Theresa represents her employer clients in a wide range of legal matters and counsels them in all aspects of labor and employment law. She is a valued advisor to her clients and has earned recognition by Best Lawyers in America and Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars in the areas of labor and employment.
Theresa provides employers with the following services:
Representing employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, New York State Division of Human Rights, the Administrative Review Board, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor and federal/state courts.
Counseling employers to assist in compliance with federal and state employment leave laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the New Paid Family Leave, the New York Paid Sick Leave Act and other leave laws, as well as harassment, discrimination, disability accommodation and retaliation laws.
Conducting investigations for employers to investigate potential internal wrongdoing, ranging from harassment and discrimination to fraud, theft and other legal and policy violations.
Training for employees/supervisors on topics such as sexual harassment prevention, workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation, diversity and inclusion, prevention of OSHA retaliation claims, common wage and hour concerns, drugs and alcohol in the workplace, and workplace violence.
Some of Theresa’s recent matters include:
Representing a national logistics company in multiple wage and hour audits by the Department of Labor, with no violations found.
Obtaining a dismissal of retaliation claims before OSHA for a national transportation company.
Investigation of an Executive Director of a multistate non-profit organization.
Creation of an employment handbook for a financial institution operating in 30+ states.
Prevailing in a National Labor Relations Board union election at a power and electric entity.
Obtaining a dismissal of a class action federal court litigation involving failure to pay overtime claims for a healthcare entity.
Theresa is also a member of the firm’s Health Care practice, where she focuses on assisting fiscal intermediaries with the consumer directed personal assistance programs on the labor and employment matters particular to those entities, including wage and hour issues, joint employment and policy compliance.
"Restrictions and Rewards: Employer use of Non-Competition and Retention Agreements," Rochester Business Journal, August 3, 2022
"New York Publishes Final Paid Sick Leave Regulations," Building the Southern Tier: Official Publication of the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier, 2022
"New York Publishes Final Paid Sick-Leave Regulations," Central New York Business Journal, January 10, 2022
"IRS Updates American Rescue Plan Act Guidance," Central New York Business Journal, August 23, 2021
Quoted, "Cuomo’s No Stranger to Scandal: Why is This Moment Different?," syracuse.com, August 6, 2021
"COVID-19 Vaccinations: Can Private Sector Employers Require Employees To Be Vaccinated?," nsyba.org, February 4, 2021
"DOL Issues Temporary Regulations on Families First Coronavirus Response Act," Central New York Business Journal, April 17, 2020
Theresa E. Rusnak and Tyler T. Hendry, "Survey: Labor and Employment Law," Syracuse Law Review, Spring 2019
Theresa E. Rusnak and James Holahan, “No Help Wanted: The Regulation and Elimination of Retail Positions,” New York Law Journal, February 26, 2018
“How Do You Spell P-A-I-D F-A-M-I-L-Y L-E- A-V-E?: An Exploration of New York’ s Paid Family Leave Act,” New York State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Journal, Fall 2017
Theresa E. Rusnak and James Holahan, “Increasing State and Local Government Activism Creates Compliance Minefield,” New York Law Journal, February 27, 2017
The Impact of Legalized Marijuana on New York State Employers, CNY SHRM, April 15, 2021
NYS Paid Sick Leave, Greater Rochester Chamber HR Professional Forum, February 9, 2021
Recruiting in a Pandemic, Professional Recruiters of Rochester, January 28, 2021
Panelist, Employment Litigation in the Wake of COVID-19, NYSBA, January 22, 2021
New York Paid Sick Leave: Impact for Employers, MACNY, September 15, 2020
The Impact of the New State Sick Leave Law for New York Employers, CNY SHRM, July 29, 2020
COVID-19 In the Workplace: Where We Are and Where We Are Headed, Monroe County Bar Association, May 7, 2020
2019 Legal Update, Finger Lakes Tourism Association, January 28, 2020
2019 Legal Update, Thompkins County SHRM, January 22, 2020
