Are you searching for experienced employer defense attorneys with a proven track record of success here in San Diego or anywhere in the State of California? The Watkins Firm has more than four decades of experience working to protect and defend employers here in San Diego and throughout California.
Key Takeaways of Why You Need Experienced Employer Defense Attorneys:
- California is the most legally and financially challenging state in the union in which to be an employer.
- An experienced California business and employer defense firm works to ensure that proactive strategies are employed by all clients to prevent disputes and litigation from arising at all.
- California’s Private Attorneys General Act or PAGA provides direct financial incentive for current and former employees to help plaintiff’s attorneys to pursue actions against a California employer.
A Focus on Protecting and Defending Employers
We focus on protecting the rights and interests of employers in all forms of litigation and employee disputes including but not limited to:
- Wage and hour disputes
- Employee Misclassification
- Unpaid Overtime
- Private Attorneys General Act or PAGA actions – California’s Private Attorneys General Act or PAGA provides direct financial incentive for current and former employees to help plaintiff’s attorneys to pursue actions against a California employer.
- Violations of meal, rest and non-productive time regulations
- Discrimination
- Allegations of employer retaliation
- FMLA disputes
- ADA violations
Our experienced employer defense attorneys have a strong track record of success in these types of cases. Many discrimination and retaliation cases are quite subjective, and our legal team deploys a unique strategy that documents all that has happened, the behavior of the associated parties and rebuttal of impact statements on the part of plaintiffs. Our unique approach to disputes and litigation ensures that these matters are handled in a manner that ensures the best possible outcome promptly and cost-effectively.
Proactively Working With Employers to Develop Successful Strategies
Our general business counsel and advisory services ensure that proactive strategies are employed by all of our clients to prevent disputes and litigation from arising at all. The past few years have brought a substantial series of changes in federal and state laws creating new burdens for San Diego employers. It is important to have a legal partner who can keep you abreast of developments and keep your organizational processes up to date.
We amend and update related employment agreements, policies and procedures and employee handbooks as well as the consistent application of administrative processes in your organization. A major recent development in arbitration agreements has opened the door to protect San Diego and Southern California employers from risks associated with class actions and PAGA actions.
Pro-Tip: “So as an employer, what’s the best precaution one can take? the answer: Pay attention and have a good lawyer.
Have a good lawyer for employers who stays up to speed and take those little technical matters seriously, because it doesn’t cost much to be in compliance. It really doesn’t, but it costs so much to get caught. Usually you don’t get caught for a few months and before you know it, you could literally lose hundreds of thousands of dollars for an accounting error or the way you put your paychecks out or your refusal or failure to put up a little sign in your break room. All those little things. There’s some lawyer out there, Mr. Bounty Hunter, looking for you to try to collect five, 10, $15,000 in attorneys fees for tiny mistakes made by San Diego and California employers.
When we’re talking about protecting our employer clients, the old saying, ‘a good defense starts with a good offense,’ definitely applies. What are the elements of a good offense in your mind for an employer?
Employment contracts, human resource manuals, employee handbooks, rules and regulations, training and staying up to speed on the ever-changing laws in California. Having a lawyer on speed dial you can call with a question or concern and get the right answer, often without a bill!
Let’s talk about class actions. That’s how you take a mistake on the way somebody drafted someone’s paycheck in the tune of, let’s say $15 a week. That puts you in a class action that costs you three, $400,000 because of an accounting error that led to a class action. Now, had you had certain types of agreements in place, even some kinds of arbitration agreements (that’s where we’re at now on these laws) you could have cut this off. Also, had you had a Watkins Firm lawyer you could talk to about your procedures or maybe an outside accounting service to review it or a CPA or our HR person, someone you can call, you could prevent a huge potential liability. If there’s any questions or your staff can call, then you won’t have this problem. And if you do, then you shut it down right away.
Fast action in any of these matters is the key. Pick up the phone and call us the second that you think something’s going on. Quick action gives your lawyer the right to do things that just destroy a case in the beginning.” – Dan Watkins, Founding Partner
Proven, Experienced San Diego Employer Defense Attorneys
Are you searching for proven experienced employer defense attorneys serving business and medical / healthcare employers here in San Diego and throughout the State of California? If you or one of your managers has been accused of a wage and hour violation, discrimination, retaliation or other employment related issue we invite you to review our podcast Episode 4 – Risk and Guidance for CA Employers, as well as the strong recommendations of our clients and contact the Watkins Firm or call 858-535-1511 for a complimentary consultation today. We will share our experience and the successful strategic insights gained from the defense of cases like yours, and develop a strategy that is tailored to the unique circumstance, challenge or dispute you may face.
