Employment Law and Litigation: Kelly Dohm

Employment Law Counseling

The Employment Law attorneys at Melchert Hubert Sjodin help businesses succeed by creating positive work environments for both employers and employees. Our Employment Law team is led by Melchert Hubert Sjodin partner Kelly Dohm, an Employment Law Specialist, certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Our Employment Law team works closely with clients to:

• Smooth employee transitions, working out separation and settlement arrangements as necessary
• Draft and review employee handbooks and employment agreements
• Advise clients on performance management, federal and state compliance, litigation prevention, and compensation and benefits
• Provide counsel on matters relating to severance agreements, executive compensation, and unlawful termination of employment
• Provide counsel on labor law and union relations
• Defend claims brought by employees in the courts by local, state or federal agencies

The law exists to protect you as well as your employees. We can help you understand the legal implications of a broad spectrum of workplace issues. Questions we can answer include:

• How can I create a fair separation or severance agreement?
• An employee is accusing us of unlawful termination but we believe it was lawful. What can we do?
• How can my company protect itself against accusations of sexual harassment or age discrimination?
• How can my company implement the recently enacted Women’s Economic Security Act?

Our Employment Law attorneys provide day-to-day advice and counsel to clients on the full range of human resource issues that may arise, as well as:                  

• Forms: Employment applications; hiring and termination checklists
• Agreements: Drafting and review of agreements, such as non-competes; confidentiality; separation agreements; severance agreements; executive employment; independent contractor agreements
• Affirmative Action Programs: City, state and federal
• FMLA and ADA: Developing policies and reasonable accommodation programs
• Harassment and workplace violence prevention
• Hiring; overtime; discipline; termination and discharge issues
• Minnesota Human Rights Act
• Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act
• Policies: Prepare and review employee and personnel policies and manuals
• Reduction in workforce planning
• Risk assessments and litigation prevention
• Social media policy development and monitoring process
• Substance abuse; drug and alcohol testing policies and training
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Unemployment claims
• USERRA issues and military leave

If you have a question about what distinguishes a lawful termination from an unlawful termination, how to set up overtime guidelines, the difference between severance and separation, or other issues that may come up in a fair workplace, please give us a call at (952) 442-7700.

• FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act)
• Forms: employment applications, hiring, and termination checklists
• Harassment and workplace violence prevention
• Hiring, overtime, discipline, termination and discharge issues
• Injunctions related to restrictive covenants
• Minnesota Human Rights Act
• Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act
• Performance management, federal and state compliance, litigation prevention, and compensation and benefits
• Reduction in workforce planning and implementation
• Risk assessments and litigation prevention
• Social media policy development and monitoring process
• Substance abuse; drug and alcohol testing policies and training
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Unemployment claims
• Union relations
• USERRA issues and military leave
• Whistleblowing

Employment Litigation

At Melchert Hubert Sjodin, we represent businesses and government agencies on wage and hour claims, alleged wrongful classification of individuals as independent contractors, discrimination and other claims before state and federal courts and regulatory authorities including:

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Federal, Minnesota state and local equal employment opportunity agencies
• Minnesota Department of Human Rights
• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

We are experienced in representing the interests of businesses and municipalities in matters involving:

• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) violations
• Breach of an implied covenant of good faith
• Breach of contract
• COBRA
• Discrimination:  race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, pregnancy and national origin
• FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) violations
• Injunctions related to restrictive covenants
• Trade secret litigation
• Whistleblowing

Give your organization every opportunity for success by contacting our Employment Law team. We are happy to answer your questions and define the roles, rules and responsibilities that impact either your organization. Please give us a call at (952) 442-7700.

• FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act)
• Forms: employment applications, hiring, and termination checklists
• Harassment and workplace violence prevention
• Hiring, overtime, discipline, termination and discharge issues
• Injunctions related to restrictive covenants
• Minnesota Human Rights Act
• Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act
• Performance management, federal and state compliance, litigation prevention, and compensation and benefits
• Reduction in workforce planning and implementation
• Risk assessments and litigation prevention
• Social media policy development and monitoring process
• Substance abuse; drug and alcohol testing policies and training
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Unemployment claims
• Union relations
• USERRA issues and military leave
• Whistleblowing