I’ve been writing the Your Personnel Matters column since 1997. I’ve come to know many of our readers personally and I hope I’ve been able to share sound advice, strategies and tools over that time.
Now that I have sold HRThatWorks and end my employment with ThinkHR, it’s time to do new things. I will be building Vistage HR Groups here in San Diego, doing workplace investigations, supporting ThinkHR consulting needs, continue speaking and I have a few more books up my sleeve. And more. No rest for the highly pumped up!
I finish with a few words of wisdom gathered from over 33 years as an employment attorney and risk consultant:
1. Following the law is not a maybe, it’s a must. I have no sympathy for employers who try to skirt around their legal obligations.2. Get EPLI coverage. Limit your risk exposures wherever possible. Get a high deductible if cost is a major concern. Buy a stand-alone policy.3. Don’t hire victims. Make sure managers take a checklist approach to hiring. Ask my favorite interview question: “What felt unfair to you at your last job?” Dig into their answers.4. Don’t ignore, bury or deny problems. Investigate them promptly and thoroughly. Best time to deal with a problem is right now!5. Don’t make things worse than they already are. Seek compromise and resolution…even if you feel you are “right”. If faced with a foe without reason then fight like hell and drag them before the court.6. Don’t give over control of litigation to the lawyers. Stay actively involved and make sure there is a well thought our game plan.7. Bring some joy, passion and fun to the workplace. Funny how those types of companies never seem to get sued!
And…remember this: people who trust each other don’t sue each other!
