The old adage, “the best offense is a good defense” doesn’t just apply to sports, but to business as well. There are several steps an employer may take to avoid getting hit with discrimination charges or employee lawsuits, and to put your company in the best position if a suit is filed. We will discuss the basic policies, training and documents that every company should have in place, and how these can help fend off employee claims.
 

Like death and taxes, hiring and firing employees are two unavoidable aspects of being an employer. You can avoid the pitfalls of unexpected terminations and hiring needs by having set processes in place. On the “hiring” side, we will discuss self hiring vs. using temporary/placement agencies, and background checks; our “firing” topics will include firing the problem employee, unexpected terminations, and documentation.
 

Few employers have an attorney on site to consult with for routine employee matters. But getting counsel involved in the early stages of employment matters can head off bigger (and more costly) problems down the road. Do you know when to make that call? We will discuss how to spot the “red flags” that come up in unemployment claims, workers’ compensation claims, employee discipline and terminations, and discrimination charges, and when to get legal counsel involved.