling, guaranteed availability, and experienced legal guidance. Please note that for these types of cases, we cannot work on a contingency basis.

Schedule a consultation today by calling or emailing us at mlankford@lankfordlawfirm.com or calling 850-888-8992. Se habla Español.