Avoiding "Common Employer Pitfalls"
In Case You Missed It

Talk about employer pitfalls.

That's exactly what Emplicity did at its headquarters during a free lunch & learn workshop on July 20. The workshop, titled "Common Employer Pitfalls Employers," featured special guest speaker Jeff Thurrell of Fisher & Phillips LLP, Attorneys at Law.

Guests learned from industry experts about issues employers face, including:

• Top mistakes managers make, such as unlawful terminations, improper documentation
• What to do when an employee screams harassment
• How to handle whistle-blowers, aka "tattle-tales"
• Wage and hour traps: meal & break periods, when to pay salary or hourly
• Dilemmas of overtime exemptions
• The "myth of at-will employment" and superseding policies such as discrimination, privacy rights and your right to complain of unlawful conduct

A Higher Standard for Hiring
Are you worried that an employee's actions might put your business at risk? The workshop also featured tips on how to minimize the chance of this predicament before it occurs. Guests learned several areas that businesses need to focus on when hiring employees, including:

• Utilize a thorough screening checklist of candidate positives and negatives
• Take the necessary time to conduct a comprehensive 2-3 hour interview
• Complete an effective reference check of ALL past supervisors for the last 15 years of employment.

Laughing Your Way Into a Lawsuit
Did you know that in the 2001 case of Swinton vs. Potomac Corp., $1 million in punitive damages were awarded because the company's manager laughed at racial slurs and jokes? It's true, and those who joined us at our workshop also learned tips on reducing the chance of a lawsuit-environment in the workplace, including:

• Be wary of the "walking lawsuit" - insubordinate employees and employees who regularly view themselves as victims
• Have a standard practice of "writing up" or reporting employees for misconduct or performance problems - if you don't document it, it didn't happen!

Emplicity's free workshop also featured a sensational lunch provided by Peppino's. A warm thank you to them and to everyone who joined us for this fun and informative workshop.

And there's more to learn! Be sure to register for Emplicity's upcoming recruiting workshop. Stay tuned for further details.

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