Abigail L. Giarrusso

agiarrusso@littler.com
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Abigail L. Giarrusso partners with clients to help them remain compliant with ever-changing employment laws and implement litigation avoidance strategies. Abigail is a core member of Littler’s Handbooks and Policies Practice Group. 

Abigail routinely prepares and reviews multistate employee handbooks, policies, offer letters, and onboarding and offboarding documents. She audits hiring, onboarding, leaves of absence, paid sick and safe time, accommodations, performance management, remote/hybrid work, offboarding, and fair employment practices at the federal, state, and local levels, and regularly provides legal advice to employers regarding these topics. Abigail’s practice covers a broad range of industries, including retail, financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare.  

Abigail has defended employers against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, wage and hour, and class and collective claims in federal and state court. Abigail’s litigation work includes representing employers in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state and local administrative bodies.   

Prior to joining Littler, Abigail practiced with a Rochester-based litigation firm, where she represented businesses, universities, and healthcare organizations. She defended clients against claims related to employment law, higher education law, commercial law, insurance law, and medical malpractice. She also counseled clients on litigation prevention.   

Selected Matters

  • Partnering with multinational and multistate employers to prepare U.S. compliant handbooks and policies
  • Auditing a large, multistate retail employer’s hiring, accommodations, leaves of absence, and performance management practices
  • Reviewing and updating 50-state U.S. handbooks with multiple business unit addenda for compliance with applicable laws and regulations   
  • Providing compliance advice related to managing a large, multistate remote workforce and entering new geographic markets

Credentials & Recognition

Speaking Engagements

Working Here, Working There, Working Everywhere: Post-Pandemic Work Challenges and Employment Policies

  • June 1, 2023
  • Rochester, NY

A Primer for Effective Pro Bono Representation in Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation

  • October 21, 2020
  • Western District of New York, Pro Bono Counsel Training

Social Media and the Workplace: The Blurred Line Between Personal and Professional

  • April 28, 2017
  • Salvation Army of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY

Let us know how we can help you navigate your particular workplace legal issues.