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Shelagh Michaud
Senior Attorney
Introduction
Shelagh Michaud is a member of the Labor & Employment practice group and the firm’s Occupational Safety & Health (OSHA) practice. Her practice focuses on advising and counseling clients on employment matters and workplace safety (OSHA) issues and representing employers in employment and workplace safety investigations and litigation. She has a broad range of experience counseling and representing corporations, schools, municipalities, and nonprofit entities in state and federal employment, workplace safety, and business dispute matters.
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
In the news
- Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
Employment bar bracing for fallout from ‘Stericycle’
Sep 4, 2023Providence Labor & Employment senior attorney Shelagh Michaud is quoted throughout this article on the National Labor Relations Board’s Stericycle majority opinion that tightens scrutiny of employer workplace rules. Shelagh explains how this is part of a larger trend of decisions and new laws leaning in favor of employee rights, and discusses the possibility for anti-moonlighting and noncompete provisions to be ratcheted back.
- SHRM HR News
OSHA expands injury and illness reporting requirement
July 19, 2023This article discussing a rule released by OSHA this week expanding workplace injury and illness reporting requirements quotes Providence Labor & Employment senior attorney Shelagh Michaud on how the rule could impact employers.
- CARH News
Three takeaways from Fed-OSHA’s increased workplace violence enforcement initiatives
April 3, 2023San Francisco partner Rachel Conn and Providence senior attorney Shelagh Michaud, both of the Labor & Employment practice, contributed this article discussing Fed-OSHA’s focus on workplace violence initiatives and how recent investigations can provide insight and best practices as employers take measures to create safe workplaces.
- HR Specialist Employment Law
Q&A on OSHAs upcoming vaccine mandate-What it means for HR
This industry newsletter includes the client alert “President Biden orders vaccination mandate for large employers,” co-authored by San Francisco partner Rachel Conn, Rochester partner Kim Harding, and Providence department attorney Shelagh Michaud, all of the Labor & Employment group. The Q&A covers OSHA’s emergency standards, the 100-employee threshold in Biden’s vaccination mandate, and how the rule affects state OSHA plans.Oct 1, 2021 - The Charlotte Observer
What workers and employers should know a week after Biden issued COVID vaccine mandate
This article, which has been syndicated across the country, quotes the client alert “President Biden orders vaccination mandate for large employers” co-authored by San Francisco partner Rachel Conn, Rochester partner Kim Harding, and Providence department attorney Shelagh Michaud, all of the Labor & Employment group. The content covers OSHA emergency standards, the 100-employee threshold in Biden’s vaccination mandate, and how the rule affects state OSHA plans.Sep 16, 2021
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire
U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
Education
Boston College Law School, J.D., cum laude
University of New Hampshire, B.A., cum laude
Professional activities
- Member of the Policy Committee of the Compass School in Kingston and the North Kingstown High School Booster Club Board
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- New Hampshire Bar Association
- Rhode Island Bar Association
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllKimberly Harding
Partner / Deputy Leader, Litigation Department
Leader, Labor Relations Team- Rochester
- Office:+1 585.263.1037
- kharding@nixonpeabody.com
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Stacie B. Collier
Partner / Chief Talent Officer- Providence
- Office:+1 401.454.1018
- sbcollier@nixonpeabody.com
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Anthony Barron
Partner / Chair, Litigation Department- San Francisco
- Office:415.984.8309
- abarron@nixonpeabody.com
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