For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), one of the most sensitive and risky employment issues is termination. Firing an employee may be necessary for performance, restructuring, or misconduct. But when the employee believes they were fired for an unlawful reason, it can quickly lead to a wrongful termination claim. These lawsuits are not only costly—they can also damage reputation and employee morale.

For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), lawsuits involving discrimination, harassment, or retaliation are among the most damaging. They don’t just create financial exposure—they can severely harm reputation, employee morale, and client trust. In New York, where both state and city laws impose some of the broadest worker protections in the nation, SMBs must be especially vigilant.

For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), one of the most common—and costly—employment disputes comes in the form of wage and hour claims. These disputes often fly under the radar until they snowball into lawsuits, regulatory investigations, or even class actions. With federal, New York State, and New York City laws all in play, the risks are significant.