It has been more than a year since the ACCG Property & Liability Program (ACCG-IRMA) announced that it would provide expert legal counsel on employment matters to member counties at no additional cost. This benefit is designed to help county governments prevent personnel actions from becoming claims or litigation.

More than 60 members have taken advantage of this service to-date, and some multiple times. These requests for assistance - sometimes a second opinion - typically come from county attorneys, human resources directors, county managers and administrators and county clerks. Several constitutional officers, including sheriffs, have also reached out for support.

The legal firm providing this aid to ACCG-IRMA members is O’Quinn & Cronin, and they have been effective in navigating members through the complex issues around employment laws and matters, such as:

·The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it relates to disabled employees and applicants.

·The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for applicable unpaid, job-protected leave.

·The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), particularly regarding wages and overtime.

·Workers’ Compensation coverage, including Return to Work programs.

·The Affordable Care Act (ACA) regarding employer requirements.

·Hiring processes and performance evaluations.

·Harassment allegations.

·Employee discipline, including terminations.

·Anti-nepotism policies.

Approximately 500 hours of service have been provided over this past year to help counties avoid claims and litigation which can easily be prevented by making the right decisions on the front end. Make sure those in charge of personnel matters know about this helpful resource. For more information about the HR Legal Service, click here.