Meant to increase the economic security of employees, employee benefits are non-wage compensations in addition to normal wages or salaries. Employee benefits could be in the form of health and dental plans; retirement benefit plans; group-term life and long-term-care insurance plans, legal assistance plans, adoption assistance, relocation assistance, child care benefits and miscellaneous employee discounts. The miscellaneous discounts may cover movies and theme park tickets, hotels and resorts, etc.

Some of these benefits, such as accident and health plans and group-term life insurance, may be excluded from the employee’s gross income and therefore exempt from federal income tax. Benefits provided by employers are normally tax-deductible to the employer and non-taxable to the employee. Among exceptions to this general rule are executive benefits like golden parachute plans.

ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) or employee benefits attorneys provide a great service to limit the liability of plan sponsors and help protect employees. An employee benefits attorney should be involved in any area of merger, acquisition or divestiture. In addition, whenever a company enacts an employee benefit plan, the involvement of such an attorney should be welcomed. In case a company excludes attorney review in their employee benefit plan implementation, it is wise to seek counsel and review those plan documents and procedures. An experienced ERISA attorney should review all aspects of any fiduciary decision that could impact plan qualification.

Such attorneys should also be retained for current qualified retirement plan issues like merging an existing Money Purchase Plan with an existing 401k Plan, providing investment advice to participants, and withdrawal liability from multi-employer pension plans. They should also be consulted on current welfare benefit plan issues like understanding ERISA compliance for companies with a third-party insurance agent or administrator, COBRA issues, and fiduciary insurance and bond review.

Sandals & Associates, P.C. has a practice concentrating in nationwide litigation involving employee and retiree benefits and pensions (ERISA), employment discrimination, Fair Labor Standards Act, antitrust, consumer protection, and class actions generally. Attorneys of the firm have had a leading role in many successful, precedent-setting cases in these fields on behalf of employee and consumer clients. Please visit their site at SandalsLaw.com for more information.

If you need an employment law solicitor, then you may already have a firm of solicitors in mind, or you may have never needed legal help before. How can you be sure that the employment law solicitor that you choose is the right one for you

Employers will need to write staff contracts which will need to be legally approved so that they are not in breach of any laws or be discriminatory. Getting professional legal advice can ensure that the contracts are legally binding, which can avoid problems in the future.

Company documentation such as staff handbooks, internal policies and procedures should also be checked by a solicitor to ensure that they comply with the appropriate laws.

For employees, employment law covers such issues as unfair dismissal, discrimination, and redundancy. If you are an employee or an employer, and are affected by these issues, then you will need to make sure that you have the right legal advice so that you can get the outcome that you want. For employers, the legal process can be time consuming and costly, and for employees, it can be a question of clearing their name, or getting what they are legally entitled to.

Discrimination cases are often mentioned in the media, and employers and employees alike have to remember that how they speak to and treat their staff and colleagues could be construed as discriminatory. Sexual, religious, age and gender discrimination all breach discrimination laws which can have server consequences for both sides involved. If employees don’t get the help and support from Management, Personnel or Human Resources departments, then they may need to seek professional legal advice. In addition, companies will want to take legal advice if a member of staff has been discriminated against, or is thinking about taking legal action against the company.

There are many other issues that affect employers and employees, and could lead to a situation where both sides need to take legal advice. Perhaps a case of bullying or racism wasn’t taken seriously by management. A member of staff who has been passed over for a promotion may have a genuine reason for thinking that they have been discriminated against, and it might not be just a case of sour grapes. A parent who isn’t allowed time off to look after their sick child, or isn’t given maternity or paternity leave, may also have reason to seek the advice of an employment law solicitor.

Employment Law is there to help and protect the employee and the employer, and isn’t just for when things go bad in the workplace. Whether you are an employer wanting help to draw up contracts for new members of staff, or just want to know what your rights are regarding redundancy or maternity leave, an employment law solicitor will be able to advise you, and give you all the help you need.