Practice Areas
PARALEGAL
Admissions - Oklahoma, 1982
- U.S. District Courts for the Western, Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Education - J.D., with honors, The Ohio State University, 1982 (Editor, The Ohio State Law Journal)
- B.B.A., Southern Methodist University, 1979
Professional Organizations and Memberships - Tulsa County Bar Association
- Oklahoma Bar Association (Labor Council)
- American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Employers Counsel Network
Civic Involvement and Leadership - Circle Cinema Foundation (Board of Directors)
- Planned Parenthood of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma, Inc. (Board of Directors)
- The Booker T. Washington Foundation (Former Member, Board of Directors)
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Charles S. PlumbShareholder
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BIOGRAPHYCharlie Plumb represents management in all phases of employment law and labor relations. Much of his practice is dedicated to counseling employers on compliance with a broad range of state and federal employment laws and regulations and educating management on best practices for avoiding disputes arising from the employer/employee relationship. He also has extensive litigation experience before federal and state courts, regulatory and administrative agencies, and in arbitration matters involving claims of discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliatory discharge, breach of contract, and constitutional law violations.
As part of his labor practice, Charlie represents unionized employers in collective bargaining negotiations with labor unions, arbitrates grievances, and defends management against a variety of claims before the National Labor Relations Board and Department of Justice and in state and federal courts. He also represents employers who seek to maintain a non-unionized workforce by counseling management on union avoidance strategies and by providing training and advice to management and supervisors. His clients include numerous municipalities throughout Oklahoma and companies engaged in the manufacturing and distribution, construction, energy, public utility, technology and business services industries.
Charlie has previously served as leader of the firm's Labor and Employment Group, one of the largest of its kind in the region. He is a member of the American Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section and the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Labor Council. He is also the designated representative of McAfee & Taft as the exclusive member firm representing Oklahoma in the Employers Counsel Network, a nationwide affiliation of leading law firms providing legal assistance and representation to employers.
Charlie is a frequent speaker and author on workplace issues. He is also co-editor of the Oklahoma Employment Law Letter, a monthly review of new court decisions, regulations and laws that affect state employers, as well as co-editor for the Oklahoma section of the annual guidebook for employers and human resources professionals, 50 Employment Laws in 50 States.
Charlie’s achievements have earned him inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (employment law – management; labor law – management; labor and employment litigation), Oklahoma Super Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation and Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business, where he has been lauded as “an impressive public speaker who utilizes his vast experience to effectively defend clients.” Researchers at Chambers & Partners also quoted market observers as admiring him for his “practicality of advice and specialized knowledge of complex legal issues,” with sources commenting that he “immediately commands respect, is always up to date and knows how to handle a problem.” He was named "Best Lawyers' 2012 Tulsa Labor and Employment Litigation Lawyer of the Year," an honor only given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each community.
