This audio conference was recorded on Monday - May 4, 2009

Credits:

This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HRCI of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HRCI’s criteria to be pre-approved for recertification.

Description:

It’s rare that an employer announces “You’re fired!” in a manner that would do Donald Trump proud. More often than not, the message is couched in language like, “This just isn’t working out” or “We’ve given you several chances to improve…”

Softening the blow is a good start, but the harsh reality is that your word choice may not matter if the employee has already made up his or her mind to sue you. If you’re not careful about what you say and do in the weeks and months leading up to the termination, the damage may already be done.

The good news is that wrongful termination lawsuits are generally avoidable if you follow the employment laws that govern your workplace, act in a consistent manner when applying discipline, and keep an organized, detailed, and objective paper trail.

Order this in-depth 90-minute audio conference recording all about how to avoid wrongful termination lawsuits. Our expert – an experienced employment law attorney – will explain where the pitfalls lie and how to cast your safety net so that you don’t get snarled.

Speaker(s):

Kristine Kwong, Esq., is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. She is an experienced labor and employment law attorney who represents both private and public sector employers in federal and state courts throughout California in counseling and litigation. A prolific and sought-after trainer, Kwong regularly produces and presents training programs on current issues of employment law, particularly in the area of government-mandated programs such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, the California Family Rights Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

You and your colleagues will learn:

• The key employment statutes under which most wrongful termination lawsuits arise, with examples of how employers have violated those statutes - some without even knowing it
• How your written employment policy could actually be used against you
• Why at-will employment laws may actually preclude you from terminating someone even though the person doesn’t have a contract for employment
• A smart game plan for disciplining workers and the progressive disciplinary steps that usually win favor with the courts
• The proactive measures you can take to decrease the risk of a wrongful termination lawsuit against your organization
• The pretermination checklist you should always run through before making your final decision
• How to minimize your risk of being sued for retaliatory discharge by making one very important decision about who determines the worker’s fate
• How to draft an effective release of claims - and the legal limitations that could apply if you’re not careful about your wording