Jon G. Miller

Jon Miller represents and counsels employers of all sizes in a range of employment and labor matters, often defending employers against lawsuits filed by former or current employees. He represents clients in the construction, retail, and technology industries before federal and state administrative agencies, including the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board, among others. He has specific knowledge of matters involving:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• The Family and Medical Leave Act
• The California Fair Employment and Housing Act
• California Family Rights Act
• California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders
• California's Trade Secrets Act
• Business and Professions Code section 17200

Jon also has experience in all facets of the litigation process, from the initial investigation and filing through trial and appeal. His successes include obtaining:

• A defense jury verdict in a federal case against a national manufacturing company that originally asserted the employer had engaged in age discrimination, wrongful termination, and fraud in the hiring process
• A defense jury verdict in a lawsuit alleging disability discrimination and failure to provide reasonable accommodation
• A defense arbitration award in a lawsuit alleging an employer had engaged in pregnancy discrimination and retaliation
• An arbitration award in favor of the defendant, in which the plaintiff was ordered to pay more than $80,000 in attorneys' fees and costs
• A bench trial decision in favor of an employer for unlawful tape recording of conversations
• An appellate court opinion ruling that a strike was an "economic strike" rather than an "unfair labor practice strike," thereby relieving the employer of significant potential back pay exposure

In addition to defending employers, Jon works closely with human resources departments, in house counsel, and key managers and business owners to prevent employment litigation. He also provides effective day-to-day advice and strategic counsel on a variety of workplace issues, such as:

• Hiring and firing
• Discipline of personnel
• Sexual harassment claims
• Workplace investigations
• The interplay between family and medical leave and the interactive process
• Unlawful discrimination
• Reductions-in-force planning
• Employment and confidentiality agreements

He regularly prepares and reviews employee handbooks, personnel policies, and employment contracts and is skilled at auditing employment policies and practices to ensure compliance with state and federal employment laws.

Jon is a frequent author and regularly provides expert commentary for leading business publications. He also speaks to employers; offers training on employment and labor law compliance; and conducts presentations on sexual harassment prevention, discrimination, hiring practices and risk management. Additionally, he has taught a course as part of the University of California at Irvine human resources certificate curriculum.