New Employment Law Hotline from NFIB

You know I firmly believe that two experts you should have in your corner from day one of your business are an attorney and an accountant. I certainly haven't changed my mind on that, but wanted you to know that starting April 1, small-business owners will finally have a place to turn when they need legal advice on employment law issues, thanks to the National Federation of Independent Business Legal Foundation´s new Employment Law Hotline. The only caveat is that you have to be an NFIB member. It may be just what you need. You'll have to do your due diligence and decide.

The Hotline is set up so small-business owners can call toll-free and leave a message for an attorney from Arent Fox PLLC on an employment law issue. Within 24 hours, an attorney will research the question and return the call. The attorney will answer basic questions about employment law and advise the small-business owner if they can handle the concern on their own, or need to seek additional legal counsel.

"Employment law issues cause small-business owners way too many headaches," said Karen Harned, executive director of NFIB´s Legal Foundation. "Whether it´s a concern about complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act or a question about an immigration issue, small-business owners no longer have to worry about whether or not they should hire an attorney or handle the issue internally. They can now call NFIB´s Employment Law Hotline and get advice before they invest their time and hard earned money on basic legal questions that can be easily answered by legal experts."

The employment law issues covered by the hotline are: Americans with Disabilities Act; Fair Labor Standards Act/wage and hour; discrimination and immigration issues; labor and management relations; Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards; non-compete agreements; pension, health benefits and Employee Retirement Income Security Act; and the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

"NFIB´s Legal Foundation is starting the Employment Law Hotline so that small-business owners will have access to legal advice if they are ever confronted with an employment law complaint or concern," Harned said. "All too often, aggressive lawyers try to take advantage of small-business owners by demanding they settle a bogus claim or face litigation, which is usually daunting and expensive. Now, with access to the Employment Law Hotline, small-business owners can get answers to their basic legal questions without breaking the bank or caving to a ridiculous claim out of fear of a future lawsuit."

The Hotline will start accepting calls on April 1, 2006 and is available to NFIB members only. NFIB´s Legal Foundation will utilize the hotline to gain insights into the employment issues plaguing small businesses in order to serve the small-business community better. For more information please call 800-NFIB-NOW (800-6342-669).