Smart counsel, better relationships.
In-home employment presents a unique context, and understanding the complexity of this backdrop is essential when it comes to establishing a mutually respectful employer/employee rapport. Household employment relationships require agreements that are clearly understood and strong, as seemingly small issues can escalate and become costly to resolve.
Experience has shown us that when private citizens appear in the media or begin to amass significant assets, their exposure to litigation and risk for reputational damage also increases. As employers, they require a customized, no-templates approach to legal counsel.
Whether a “household” refers to multiple residences or business entities – each with administrative and/or domestic staff – or to unconventional hours and logistical arrangements, our practice advises in the practical legal frameworks as well as nuanced approaches to employer/employee relationships.
From day one to year 10.
From onboarding documentation to reorganizing an existing employee structure after many years, we address the lifespan of the employment relationship with an eye to all potential outcomes. We advise on employee exit strategies that consider all parties, ultimately resulting in our clients’ protection.
We first aim to understand your family and the values that guide how you make decisions in your household. It is important that we hear about relevant history related to in-home or administrative help. Who you are – as an employer – whether confident, reluctant, or enthusiastic, informs the tenor of every in-home relationship. The agreements we draft on your behalf, as well as the policies we establish, can support optimal in-home work environments.
“Even the tightest legal parameters can reflect a friendly, generous outlook to the people who support your work and life.”
We advise on the following: background checks to ensure safety as well as legal status of employees, the establishment of benefits policies, compliance with wage and hour laws, the management of employment tax and insurance obligations and notices relating to surveillance and drug screening.
The practice also prepares employee applications, Employment agreements/offer letters, Timecards, Confidentiality Agreements, Mutual Agreements to Arbitrate, Employee Handbooks, Counseling/Discipline Notices, Termination Letters, and Severance/Release Agreements.