Biography
Jean E. Novak has been with Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky (SMGG) since 2002 and is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Employer-Employee Relations practice. Ms. Novak brings practical, business-oriented solutions to labor and employment challenges.
Ms. Novak’s years of private and in-house practice have focused in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and education. She has trained business managers and owners on a variety of subjects including policy development, discrimination, and talent management trends.
Ms. Novak has litigated cases in state and federal courts and has represented clients before numerous agencies including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Labor Relations Board, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights, the U.S and Pennsylvania Departments of Education, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
In addition to her administrative and litigation expertise, Ms. Novak has represented both businesses and executives in a variety of employment matters, including successful resolution of discrimination and overtime disputes. She has also negotiated severance agreements and executive contracts.
Jean is proud to be part be an adjunct professor of law at her alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She is teaching Wages, Hours and Benefits in the University’s Human Resources Law Online Graduate Certificate Program.
As part of her commitment to training tomorrow’s leaders, Jean has served as Distinguished Service Professor (Adjunct) at Duquesne University’s John F. Donahue Graduate School of Business where she has taught Ethical Decision Making. She has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh and at Chatham University.
Prior to attending law school, Jean, who majored in finance as an undergraduate and graduate, was a tax analyst for the West Virginia Department of Revenue, where one of her duties was tracking domestic and international business trends.
Professional Affiliations
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Medical Marijuana and Hemp Committee, Charter Member, Chair, former Vice Chair
- Women in the Law Division Council, former Member
- Lean In Committee, former Chair
- Arts and the Law Committee, former Chair
- Workers’ Compensation Section
- Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Workers’ Compensation Section
- American Bar Association
- Labor and Employment Section
Community Activities
- Mount Washington Community Development Corporation Board of Directors (Second Term)
- Governance Committee member
- Emerald View Park and Sustainability Committee
- Party on the Mount RAMP – certified (Responsible Alcohol Management Program) Volunteer Server
- Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Board of Directors and HR Committee
- Chatham Village Homes Co-Op
- Sojourner House Board of Directors, (former)
- Governance Committee, Chair
- HR Advisor
- Junior League of Pittsburgh
- Sustainer
- Past President
- Project Director (former)
- Community Assessment and Development Director (former)
- Thrift Shop Co-Chair (former)
- Unseam’d Shakespeare Theatre Co. Board of Directors (former)
- ProArts Board of Directors (former)
Publications
From Our Blog
- Vaccine Mandate UPDATE
November 5, 2021
- The Federal Vaccine Mandate Is Here!
November 4, 2021
- ALLEGHENY COUNTY EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE PAID SICK LEAVE
September 16, 2021
- PITTSBURGH EMPLOYERS – TIME TO CHECK YOUR COVID LEAVE POLICIES
July 28, 2021
- CLIENT ALERT – ICYMI: Employer Workshops for Pennsylvania’s New Unemployment Compensation System
May 7, 2021
- CLIENT ALERT – Independent Contractor Rule
May 6, 2021
- CLIENT ALERT – Independent Contractor Rule Change Delayed
February 22, 2021
- REMINDER – PITTSBURGH PAID SICK DAYS ACT
May 12, 2020
- PPP Loan – Hiring Back Employees by June 30 to Get the PPP Loan Forgiven*
May 7, 2020
- PITTSBURGH PAID SICK DAYS ACT
March 19, 2020
- COVID-19 AND EMPLOYMENT – EMPLOYMENT LAWS
March 18, 2020
- YOUR BUSINESS AND COVID-19 – General
March 17, 2020
- FLSA Overtime Exemptions To Go Into Effect January 1, 2020
October 14, 2019
- POLICIES TO UPDATE NOW – SEXUAL HARASSMENT
March 9, 2018
- New Year, New Issues
February 1, 2018
- Using Mindfulness to Enhance Your HR Function – Recruiting
March 6, 2017
- Using Mindfulness to Enhance Your HR Function – Introduction
March 6, 2017
- CLIENT ALERT: NEW YEAR, NEW I-9
December 29, 2016
- CLIENT ALERT – OVERTIME LITIGATION UPDATE
December 2, 2016
- CLIENT ALERT – OVERTIME REGULATION CHANGE HALTED (FOR NOW)
November 26, 2016
- Taking The Dread Out of Year-End Evaluations
October 20, 2016
- They’re (ALMOST) Here! New Overtime Rules Take Effect December 1st
October 17, 2016
- NEW OVERTIME RULES – DON’T PANIC
June 8, 2016
- Workplace Violence: Have a Plan
December 7, 2015
