Employment law is in place to deal with the relationships between employees and their employers. There are strict rules on how employees should be treated and what is expected from both parties within the workplace.
Although employment law may seem to lean toward the employee, these laws can protect an employer. As they prepare and implement policies, contracts and severance packages, business owners can use the advice of an employment lawyer to make sure they comply with the current legislation. It makes the business run more efficiently and lessens the chance of a successful lawsuit against an employer.
Here are six ways employment law can benefit employers.
Best Practices Documentation
Having the right documentation for all employees is the best way to protect an employer from disputes in this working relationship. Let’s go over these four documents:
Employment Offer
The first thing an employer should give is an offer letter. This starts the negotiations and states what the job responsibilities are, the salary and any benefits, company details and conditions of employment.
Employee Agreement
For employment in your company, you should have an employment agreement signed by the employees. This legally binds both parties to uphold what is stated in the document, including wages, benefits, non-disclosure protection, and termination policies. This also provides security and protection and starts the employment relationship positively.
Employee Handbook
All businesses should have a working and evolving handbook outlining the company’s mission statement and values and detailed procedures and employer expectations. It should also list the employee’s rights and responsibilities while working for the company.
Termination Document
A company needs to have a robust termination letter that clearly states the steps involved in the termination of employment. It should include reasons for termination and the date it is effective, as well as reminders of confidentiality, return of company property, compensation and release of any benefits.
Employee Protection
As a business owner, you want to have happy, productive workers. By following employment law guidelines, you create a cohesive environment where they feel valued and are more likely to produce for you.
When you protect and compensate your employees fairly, you are much less likely to experience legal problems because your workers are happy. These employment law regulations outline minimum pay regarding qualifications, experience and employment conditions, and other benefits to retain your workers. All these incentives create a workforce that helps your business thrive.
Lawsuit Protection
An employer needs to be protected from being sued for harassment, workplace violence, wrongful dismissal, or discrimination. They need to have a comprehensive employment contract to clarify these incidents and avoid misinterpretations of their employment and how employees are protected. A qualified employment lawyer will have the expertise to draft contracts to protect employers from potential lawsuits.
Government Compliance
Knowledge is power, and understanding employment law will protect employers. Every business owner needs to comply with employment law when hiring staff.
Understanding what rights employees have and abiding by them will be crucial if there are any disputes down the road, and upholding these laws makes it easier for businesses to expand while increasing their workforce.
Company Growth
Successful companies can handle growth and structure their expansion with great employee relations. As a company expands its business, many changes occur, including new hires and promotions of existing staff. Some lateral movements may also occur with employees, and all this change needs to go smoothly.
Understanding employment law greatly assists in restructuring and modifying contracts and providing different benefits and wages that reflect these changes. Knowing how to successfully negotiate with employees and ensure that new contracts are solid will protect the employer as they grow. Building a team of professionals to handle the legal requirements is also vital to success.
Dealing With Employee Disputes
At some point, most companies have to deal with disputes for their employees. It could be that you are not satisfied with their performance or bullying and harassment between workers and management. In these cases, you must conduct an investigation, working with your HR department to discover what exactly I am going on. From there, you can take action according to your company’s code of conduct and employment law.
If you are downsizing and reducing hours or letting employees go, it is within your legal right to do so. You must, however, honour your employment contracts and follow the law concerning your employee negotiations. You will have to deal with disgruntled employees, and they may dispute your actions and take legal action. Ensure you have proper legal representation to ensure you have followed all employment standards laws.
Operating a business isn’t easy, and it becomes even more complicated when you bring on employees. It is your responsibility to take care of them, and by following employment laws, you are also protecting yourself at the same time.
