Superstorm Sandy ravaged much of the Northeast, reinforcing for all of us the fragility of life and the importance of family and friends. Fundamental things like shelter, heat, food, water and gas evaporated overnight. Having “stuff” just didn’t seem to matter anymore.

Getting to work was difficult, if not impossible, for many. And, businesses large and small were significantly impacted by water or wind damage, as well as loss of power, systems, and Internet service. We were a society scrambling at home and at work.

All at once, employers were dealt a hand-full of employment issues that ranged from wage & hour questions to employee leaves and how to call-in essential employees for business continuity purposes. Our recent Alert, “Taking Care of Business When Hurricanes, Storms and Natural Disasters Hit,” addresses some of the issues that frequently arise during these devastating events.

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Photo of Wendy Lario Wendy Lario

Wendy Johnson Lario Chairs the New Jersey Labor & Employment Practice and Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s Employment Litigation & Trials group. She represents employers in litigation involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and whistleblowing, among others. She appears

Wendy Johnson Lario Chairs the New Jersey Labor & Employment Practice and Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s Employment Litigation & Trials group. She represents employers in litigation involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and whistleblowing, among others. She appears regularly in federal and state courts in New Jersey and New York and defends employers against charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (NJDCR) and the New York Division of Human Rights (NYDHR). Wendy also provides advice and training to management and in-house counsel on employment issues, including hiring, firing, harassment, misconduct, leave and attendance, employee accommodations, employment and severance agreements, executive contracts, independent contractors, internal investigations, background checks, employee handbooks and policies, social networking, reductions in force, and employer requirements under identity theft statutes. She has represented companies in the telecommunications, retail, automotive, pharmaceutical, consumer electronics and chemical industries, among others.

Wendy has appeared on national television, including CBS’s The Early Show and CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight. She has commented on employment law issues in The Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, New Jersey Law Journal, Star-Ledger, The Record, the Courier News, New Jersey Business, NJ Biz and the Asbury Park Press.

Wendy lectures extensively and conducts seminars and training sessions concerning numerous employment law issues, including anti-discrimination laws, wrongful discharge, sexual and other harassment, and diversity training. She also trains and lectures on women’s leadership, performance management, social networking, state and federal laws, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination, New York’s Human Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), New Jersey’s Family Leave Act, and New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act.