Employee Lawsuits Are on the Rise: HR Training Can Help You Take Control

Is the fear of an employee lawsuit so worrisome that you feel stifled? Or do you go overboard, giving workers more latitude than necessary? Managing employees is tricky, causing many employers anxiety as they simply hope for the best.

Rather than feeling like a victim of employment laws, business owners and managers need to become more knowledgeable and take control. Training can help you learn not just what you can’t do but, more important, what you can do.

Avoid Legal Trouble

Of course, your main priorities are running your business and serving your customers. But by carving out some time to learn about employment laws, you’ll have a better understanding of your rights and responsibilities. And this will help alleviate the stress of supervising workers.

You might be thinking, “Do I really need training? I’ve been supervising employees for years.” Or, “I only have a handful of employees. Do I really need to understand employment laws?” The fact is most managers don’t know what they don’t know. Employment laws are incredibly complex, and one accidental misstep can lead to a costly court case.

Consider this: The 2019 National Small Business Compliance Pulse Survey found that small business owners readily admit not fully understanding employment laws. In fact, only about one-in-four are “very confident” of being fully aware of employment law regulations at the federal (23%), state (26%) and city/county levels (29%). However, almost one half (48%) still feel “very confident” they are prepared for investigations and legal actions.

While lacking awareness of the laws, the majority of employers believe they are prepared to defend them. This disparity is troubling since small businesses are particularly vulnerable in a legal dispute, as they often have no HR or legal professional on staff.

Get Answers to Crucial Questions

Business owners and supervisors face employee management challenges every day. For example, do you know if you can legally:

• Ask about criminal history on a job application? (In many states, cities and counties you can’t.)
• Require new employees produce a U.S. passport to verify work eligibility? (No, you can’t require specific documents.)
• Make employees take FMLA leave all at once? (No, FMLA leave may be taken all at once or intermittently.)
• Refuse to pay a non-exempt employee for overtime because it wasn’t authorized? (No, you must pay non-exempt employees for all hours worked.)
• Ask a disabled worker to take a medical exam? (Yes, in certain situations.)
• Fire an alleged harasser without doing a comprehensive investigation? (This could make your business vulnerable to a wrongful termination lawsuit.)

Familiarizing yourself with issues like these — and the corresponding laws that come into play — puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to personnel issues.

Learn at Your Own Pace

So, what’s the best way to get started? Self-directed online training is the perfect option for busy professionals. You can complete courses as your schedule permits, with the option to pick up where you left off.

ComplyRight offers on demand HR training courses that cover all the essentials — from hiring and recordkeeping to setting policies, tracking time, and even how to fire. The training is completely free and includes additional tools, such as e-guides and tip sheets.

Start with General Legal Obligations for Employers. This first course breaks down the “alphabet soup” of federal laws that impact employers. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of your legal obligations and clear direction on how to stay compliant.

The course covers:

• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Discrimination Laws
• Employee Leave Laws
• Other Federal Laws
• Employee Posting Obligations
• Tax Reporting

Once completed, you can move on to the other courses. You’ll be up to speed in no time.

Continue Your Education

After you learn the basics, you’ll want to stay up to date on the ever-changing regulations. Rest assured, ComplyRight has you covered. Sign up for emails to get our HR Compliance Pulse newsletter and other helpful resources delivered straight to your in-box. You’ll also be notified of the free, expert-led webinars ComplyRight offers every single month.