Effective Procedures to Avoid Wrongful Termination Suits

• When dealing with employment, you should make sure that everything about your employment processes is in place. In other words, make sure that you’ve already prepared your employment contracts before hiring employees. Take note of the important information that should be included in the contract such as the employee’s position, salary, date employed, employment status and terms and conditions of termination.

• If you’re uncertain about the legalities of the contract, have these documents reviewed by the company attorney. That way, your lawyer can see to it that your agreements are drafted under the law.

• Also, don’t forget to check your company handbook and manuals. If you don’t have existing ones, create your company policies and be clear always when it comes to the rules and regulations to be followed for termination.

• Refrain from distributing these materials without scrutinizing them properly. Make sure that you update all information in your company handbook and manuals.

• Aside from policies and regulations, ensure that all agreements you’ve entered with your employees are put into writing. Keep detailed records of everything concerning your employee’s status of employment and even performance evaluations.

• When it comes to your supervisors, giving them the appropriate training about employment practices and workplace policies can go a long way to avoid the possibility of facing wrongful termination lawsuits.

• Take note that one way of preventing termination suits from happening is to provide your employees with proper orientation and training. If your company policies and other employment terms and conditions are communicated to your employees, you’re doing the right thing. That way, your employee, when terminated for a just cause, can no longer argue that he or she has been wrongfully terminated without due process.

• Follow the Law: In terminating an employee, following the law is fundamental. Make time to understand and familiarize yourself with your state’s employment laws. Be sure that you also obey your government’s employment guidelines so that you’ll know exactly what to do in legally dismissing your employee.

• Conduct Performance Evaluations Regularly: Remember that employers provide regular evaluations to check an employee’s work performance and to recommend areas of improvement. However, if you think of terminating an employee due to their inferior performance despite your earnest efforts, taking advantage of the results of performance appraisals can help you avoid termination suits.

• Make Use of Termination Protocols: Keep in mind that employment termination should be done with the observance of due process of law. In other words, specific steps should be followed before directly terminating an employee. If you don’t want to encounter expensive and lengthy termination lawsuits in the future, be mindful of the following termination protocols:

➔Be sure to notify your employees in writing about their regular performance appraisals. Do not just give verbal information about employment-related matters.