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Sometimes businesses over complicate things for themselves. How? By using employment agreements and policies that may seem OK to a layperson but that make employment lawyers blanch. Or swear. Or shake their fists at the sky screaming, “Why, Lord, Why?!”

Every business is different — but the majority of employers would benefit from spending time with their legal counsel to review their basic employment documents.  These documents are what I call “The Fantastic Four”. Continue reading The Fantastic Four – Four Documents that All Employers Should Consider

Small business owners, you may be the most vulnerable to harassment and discrimination suits right now. Why? Because you have employees but aren’t big enough to have a human resources department — and you feel that you are too busy trying to run your business to flesh out every rumor that you hear about employee complaints.  This is where you put your business at risk.

Harassment and discrimination are wrong and must be eradicated.  Period.  But there are some employees who are attempting to use the specter of a harassment claim as job insurance or an unearned payday.  This behavior is as egregious as harassment and has to be stopped – which brings me to my mantra: Continue reading Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant

I’m bothered by the unnecessary complexity of employment laws.  Solution?  We harness the awesome power of reality TV to kick Congress into gear.  The revolution will be televised.

Hat tip to past generations for leveling the playing field in the workplace.  Honestly. Well done. But, anyone who has gotten woozy drinking from the alphabet soup of employment laws (FLSA, GINA, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, OWBPA, etc.) knows that they may feel good at first, but leave a nasty hangover.  The laws and regulations can be conflicting, impractical, and productivity-stifling.  It is a morass.  I don’t mind complexity – but it has become tortuous.  Even the most competent, saintly, business people do not have a snowballs chance in hell of being 100% compliant.  And that is just not fair. Continue reading The Real Congress Members of DC: Solving Employment Law Problems through Reality TV

Too many handbooks are written in a style popularized by bewigged and pompous barristers who practiced law circa 1791. This can cause employees to tune out.

When I read poorly drafted handbooks, I am reminded of the angst that I felt while reading Chaucer in college (full apologies to Dr. Gillin who was a great teacher and a lovely man). I recall sitting in class while Dr. Gillin read us a description of the Prioress in The Canterbury Tales.  One “helpful” phrase that Chaucer used to describe the Prioress was: Continue reading Chaucer, the Prioress, her Lip, and your Employee Handbook

Business owners and managers approach lawyers with complex problems. The lawyer lays out the options and related risks and the business decides which path it thinks is best.

During these discussions, it is easy to focus on the path to  the point that one loses sight of the goal. Without a clear goal in mind, there is little chance of choosing the correct path. Continue reading We’re Smiling at Each Other and Shaking Hands – What has Just Happened?