Kristin Jones Pierre advises management nationwide on complex workplace matters, including identifying long-term strategies and best practices to reduce employment-related legal risks while meeting business needs. She represents employers of all sizes, including public and private companies, emerging businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Employment Counseling
Kristin helps employers identify employment obligations, risks and liabilities from hiring practices to termination. Her experience includes advising employers on:
- Hiring practices, including recruitment, non-discrimination, non-competition, pre-employment testing, background checks, offer letters and employment agreements
- Preparing covenants not to compete, confidentiality and trade secret agreements, and advising on their enforceability
- Wage and hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state laws, including classification of employees as exempt or non-exempt
- Preparing employee handbooks and other personnel policies and practices
- Developing policies and practices to manage accommodation and leave issues, including advising on employee rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state laws and local ordinances
- Complex employee discipline and discharge matters, including drafting disciplinary documentation, severance plans, and separation and release agreements
- Best practices for managing voluntary and involuntary workforce reductions and related employee communication, including developing and implementing plans and severance and release agreements, in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act (OWBPA)
- Conducting audits of employment practices and procedures
- Investigating allegations of harassment and discrimination
Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance
Kristin leads the firm’s affirmative action/OFCCP compliance team, which assists employers in designing affirmative action plans and represents government contractors during compliance evaluations and audits conducted by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programming (OFCCP) and state and local agencies. She guides and trains government contractors on affirmative action best practices, including legally compliant recruiting, selection, applicant tracking and performance management.
Employment Litigation
Kristin has served as lead counsel for employment-related litigation in nationwide federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including on claims of race, age and gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation, enforcement of non-competes and restrictive covenants, and wage and hour disputes. Her trial and appellate practice provides Kristin with a valuable foundation to counsel clients on how employment decisions may be challenged and defended.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Kristin Jones Pierre
- DFEH Issues New Guidance and a Template Report to Comply with California’s Pay Data Collection and Reporting Requirements: Are You Ready? - (Posted On Thursday, February 04, 2021)
- President Biden Repeals Executive Order 13950 Upon Taking Office - (Posted On Monday, January 25, 2021)
- EEOC Announces 2021 Schedules for EEO Data Collection - (Posted On Wednesday, January 13, 2021)
- Federal District Court Issues Nationwide Temporary Ban on Executive Order 13950 - (Posted On Tuesday, December 29, 2020)
- OFCCP Issues Last Directive Under CERT Principles for OFCCP Policies and Practices - (Posted On Tuesday, December 22, 2020)
- Federal Agencies Issue Contract Clauses Implementing ‘Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping' - (Posted On Monday, December 07, 2020)
- DOL Finalizes Rule Requiring Internal Approval of Evidence Prior to Issuing Preliminary Notices of Discriminatory Bias Claims Against Contractors - (Posted On Tuesday, November 10, 2020)
- Civil Rights Organizations File Lawsuit Seeking to Halt President Trump’s Executive Order Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping - (Posted On Tuesday, November 03, 2020)
- OFCCP Issues Request for Information Supporting President Trump’s Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping - (Posted On Thursday, October 22, 2020)
- OFCCP Launches Hotline to Receive Reports Regarding Contractors’ Prohibited Race and Sex Stereotyping - (Posted On Thursday, October 01, 2020)