As a company owner, you naturally want to do everything within your power to minimize the business’s exposure to risk. Employee lawsuits, unfortunately, can impact that goal and even threaten business continuity.
These lawsuits can be inspired by several situations. The employee might complain that they are being harassed or discriminated against, or accuse you of violating state or federal laws. Even if you have a small contingency fund for this type of situation, protracted litigation can rapidly consume these resources and prevent you from maintaining profitability or even running your company effectively.
While there is no way to completely eliminate risk when it comes to employee-driven litigation, there are three steps you can take right now to give your company the best possible protection.
Develop a Comprehensive Employee Training Program
One of the best ways to reduce lawsuit risk is to create and maintain a safe and congenial work environment. All managers and employees must be trained on local, state, and federal employment law as it pertains to them and the workplace, preferably on an annual basis, as labor and employment law can change quite rapidly. This level of training will help ensure that your staff understands the laws and policies they are required to follow.
Enforce Your Workplace Policies
Many lawsuits arise from instances where one employee harassed another and the company owner failed to act on the resulting complaints. Lower your risk of liability due to employee misconduct by establishing clear policies against sexual harassment, discrimination, and other misbehavior, and enforcing them whenever you receive a complaint. Make it crystal clear that if improper or illegal activity takes place, the company will not tolerate it.
Consult With an Experienced Florida Business Law Attorney
You will save yourself time, money, and stress by retaining a labor and employment law attorney to periodically go over your employment-related practices. Look for a law firm that has experience with business litigation issues in your state and can review your hiring and training documentation for any potential hazards. Retaining an attorney to take these preventative measures can be a lot less expensive than hiring them later to defend against an employee lawsuit.
You spend a lot of time and money establishing your business and bringing it to the point that it is sustaining a workforce and realizing a profit. Investing in professional legal guidance can go a long way towards preventing a potentially disastrous lawsuit.
Do you have questions about your existing policies and procedures? Are you concerned about wage issues or employment contracts? Let us help. To schedule a consultation to discuss your business concerns, call Trembly Law at (305) 431-5678 today.