ATTORNEY ARTICLES
- LABOR LAW UPDATE » Pro-union poster rule strikes outEmployerLINC Law Alert - May 8, 2013
- New I-9 form means good time to review your hiring processEmployerLINC Employment Law Update - March 12, 2013
- Court enforces agreement to arbitrateEmployerLINC.com - February 8, 2013
- Limits on reemployment rights under USERRAEmployerLINC.com - January 22, 2013
- Psychological injuries without physical injuries are not compensableEmployerLINC.com - January 15, 2013
- Employee Rights: NLRB attacks employer's right to keep investigation confidentialOklahoma Employment Law Letter - September 2012
- Gavel to Gavel: Chicken and stitchesThe Journal Record - July 12, 2012
- Prohibited hiring trumps retaliation claimOklahoma Employment Law Letter - July 2012
- Reasonable Accommodations: Working at home and additional leave time unreasonableOklahoma Employment Law Letter - July 2012
- Unemployment Benefits: Real world tips on fighting unemployment claimsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - July 2012
- Employment Law Update » Under Oklahoma’s new ‘Open Carry’ law, employers can still keep workplace gun-freeMcAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Employment Law Update - May 16, 2012
- FMLA retaliation or rightful discharge?Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - May 2012
- Employment Law Update » Pro-union poster back on hold (again)McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Employment Law Update - April 18, 2012
- Employment Law Update » Point/Counterpoint: Why two labor posters are better than oneMcAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Employment Law Update - April 5, 2012
- Employer Rights: Limits place on EEOC subpoenasOklahoma Employment Law Letter - March 2012
- Employer Liability: If you don't have anything nice to say...Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - March 2012
- No reinstatement if you can’t do the workOklahoma Employment Law Letter - March 2012
- Corporate Liability: When is a parent responsible for its sub?Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - January 2012
- 'This is why you were fired'Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - October 2011
- NLRB releases report on social media casesMcAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Employment Law Update - August 23, 2011
- Emotional distress claims: a future trend?Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - August 2011
- Unionizing employers is about to get easierMcAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Labor Law Update - June 22, 2011
- Whistle-blowing and wrongful discharge claimsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - June 2011
- Disabilities: The expansion of disability lawsuitsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - April 2011
- Settlement reached in lawsuit involving firing over employee’s Facebook® commentsMcAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Employment Law Update - February 23, 2011
- Gavel to Gavel: Employers and ‘in-your-face’ FacebookThe Journal Record - February 17, 2011
- Did I use my outside voice?Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - February 2011
- Employer Retaliation: Here they come — increased retaliation claimsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - February 2011
- Confidential Information: Theft of personal information is a wake-up call for employerOklahoma Employment Law Letter - February 2011
- Covenant not to compete: Hiring competitors' employeesOklahoma Employment Law Letter - November 2010
- You're hiring someone's employee?The Journal Record - October 21, 2010
- Employment Practices: Employment letters, handbooks, and promises — oh, my!Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - September 2010
- Strengthening arbitration agreementsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - September 2010
- Union Organizing: Union logos, fliers, and disciplineOklahoma Employment Law Letter - July 2010
- Protected activity: No retaliation claim when employee ‘goes off’Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - May 2010
- Employee classification: Watch out — Oklahoma follows IRS’ leadOklahoma Employment Law Letter - March 1, 2010
- FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE » Riding herd on FMLA abuse in 2010Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - February 1, 2010
- ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES » The long reach of EEOC subpoenasOklahoma Employment Law Letter - January 1, 2010
- Employee Handbook: Handbook disclaimer winsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - January 1, 2010
- The Changing Face of Employment Disability Law@Law Magazine - December 1, 2009
- Retaliation: What did you know, and when did you know it?Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - November 1, 2009
- LAYOFFS » Reductions In Force: The Importance of Keeping Your Story StraightOklahoma Employment Law Letter - September 2009
- Reasonable accommodation: Returning to work and the interactive processOklahoma Employment Law Letter - September 2009
- Age discrimination: America’s pastimeOklahoma Employment Law Letter - August 2009
- Pensions and retirement benefits: Layoffs, severance, and wage claimsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - July 2009
