Performance and Termination Decisions Under FMLA, ADA, and Other Employment Leave Laws

Mr. Grisham has over 30 years of successful experience counseling and representing employers in all aspects of workplace law in Tennessee and across the U.S. He has helped employers avoid claims, charges, and lawsuits with a focus on preventative practices, including counseling on discipline, termination, demotion, promotion and other workplace changes,  investigations, wage and hour compliance, reasonable accommodation assessment, supervisor training and the review of employment policies and procedures. Mr. Grisham has successfully litigated hundreds of administrative charges, employment lawsuits, and arbitration demands on behalf of employers, including federal and state law claims alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, invasion of privacy, defamation, breach of contract, and wage and hour violations, among others. He represents employers in the prosecution and defense of trade secret claims, and in the enforcement of post-employment restrictive covenants such as non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure agreements. Mr. Grisham also represents employers in unfair labor practice and union representation election proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. He is a Member of the American Employment Law Council, a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and of the American Bar Foundation. Mr. Grisham is a past Chair of the Memphis Bar Association's L&E Section and of the Tennessee Bar Association's L&E Section where he currently serves on the Executive Committee.

Mr. Hetrick is a management rights advocate who represents employers on federal and state labor and employment law compliance and dispute resolution. He counsels employers with an eye to preventing claims arising from day-to-day employment decisions, particularly terminations of employees and large-scale layoffs. An important component of his practice involves drafting and revision of employee handbooks, personnel policies and procedures, employment applications, background check disclosure and consent agreements and employment contracts. Mr. Hetrick drafts comprehensive leave-of-absence policies designed to coordinate employer obligations under federal disability/medical leave laws and state workers’ compensation laws while, at the same time, advising on how to navigate conflicting obligations under those laws to avoid litigation. He helps employers to run their companies in compliance with labor and employment laws by providing training to managers, supervisors and employees on discrimination and harassment prevention. Mr. Hetrick speaks frequently on employment law and human resource management issues.