Shelagh Michaud

My focus

Employment Counseling

In my practice, I counsel and advise employers on day-to-day and long-term employment law matters, such as termination and performance counseling, employee management, and employment policies and best practices. I also work with employers to implement workplace safety initiatives and policies, including those to address public health emergencies/infectious disease issues and workplace violence concerns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have continued to work actively with clients to respond to business and financial concerns and workplace safety issues, to keep abreast of changing guidance, regulations, and laws impacting employers as businesses move forward during and after the pandemic, and to implement new employment policies and practices to assist businesses as they grow and transition during these changing times.

Employment Litigation

I represent employers in all stages of discrimination and employment matters pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), state agencies, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and state and federal courts. I defend clients in employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, workplace safety, and COVID-19–related matters. I assist clients in conducting investigations and implementing strategies to prevent litigation and work with clients to develop and implement effective and manageable employment policies and practices to respond to changing business needs. I have also represented and counseled municipalities, schools, and colleges in civil rights and business litigation matters.

Looking ahead

As COVID-19 moves into endemic phase, we need to be aware of the impact of lessons learned from responding to the pandemic and ways in which that experience can shape and improve employment policies and practices going forward.

Insights

• “Human Resource Issues: Policies for Companies In A Post-Pandemic Era,” Council for Affordable and Rural Housing's Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA, June 27, 2022