Baker Employment Law

Welcome!

My clients are my partners, and I share their goals: To increase business success and to create satisfying relationships with the people who are integral to achieving that success - employees.

Business owners and managers intuitively must be focused on sustaining and building their businesses. All too often, however, they become distracted and discouraged by disgruntled employees and threats of litigation. Everyone knows that defending a legal claim is expensive in both time and money, and no one wants to go there.

A savvy employer understands legal subtleties and knows how to manage people in a way that benefits both the employee and the employer. My job is to help business owners become savvy employers, but also to zealously defend them in the legal arena when conflict cannot be avoided.

A focus of my employment advice practice is to train managers and supervisors to recognize potential discrimination or retaliation complaints before they become a reality. I help employers avoid wage claims by making sure employees are properly classified in accordance with state and federal law. I have extensive experience interpreting and implementing family medical leave laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I have successfully defended numerous claims in all of these areas.

In addition, I have a wealth of experience in labor law, having advised both public and private employers in negotiations, contract enforcement and resolution of grievances.

Excellent attorneys are problem solvers. I strive to be a problem preventer, as well. Give my advice a chance. You just might like it.

Areas of Expertise

• Discrimination, including ADA, ADEA and Title VII
• Electronic communication issues in the workplace
• Employee classification under Oregon law and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Employment contracts and severance agreements
• Equal Employment Opportunity matters (EEOC)
• Family Medical Leave, both Oregon and U.S.
• First Amendment rights of public employees
• Management-side labor relations
• Medical marijuana
• Non-compete agreements
• Personnel manuals and handbooks
• Privacy issues in the workplace
• Retaliation claims
• Sexual harassment
• Wage and hour claims
• Workplace investigations