Associated General Counsel, Labor & Employment

Job Title: Associate General Counsel

Department: General Counsel

Location: RRH 1360 Portland

Hours Per Week: 40 hrs/week

Schedule: Days

SUMMARY:

The Associate General Counsel at Rochester Regional Health assists the Assistant General Counsel and General Counsel in managing the legal function of the health system. The Associate General Counsel provides counsel and advice on any legal matters involving the organization; protects the organization’s rights in contract negotiations, and ensures compliance of healthcare laws and regulations. Keeps informed of industry specific regulations and ensures that appropriate risk management strategies are in place.

For Employment Law:
The Associate General Counsel will assist Rochester Regional Health with a wide variety of human resource-related legal challenges, including claims of discrimination and harassment, employment contracts, and government citations (Dept. of Labor, EEOC, etc.). The Associate General Counsel will additionally provide comprehensive services related to HR legal due-diligences and post-transactional integration, hiring issues, employment litigation, training, auditing, and management issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide legal specialization to the organization for contract preparation and negotiations.
• Ensures compliance with Healthcare laws and regulations.
• Advises management on recent changes in laws and regulations that affect the organization.
• Protects the organization’s rights in contract negotiations, settlements and litigation.
• Represent the organization in certain litigation

Key Responsibilities - Employment Law:

• Act as a key resource for the Human Resources department, including providing advice and guidance for all employee relations issues.
• Work closely with the EVP General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel and Human Resources and the business on the full spectrum of employment law issues, including:
  • Compensation: advising on wage‑and‑hour practices, including overtime issues, and on the development and administration of compensation programs, such as equity‑based programs and deferred compensation arrangements; advising on other related issues.
  • Policies and Procedures: working with HR on the development and drafting of employment policies and their application under various state and federal laws.
  • Recruiting and Hiring: advising on restrictive covenants; drafting and negotiating employment agreements; developing templates and forms.
  • Employment Claims: partnering with the General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel and HR to manage all forms of employee disputes and litigation matters, including agency charges, EEOC claims and discrimination claims, arbitration proceedings, and litigation.
  • Transactions: advising on the employment law issues relating to sales, spin‑offs, and acquisitions and similar transactions.
  • Employee Benefits:
    
    working with HR and outside counsel on ERISA and benefits‑related issues.
  • Training: develop and deliver employment law training for HR and others to proactively address issues and/or changes or developments in law.
  • Affirmative Action: working with Diversity and outside counsel on the development and administration of affirmative action programs; supporting compliance reviews/audits.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of labor/employee relations strategy, analyze and develop matrix systems to track and quantify labor relations process.
  • Improve employment labor law audit components; this will include immigration audits, FLSA, and state law compliance with a particular emphasis on labor and employment statutes.
  • Ensure company’s adherence to state and federal labor laws.
  • Continue to build upon company’s employment litigation success.
  • Improve unemployment and worker’s compensation success.
  • Well‑versed in the rules of evidence and introducing evidence.
  • Primary responsibility for the drafting, review and negotiation of employment and consulting agreements for all Rochester Regional Health affiliates.
  • Maintain a tracking system for all of the company’s employment and consulting agreements.
  • Responsible for ensuring the company’s compliance with all state and federal employment laws.
  • Stay informed of all legal employment updates…