Overview
Very strong knowledge of the law... takes the time to really know the client and understand our business... Extremely effective at coming up with arguments and counterarguments... Well prepared, knowledgeable and a very good negotiator… one of the top traditional labor lawyers in the state
- Chambers USA 2017-2021
Robert "Bob" S. Turk is a Shareholder in the Firm and the Chair of the Labor & Employment Department. He also serves as a member of the Firm's Board of Directors. He practices in the areas of employment litigation, wage and hour representation, supervisory training, employment audits, equal employment opportunity claims, affirmative action, union avoidance, wrongful discharge, employment and union contracts, trade secrets contracts, non-competition agreements, employment policies, drug-free workplace policies and representation of unionized employers in collective bargaining.
Bob is a past Chair of the Labor & Employment Law Section of The Florida Bar and a past President of the Academy of Florida Management Attorneys. He is actively involved with the South Florida Hospitality Human Resources Association. He also lectures regularly to various legal and business groups.
Representative Experience
- Partners with clients on innovative changes to the workplace and restructuring of workforce.
- Defends employers in federal and state court on claims including: race, sex, national origin, disability, religion, pregnancy, and other protected categories.
- Defends employers in federal and state courts on wage and hour claims (individual and “class action”).
- Defends employers in state and federal courts on breach of contract claims, state discrimination claims, whistleblower and workers’ compensation retaliation.
- Defends employers before federal, state and local administrative enforcement agencies on a full range of employment-related claims.
- Drafts handbook and workplace policies, counsels employers regarding policy implementation.
- Regularly trains supervisors and employees on labor and employment laws and harassment-free workplace issues.
- Advises employers on unions corporate campaigns and on obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, and represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board.
- Negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of employers in the hospitality, healthcare and services industries.
- Song-writer: two “employment-related” song parodies (neither of which has made the pop charts).
Professional & Community Involvement
- Academy of Florida Management Attorneys (AFMA), Charter Member,
President 2011-2012 - TheDaveandMaryAlper Jewish Community Center,
- President 2011-2014
- Board of Directors 2003-2010, 2015, 2017-2019
- The Florida Bar, Labor and Employment Law Section, 1978-Present
- Chair, 2013-2014
- Chair-Elect, 2012-2013
- Secretary/Treasurer, 2011-2012
- Legal Education Director 2010 - 2011
- Executive Council, 1987-2001, 2008-2010, 2014-Present
- Certification Committee, 2000-2003
- Co-Chair, Wage and Hour Liaison Committee, 1994-1996
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Liaison, Chair 1988-1991
- Employment Law Alliance, Founding Member
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Committee, 1978-2009, 2016-Present
- Florida International University, Council of 100, 1990-2001
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Drug and Crime Prevention Legislative Committee, Chair, 1989-1995
- South Florida Hospitality Human Resources Association, 2001-Present
- Coconut Grove Playhouse, Board of Trustees 2000-2006
- "Florida Labor Law Newsletter," Editorial Review Board Member, 1997-2000
Recognition
- Chambers USA, Labor & Employment (Florida), Band 1, 2004-2022
- Global Guide, 2020-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2006-2023
- Lawyer of the Year Honoree, The Employment Law Issue, 2021
- Miami Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023
- Miami Litigation - Labor & Employment Lawyer of the Year, 2012, 2016
- Miami Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year, 2014
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2022
- Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite, 2004-2006; 2010; 2020
- Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star, 2018-2022
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020; 2023
- The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, Fellow, 2016-Present
- ALM – South Florida’s Top Rated Lawyer, Labor and Employment Law, 2013
- South Florida Legal Guide
- "Top Lawyers in Labor and Employment," 2010-2012
- "Top Lawyers in South Florida," 2005-2013
- South Florida Legal Guide
- "Heavy Hitter in Human Resources," 2004
- Key Partners Awards, Finalist Labor and Employment, 2008
- The Florida Bar
- Labor and Employment Law Section, Award of Excellence, 1992, 1993 and 2000
- Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Labor and Employment Law Section Continuing Legal Education Program, 1992 and 2001
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications & Presentations
Publications:
How Managers Can Curb Invisible Off-The-Clock Work Claims
Law360|March 2023
Publications:
Must an employee making more than $200k still be paid overtime? Definitely, maybe.
BeLabor the Point Blog|March 2023
Publications:
The Overwhelmed Employee and the Clueless Employer – A Tale of the Hidden Costs of Off-the-Clock Work
BeLabor the Point Blog|February 2023
Publications:
Bet You Didn’t Know What I Learned This Month!
BeLabor the Point Blog|January 2023
Publications:
I Took a Short Vacation and All I Got Was Changes to Federal Employment Laws
BeLabor the Point Blog|January 2023
Events:
Offer Letters And Employment Agreements, I Thought They Were Exempt From Overtime and I Metaverse And I Liked It – AI, VR And Robots
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2022 Annual Tallahassee Labor & Employment Law Seminar|November 2022
Events:
I Thought They Were Exempt From Overtime and I Metaverse And I Liked It – AI, VR And Robots
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2022 Annual Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar|October 2022
Events:
Our Staffing/Payroll Company Just Went Belly Up and I Metaverse And I Liked It – AI, VR And Robots
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2022 Annual Miami Labor & Employment Law Seminar|October 2022
Newsroom
Firm Announcements:
28 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2022
June 2022
Events, Firm Announcements, In the Media, Labor & Employment News Update, Publications:
Breaking Through the Noise: Labor & Employment Issues Post-Pandemic
Stearns Weaver Miller News Program Special|June 2021
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers Recognized in 2021 Florida Super Lawyers
June 2021
In the Media:
Hear from Marlins, Fisher Island and EEOC leaders about post-COVID labor issues
Miami Herald|June 2021
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Releases Innovative Program with Help from Award-Winning Journalist and Local Production Company
June 2021
Firm Announcements:
29 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2021
May 2021
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers Recognized in 2020 Florida Super Lawyers
June 2020
Firm Announcements:
24 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2020
April 2020