We were recently interviewed in Corporate Counsel, in “Employment Law Risks Abound for Startup Companies,” by Rebekah Mintzer. (Read the full version — subscription required.)
Following is an excerpt:
“We think they should be focused on it from day one,” Ian Carleton Schaefer, a member in Epstein Becker & Green’s labor and employment practice and co-leader of the firm’s technology, media and telecommunications strategic industry group, told CorpCounsel.com. “Oftentimes it takes a triggering event, whether it’s a lawsuit or a government audit to get them focused—and we think that’s a little late.”
The risks of putting employment law considerations off until later or ignoring them entirely are very real. The last thing a startup fighting to survive and thrive wants to deal with is a lawsuit. No matter how great the organization, a black mark of litigation or noncompliance can hurt its reputation and chances to secure more investment. “Getting it wrong can cripple an otherwise brilliant idea and a very sound business plan,” said Schaefer. …
Those trying to hire more employees for a startup have to think about employee benefit issues, including the Affordable Care Act. “We have a whole new legal scheme with the ACA,” Michelle Capezza, a member of Epstein Becker in the employee benefits and health care and life sciences practices, as well as co-leader of the firm’s technology, media and telecommunications strategic industry group, told CorpCounsel.com.
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The Workforce Bulletin blog is currently edited by Scott J. Connolly, Adam S. Forman, Greta Ravitsky, Elizabeth S. Torkelsen, and Jennifer Stefanick Barna.