Terminating the Employment Relationship

With public agencies being forced to reduce expenses and maximize resources, it has become increasingly important to proactively prevent lawsuits from former employees. This workshop will focus on best practices in voluntarily and involuntarily ending the employment relationship, and post-separation obligations. Topics include avoiding liability arising from terminations, layoffs, retirements and buyouts, and employees who cannot be accommodated. We also will discuss drafting legally sound settlement and severance agreements, including: (1) “must-have” clauses; (2) the pros and cons of confidentiality clauses; (3) Brown Act and Public Records Act issues; (4) enforceable waiver provisions; and (5) whether an employer can “seal” the personnel file.