Since the sweeping labor and employment laws of the mid-1960s, employers have faced an ever-increasing number of laws and regulatory agencies governing their businesses and employee relations.  Numerous federal and state laws have been added to the Equal Pay Act (1963), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (1967) including, but not limited to: the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act.

The Labor and Employment Practice Group attorneys of Ward and Smith, P.A. understand the burden these laws place on employers.  We work with clients to develop, implement, and defend policies and practices related to all aspects of the employment relationship to lessen the impact of these burdens to the greatest extent possible.  We are a trusted advisor and a fierce advocate for our clients. 

We strive to know and understand the frequent changes in the law — before clients call for help.  We take a proactive, twofold approach to help clients avoid personnel and employment law disputes resulting from unfair employment practices.  Several of our attorneys focus on business and human relations practices such as preparing personnel manuals, employment contracts, compensation agreements, documents associated with workforce reductions, and settlement agreements and releases associated with other forms of termination.  Other attorneys focus on employment litigation.

Because we litigate our own cases, we better serve our clients.  Our litigation experience encompasses all types of civil rights discrimination, affirmative action compliance and claims, state and federal wage and hour issues, wrongful termination charges, unemployment claims, breach of employment contracts, occupational safety and health matters, labor disputes, and workers' compensation claims.