COMMUNITY LEGAL RESOURCES UNVEILS FIRST OF ITS KIND

EMPLOYMENT LAW MANUAL

Community Legal Resources announced today the release of the most current employment law manual designed specifically for Michigan nonprofits.  The manual is a go-to guide for understanding the employment legal issues and requirements that Michigan nonprofits may encounter, especially in the face of the current economic climate.

Topics covered in the manual include hiring; employment status; employer policies; wage issues; discrimination and retaliation; and discipline and termination. The manual is available free of cost to any interested nonprofit in the state of Michigan, and it is also available for free download on Community Legal Resources’ website: www.clronline.org.

Developed and overseen by Sarida Scott, Legal Director for Community Legal Resources, the manual is a comprehensive first-look at common employment law issues. “Given the economic issues facing all companies, Community Legal Resources regularly receives requests for employment law assistance such as creating or updating employee handbooks or addressing withholding and payroll tax issues,” Scott said. “Based on the feedback we have received from the regular legal workshops that we host, nonprofits frequently express a need to learn more about employment law.”

Rebecca Simkins, a partner at Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker who was involved in the creation of the manual, believes that it will be a helpful starting point to deal with employment issues and questions. According to Simkins, “Given the difficult economic times facing all companies, nonprofits frequently ask for advice on how to make tough decisions regarding staff hours, payroll, and headcount. This manual will be an invaluable resource for them.”

Scott added, “The manual fills a need that had not been addressed until now.  It’s not legal assistance, but it provides nonprofits with basic information and an understanding of issues important to their organization.”

In conjunction with the release of the manual, Community Legal Resources is also offering workshops titled “Protecting Your Nonprofit: Understanding Employment Law in Michigan”. Workshop participants will receive valuable insight into best practices for addressing employment issues in a challenging economic climate, and they will also receive a free copy of the manual. The first workshop was hosted by the Michigan Nonprofit Association on Thursday, February 26^th in Lansing, and the second will take place on Friday, March 27^th in Detroit.

In addition to Simkins, attorneys who volunteered for this project and helped write the manual are: Tiffany A. Buckley of Dickinson Wright PLLC,  Linda G. Burwell of Nemeth Burwell P.C., Amy J. Durant of Bodman LLP, and George K. Pitchford of Floyd E. Allen & Associates. 

The project was made possible through the generous support of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. 

To obtain a copy of the manual, please click here.