- National origin discrimination: He doesn’t talk like usOklahoma Employment Law Letter - May 2009
- Employer retaliation: Workplace witness protectionOklahoma Employment Law Letter - March 2009
- Union Organizing: Here come the unionsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - February 2009
- Workers’ compensation: Three-year absence? Time to terminateOklahoma Employment Law Letter - January 2009
- Eavesdropping Employer CaughtOklahoma Employment Law Letter - December 1, 2008
- Military Service: Don't delay reemploying returning military membersOklahoma Employment Law Letter - October 2008
- Oklahoma vs. Federal Drug Testing StandardsOklahoma Employment Law Letter - September 1, 2008
IN THE NEWS
- Interactive process necessary to ADA accommodationsThe Oklahoman - May 23, 2013
- ‘Government Gone Wild’ seminar draws record numbers
- Undocumented workers gain protection under wage lawsThe Oklahoman - April 25, 2013
- Arbitration quicker, less costly alternative for employersThe Oklahoman - March 28, 2013
- Oklahoma workers’ compensation laws differ for psychological injuriesThe Oklahoman - January 22, 2013
- McAfee & Taft to host webinar on the rising costs of misclassifying independent contractors
- Employment attorney weighs in on risks of office lottery poolsThe Oklahoman - April 8, 2012
- Reinstatement can be denied after leave, law expert saysThe Oklahoman - April 6, 2012
- Nonunionized employers need to pay attention to NLRBHR Hero Line - October 17, 2011
- Tools for drug testingThe Journal Record - July 21, 2011
- Proposed labor rules would make unionizing faster, easierThe Oklahoman - June 28, 2011
- Courts beginning to accept obesity as a disabilityThe Oklahoman - April 26, 2011
- Attorneys in Oklahoma expect workplace investigations to riseThe Oklahoman - February 6, 2011
- Holiday season shines light on workplace alcohol issuesThe Journal Record - November 30, 2010
- More government ‘boots’ are on the groundTulsa Business Journal - June 3, 2010
- Employers can take steps to quash union organizingThe Oklahoman - April 27, 2010
- Lawyers offer advice on employment law changesThe Journal Record - March 23, 2009
- Charlie Plumb interviewed about recent Shirazi decision by Oklahoma Supreme CourtThe Journal Record - March 3, 2009
- New FMLA regulations further define ‘serious illness’The Journal Record - December 4, 2008
- Charles Plumb quoted in Journal Record cover story on employee drug testingThe Journal Record - September 25, 2008
AT THE PODIUM
- HR's Guide to Leave Management: How to Avoid Legal Headaches When Coordinating FMLA Leave presented at BLR/Employers Counsel Network National Webinar on May 9, 2013.
- Oklahoma Employment Law Update presented at EmployerLINC 2013: 'Government Gone Wild' on April 26, 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Misclassifying Independent Contractors presented at EmployerLINC 2013: 'Government Gone Wild' on April 26, 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Misclassifying Independent Contractors presented at EmployerLINC 2013: 'Government Gone Wild' on April 23, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Using Temporary and Leased Employees: Issues Concerning Co-Employment presented at Tulsa Area Employer Council on April 9, 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Social Media Challenges presented at Oklahoma Association of College and University Business Officers Fall Conference on November 9, 2012 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Updating Your Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy presented at Western Oklahoma Human Resources on November 8, 2012 in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
- Employment Law Outlook for 2013 and Beyond presented at 17th Annual Advanced Employment Issues Symposium on October 31, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- ADA-Safe Job Descriptions: HR’s How-To for Defining Essential Functions presented at BLR National Webinar on October 15, 2012.
- Employment Law Outlook for 2013 and Beyond presented at 17th Annual Advanced Employment Issues Symposium on October 3, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Americans with Disabilities Act: ADA Danger Zone presented at Oklahoma Municipal League Employment Seminar on July 13, 2012 in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
- ADA-Safe Job Descriptions: HR’s How-To for Defining Essential Functions presented at HR Hero National Webinar on June 6, 2012.
- A Practical Refresher on Hiring and Firing Best Practices presented at Western Oklahoma Human Resources Presentation on April 12, 2012 in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
- Avoiding the ADA Abyss — How to interactively accommodate, deal with employee drug use, and know when to use fit-for-duty evaluations presented at EmployerLINC 2012: ‘Adventures in HR’ on April 3, 2012 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Leave Management - How to Master the FMLA/ADA/Workers Compensation Web presented at HR Hero Virtual Conference on March 27, 2012.
- New (and better) Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules for Oklahoma Employers presented at Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce's B2B Breakfast on November 22, 2011 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
- Employment Law presented at The Legal Forum Radio Series on October 22, 2011.
