Employment & Labor

Nonprofits operate under the same employment laws as any other employer, but with leaner HR capacity, tighter margins, and a workforce that often includes a mix of employees, independent contractors, interns, and volunteers. When something goes wrong, the legal and reputational exposure can be significant.

Commonlight Legal advises established nonprofit organizations across Connecticut, D.C., Massachusetts, and New York on the full range of employment and labor matters. Our approach is practical and preventive: helping you build the policies, classifications, and processes that reduce risk before it becomes a problem — and advising you clearly when it does.

What makes our employment practice different: Alex Booker has counseled nonprofits on employment law from a vantage point few attorneys can claim. He has decided federal employment cases as an attorney advisor at the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board; litigated whistleblower, wage and hour, and civil rights claims on behalf of workers and unions; and advised or represented public employers. That background means he understands how employment disputes develop, and what it takes to prevent them.

• We advise on:

  • Employee classification and wage and hour compliance

  • Hiring, discipline, and termination

  • Employment policies and employee handbooks

  • Independent contractors, interns, and volunteers

  • Workplace investigations and risk mitigation

  • Multi-jurisdictional employment compliance (CT, DC, MA, NY)

  • Executive compensation and separation agreements