2019 Legal Update, GAPA, November 25, 2019
2019 Legal Update, Southern Tier Human Resources Association Crossover Event, November 6, 2019
2019 Legal Update, JSEC, October 24, 2019
Gender Identity in the Workplace, Human Resources Association of the Twin Tiers, October 10, 2019
Gender Identity in the Workplace, Rochester Chapter of the National Human Resources Association, September 10, 2019
“Marijuana: Impacts on the Workplace,” QUEST HR, June 27, 2019
"Marijuana: Impacts on the Workplace,” ARC Collaborative, May 8, 2019
“Preventing Sexual Harassment in an Evolving Legal and Cultural Landscape,” New York State Rotary Club Chapter Meeting, April 14, 2019
"Sexual Harassment in Not-for-Profit organizations," Multi District President Elect Training Seminar, March 15, 2019
“Training The Trainer: Everything You Need to Know for the New Harassment Training Required by Law,” Central New York SHRM, January 24, 2019
“New York’s Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Requirements,” GAPA Human Resource Association, November 7, 2018
“9 to 5 No More: Regulating Employee Off- Duty Conduct,” New York State Public Housing Authority Association, October 24, 2018
“2018 Legal Update, GAPA Human Resource Association,” October 8, 2018
“Continuing Paid Family Leave,” Independent Bankers Association, June 12, 2018
“Navigating Sexual Harassment in an Evolving Legal and Cultural Landscape,” Manufacturing Association of Central New York, May 5, 2018
“New York Paid Family Leave: Are You Ready?” New York State Automobile Dealers Association, February 22, 2018
“Sexual Harassment After Harvey Weinstein: Options for Navigating and Evolving Legal Landscape,” New York State Automobile Dealers Association, January 11, 2018
“New York Paid Family Leave: Top Five Tricky Issues,” Job Service Employer Committee, Inc., October 18, 2017
Theresa represents her employer clients in a wide range of legal matters and counsels them in all aspects of labor and employment law. She is a valued advisor to her clients and has earned recognition by Best Lawyers in America and Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars in the areas of labor and employment.
Theresa provides employers with the following services:
Theresa represents her employer clients in a wide range of legal matters and counsels them in all aspects of labor and employment law. She is a valued advisor to her clients and has earned recognition by Best Lawyers in America and Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars in the areas of labor and employment.
Theresa provides employers with the following services:
Representing employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, New York State Division of Human Rights, the Administrative Review Board, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor and federal/state courts.
Counseling employers to assist in compliance with federal and state employment leave laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the New Paid Family Leave, the New York Paid Sick Leave Act and other leave laws, as well as harassment, discrimination, disability accommodation and retaliation laws.
Conducting investigations for employers to investigate potential internal wrongdoing, ranging from harassment and discrimination to fraud, theft and other legal and policy violations.
Training for employees/supervisors on topics such as sexual harassment prevention, workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation, diversity and inclusion, prevention of OSHA retaliation claims, common wage and hour concerns, drugs and alcohol in the workplace, and workplace violence.
Some of Theresa’s recent matters include:
Representing a national logistics company in multiple wage and hour audits by the Department of Labor, with no violations found.
Obtaining a dismissal of retaliation claims before OSHA for a national transportation company.
Investigation of an Executive Director of a multistate non-profit organization.
Creation of an employment handbook for a financial institution operating in 30+ states.
Prevailing in a National Labor Relations Board union election at a power and electric entity.
Obtaining a dismissal of a class action federal court litigation involving failure to pay overtime claims for a healthcare entity.
Theresa is also a member of the firm’s Health Care practice, where she focuses on assisting fiscal intermediaries with the consumer directed personal assistance programs on the labor and employment matters particular to those entities, including wage and hour issues, joint employment and policy compliance.
