19. Navigating the Legal Potholes of Small Business with Attorney Maritza “Shay” Nelson

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a conversation with Maritza Shay Nelson, an employment law attorney who specializes in supporting small businesses and non-profit organizations. 

You might be thinking, “Sheesh! HR *and* Legal? Are you trying to bore me to death?” But I promise you’re going to love this conversation, because Shay and I had SO much fun and shared loads of laughs, along with valuable insights and advice.. 

We discussed the complexities of employment laws, where Shay emphasized the importance of having legal support to help you protect your business from potential lawsuits and reputation damage. 

We dove into an important conversation about the differences you need to know between hiring 1099 Independent Contractors and W-2 Employees, understanding Exempt vs. Non-Exempt compensation structures, as well as the legal challenges of hiring workers in multiple states. 

Shay highlighted the significance of being proactive in your business to avoid costly legal issues *and* creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and respected.

This episode is a must-listen for small business owners who want to navigate legal and HR issues proactively. It’s chock full of valuable insights and advice to help you protect yourself and your employees, while minimizing risks and avoiding legal pot holes along the way.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The differences between 1099 Independent Contractors and W-2 Employees.
• Understanding Exempt vs. Non-Exempt compensation structures.
• How to proactively avoid costly legal issues, lawsuits, and reputation damage.
• Unique challenges of navigating employment laws across multiple states.
• Potential costs (financial and otherwise) of dealing with lawsuits for small business owners.

Mentioned in This Episode: 

• MSN Law Office - https://www.msnlawoffice.com   
• Book with Shay - https://www.msnlawoffice.com/prospective-client-scheduling.html 
• Shay’s Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maritzasnelson/
• Shay’s Blog Post: Disclosing Salary Information, Nice to Do or Must Do? - https://www.msnlawoffice.com/blog/disclosing-salary-information 
• TIR Episode 18:  Legal Myths You Need to Know if You Have Employees with Alexis Tahinci - https://www.sprouthr.co/18