- Upcoming Changes for Oklahoma Employers: Wrongful Discharge and Drug Testing presented at Muskogee Area Human Resources Association on October 17, 2011 in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
- Manage Your FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Comp and GINA Overlap presented at Advanced Employment Issues Symposium on October 6, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Employment Law Outlook for 2012 and Beyond presented at Advanced Employment Issues Symposium on October 6, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Survivor: Ethics and the Employment Jungle presented at Oklahoma Society of CPAs' Fall Industry Conference on September 23, 2011 in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
- Whistle-blowing, Retaliation and Employment Terminations presented at Oklahoma Society of CPA's Fall Conference on September 23, 2011 in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
- Fall Check-Up for Your Employee Handbook presented at Tulsa Area Employer Council on September 13, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Managing Social Media in the Workplace presented at Western Oklahoma Human Resources Association Meeting on September 8, 2011 in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma Employment Law Update presented at Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives on August 15, 2011.
- Advanced FMLA Management and Strategies presented at Tulsa Area Human Resources Association July Learning Lab on July 28, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Changes for Workplace Drug Testing in Oklahoma presented at Tulsa Metro Chamber HR Forum on July 20, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Advanced Challenges and Solutions for Employers presented at HR Hero 2011 Wage & Hour Virtual Summit (Online Interactive Conference) on June 16, 2011.
- Managing Social Media in the Workplace presented at OCUPA-HR Spring Drive-In Conference on May 17, 2011 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
- Government Crackdown on Wage & Hour Issues presented at EmployerLINC 2011 Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on April 26, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Government Crackdown on Wage & Hour Issues presented at EmployerLINC 2011 Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on April 20, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Now Hiring! presented at EmployerLINC Webcast on March 24, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- The IRS and the HR Relationship presented at Western Oklahoma Human Resource Organization on February 10, 2011 in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
- EmployerLINC Webcast: When the Feds Come Knocking presented at Legal Information, News and Commentary for Employers Webcast on January 25, 2011.
- What Employers Can Expect in 2011 presented at Tulsa Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association on January 18, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- What's New and Hot With the FMLA presented at 2010 Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Las Vegas on November 11, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- When the Feds Come Knockin' presented at Tulsa Area Employer Council on November 10, 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Regulatory Enforcement on the Rise: Avoiding Wage & Hour Traps and Surviving a DOL Audit presented at Fall 2010 Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar - Oklahoma City on October 20, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Violence in the Workplace presented at Fall 2010 Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar - Oklahoma City on October 20, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- What's New and Hot With the FMLA presented at 2010 Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Nashville on September 30, 2010.
- How to Terminate Legally presented at Spring 2010 Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on May 26, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Advanced FMLA Issues presented at HR Hero FMLA Master Class on May 26, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Employment Law Update presented at Spring 2010 Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on May 26, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- How to Terminate Legally presented at Spring 2010 Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on May 19, 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Employment Law Update presented at Spring 2010 Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on May 19, 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Investigating Conduct or Claims: Getting to the Truth and Making it Stick presented at Oklahoma City Metro Employer Council Meeting on April 20, 2010.
- How to Legally Terminate presented at Bartlesville Area Human Resources Association on April 8, 2010 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
- FMLA Compliance: Advanced Challenges and Solutions for Employers presented at HR Hero 2010 FMLA Compliance Virtual Summit on February 23, 2010.
- Overcoming the 8 Toughest Wage & Hour Problems: How to avoid DOL's ramped-up enforcement presented at Interactive HR Hero Audio Conference on November 19, 2009.
- Overcoming the 8 Toughest Wage & Hour Problems: How to Avoid DOL's Ramped-up Enforcement presented at Interactive HR Hero Audio Conference on November 19, 2009.
- What the New FMLA Regs and Future Leave Laws Mean for Employers presented at HR Hero Advanced Employment Issues Symposium on October 29, 2009.
- Recordkeeping Essentials presented at HR Hero Master Class on October 2, 2009.
- What the New FMLA Regs and Future Leave Laws Mean for Employers presented at HR Hero Advanced Employment Issues Symposium on September 17, 2009.
- Oklahoma Employers' ADA Master Class presented at HR Hero Master Class on May 12, 2009.
- Union Avoidance Virtual Summit presented at HR Hero Webinar on April 29, 2009.
- FMLA Notice and Medical Certification: How to Comply with New Regs presented on March 31, 2009.
FEATURED MEDIA
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