"Restrictions and Rewards: Employer use of Non-Competition and Retention Agreements," Rochester Business Journal, August 3, 2022
"New York Publishes Final Paid Sick Leave Regulations," Building the Southern Tier: Official Publication of the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier, 2022
"New York Publishes Final Paid Sick-Leave Regulations," Central New York Business Journal, January 10, 2022
"IRS Updates American Rescue Plan Act Guidance," Central New York Business Journal, August 23, 2021
Quoted, "Cuomo’s No Stranger to Scandal: Why is This Moment Different?," syracuse.com, August 6, 2021
"COVID-19 Vaccinations: Can Private Sector Employers Require Employees To Be Vaccinated?," nsyba.org, February 4, 2021
"DOL Issues Temporary Regulations on Families First Coronavirus Response Act," Central New York Business Journal, April 17, 2020
Theresa E. Rusnak and Tyler T. Hendry, "Survey: Labor and Employment Law," Syracuse Law Review, Spring 2019
Theresa E. Rusnak and James Holahan, “No Help Wanted: The Regulation and Elimination of Retail Positions,” New York Law Journal, February 26, 2018
“How Do You Spell P-A-I-D F-A-M-I-L-Y L-E- A-V-E?: An Exploration of New York’ s Paid Family Leave Act,” New York State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Journal, Fall 2017
Theresa E. Rusnak and James Holahan, “Increasing State and Local Government Activism Creates Compliance Minefield,” New York Law Journal, February 27, 2017
The Impact of Legalized Marijuana on New York State Employers, CNY SHRM, April 15, 2021
NYS Paid Sick Leave, Greater Rochester Chamber HR Professional Forum, February 9, 2021
Recruiting in a Pandemic, Professional Recruiters of Rochester, January 28, 2021
Panelist, Employment Litigation in the Wake of COVID-19, NYSBA, January 22, 2021
New York Paid Sick Leave: Impact for Employers, MACNY, September 15, 2020
The Impact of the New State Sick Leave Law for New York Employers, CNY SHRM, July 29, 2020
COVID-19 In the Workplace: Where We Are and Where We Are Headed, Monroe County Bar Association, May 7, 2020
2019 Legal Update, Finger Lakes Tourism Association, January 28, 2020
2019 Legal Update, Thompkins County SHRM, January 22, 2020
2019 Legal Update, GAPA, November 25, 2019
2019 Legal Update, Southern Tier Human Resources Association Crossover Event, November 6, 2019
2019 Legal Update, JSEC, October 24, 2019
Gender Identity in the Workplace, Human Resources Association of the Twin Tiers, October 10, 2019
Gender Identity in the Workplace, Rochester Chapter of the National Human Resources Association, September 10, 2019
“Marijuana: Impacts on the Workplace,” QUEST HR, June 27, 2019
"Marijuana: Impacts on the Workplace,” ARC Collaborative, May 8, 2019
“Preventing Sexual Harassment in an Evolving Legal and Cultural Landscape,” New York State Rotary Club Chapter Meeting, April 14, 2019
"Sexual Harassment in Not-for-Profit organizations," Multi District President Elect Training Seminar, March 15, 2019
“Training The Trainer: Everything You Need to Know for the New Harassment Training Required by Law,” Central New York SHRM, January 24, 2019
“New York’s Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Requirements,” GAPA Human Resource Association, November 7, 2018
“9 to 5 No More: Regulating Employee Off- Duty Conduct,” New York State Public Housing Authority Association, October 24, 2018
“2018 Legal Update, GAPA Human Resource Association,” October 8, 2018
“Continuing Paid Family Leave,” Independent Bankers Association, June 12, 2018
“Navigating Sexual Harassment in an Evolving Legal and Cultural Landscape,” Manufacturing Association of Central New York, May 5, 2018
“New York Paid Family Leave: Are You Ready?” New York State Automobile Dealers Association, February 22, 2018
“Sexual Harassment After Harvey Weinstein: Options for Navigating and Evolving Legal Landscape,” New York State Automobile Dealers Association, January 11, 2018
“New York Paid Family Leave: Top Five Tricky Issues,” Job Service Employer Committee, Inc., October 18, 2017
