If you are a manager responsible for employee relations matters, you don't have to be told about the fast pace of change. You know that the economy is unpredictable, government funding is uncertain, laws and regulations are in flux, and workplace roles are evolving. You know that all this affects your rights, responsibilities and liabilities, but you also know that you have less time than ever before to figure out how.

That's where we come in. Established in 1987, Emond Harnden is now the largest law firm in Eastern Ontario devoted exclusively to assisting employers in all facets of labour relations and employment law. Whether you are a public or private sector employer, our lawyers and staff can provide -- in both official languages -- the expertise, advice and advocacy you need to manage your workplace effectively in changing times.

Our lawyers offer specialized advice in many areas of the law, including wrongful dismissal, pay equity, human rights, occupational health and safety, workers' compensation and employment standards. We provide assistance both in collective bargaining and negotiating individual employment contracts. And we take pride in a record of successful advocacy before arbitrators, federal and provincial tribunals and the courts.

Emond Harnden recognizes that it is in clients' interests to avoid costly litigation, and we have responded by helping clients minimize their potential liability. Our lawyers conduct training seminars for managers in a variety of areas such as occupational health and safety compliance, union organization and certification, the prevention of harassment complaints, and pro-active management of workers' compensation claims. We are also ready to assist employers in numerous other tasks, including drafting workplace policies, implementing pay equity plans and reviewing personnel manuals and disciplinary notices.

Along these lines, we place special emphasis on familiarizing clients with Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as an alternative to litigation. Our lawyers have been active in the growth of ADR in Canada and were founding members of the Canadian Institute of Conflict Resolution.

In providing these services to our clients, our lawyers draw on an extensive collection of resource materials including an in-house library of unreported arbitration decisions. We also make full use of our university-trained legal research staff and comprehensive computer search capabilities to provide thorough, timely and cost-effective advice.

With this web site and our e-mail alerts, FOCUS, we have increased our ability to help you keep abreast of the developments you need to know about to conduct successful employee relations. The future is coming faster than ever. In focusing on the future of employee/labour relations, our goal is to assist you to manage your workplace with confidence.