SECURITY SERVICES FordHarrison provides nationwide labor and employment counsel and defense for the security industry. FordHarrison’s Security Services Practice Group is well-versed in the particular challenges facing employers in the security industry. The safety and security of people and property is a multi-billion dollar industry, and the demand for private security personnel continues to grow at a rapid rate. As a result, the national, regional, and local companies who provide manned on-site security services, integrated guarding, event security, vehicle patrol services, etc. are regularly increasing their employee numbers in order to meet demand. With a rapidly growing industry and rising employee numbers, it is imperative that security providers maintain clear policies and guidelines for all levels of management and staff to encourage positive employee relations, and to minimize the potential for legal complications. Additionally, employers should also have a strategic plan in place in the event that employee issues do arise and a legal defense must be presented. FordHarrison’s Security Services Practice Group is well-versed in the particular challenges facing employers in the security industry. With lawyers in 28 offices across the country, including two affiliate firms, FordHarrison has the bench strength and the geographic reach to assist the security industry in matters including, but not limited to: Advice and Counseling. We have a depth of experience in a broad spectrum of issues that affect employers in the security industry, which enables us to counsel our clients in areas such as hiring, background checks, Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) issues, discipline, discharge, and retaliation. Policy Design and Evaluation. Our firm is nationally known for assisting clients in a wide variety of industries with their human resources function. We design policies and practices that minimize the risk of successful claims of discrimination, equal pay violations, breaches of employment contracts, and wrongful or retaliatory discharge. Training and Education. Our attorneys can develop training programs designed specifically for your workplace, including training programs for management and supervisory employees in areas such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, discipline and discharge and diversity awareness. Wage and Hour. Security service providers are frequent targets of wage and hour claims and investigations. At FordHarrison, we help to ensure compliance with regulations regarding minimum wage, overtime, working off the clock, meals and breaks/rest periods, split shifts, uniforms/dress codes/appearance standards, wage deductions, employee classifications and exempt status issues. Our attorneys have successfully helped clients faced with a DOL audit or lawsuit avoid liability and, when appropriate, negotiated liability-limiting settlements. Litigation Defense. Despite their best efforts, employers of security personnel often find themselves the targets of employment-related lawsuits. We represent employers before administrative agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), including conducting investigations and preparing position statements or assisting clients in doing so. Additionally, our attorneys have extensive experience defending security industry employers in individual and complex litigation, including class and collective actions and multidistrict litigation. Labor Relations. Our attorneys assist both union and non-union employers in all manner of traditional labor relations. For employers with union contracts in place, we counsel on collective bargaining and contract administration; represent clients in negotiations, grievance and arbitration cases, unfair labor practice charges, strikes, injunctions, and other litigation; and advise on the lawful handling of NLRB decertification proceedings. For non-union employers, we advise on the lawful handling of concerted activities and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) representation election proceedings; handle investigations and, if necessary, trials and appeals of unfair labor practice charges; conduct training for all levels of management on their roles and responsibilities in leadership and legal compliance; and work with in-house counsel and HR personnel to develop effective, lawful strategies for maintaining positive employee relations. The firm also advises unionized and union-free clients on the impact of mergers, acquisitions and restructurings and helps clients conduct due diligence on labor and employment issues. Non-Compete Agreements. Whether creating post-employment obligations from scratch or updating or modifying existing agreements to conform to current applicable laws, our attorneys have extensive experience crafting non-compete agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and no-hire agreements. In addition, our attorneys regularly provide advice and counsel when hiring an individual with post-employment restrictive covenants, as well as whistle-blower enforcement, defense of non-compete agreements, and breach of employment contracts. Occupational Safety and Health. FordHarrison provides a broad range of legal services for workplace safety & health issues, from compliance assistance to litigation representation including OSHA inspections and enforcement actions, whistleblower and retaliation defense, and compliance advice. Employee Benefits. Employee benefits programs are a crucial part of any employer's human resources strategy; they can also affect its strategic position in the marketplace. FordHarrison has assisted numerous employers, including many Fortune 500 corporations, with their compensation and benefit plans. Our vast experience enables us to advise employers on all issues related to ERISA litigation, executive compensation, health and welfare plans, and retirement plans. If you would like us to prepare a proposal to assist your company with your labor and employment law needs, please contact clientservice@fordharrison.com. ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONALS Geetha Nadiminti Adinata Hilda Aguilar Sami Asaad Linda Cavanna-Wilk Tiffany D. Downs Nancy Van der Veer Holt Tracey K. Jaensch Abigail J. Larimer Stephen R. Lueke Wesley C. Redmond Kimberly A. Ross Rachel Ziolkowski Ullrich ↑ BACK TO TOP Subscribe Don't miss any of our alerts, webinars and events. SUBSCRIBE Contact Us Media Center Disclaimer Privacy Copyright © FordHarrison 2021 By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Accept All Cookies