Want to Avoid Lawsuits? Make Sure Employees Know How to Behave

No company wants a lawsuit…they’re costly both in terms of dollars and ruined reputations. The corporate compliance training experts agree—the best way to avoid the courts over harassment and discrimination suits is to make sure your employees, and especially your managers, know the right way to behave. They need proven corporate compliance training.

If you truly want to avoid employment discrimination claims (and who doesn’t), you need to:

1. Have dedicated experts, internal or external
   You need knowledgeable and experienced experts to whom you can turn when it comes to corporate compliance. You need trusted legal experts who can assess your overall environment, examine your employment systems and processes and advise you on what needs to change before a situation arises that needs to move to the courts.
2. Make sure you and your managers know the basics
   Be familiar with the basics of anti-discrimination laws…the kinds of questions you can ask in hiring, the employment practices that are considered fair and just, what constitutes harassment, and how to deal with so-called “protected” categories.
3. Maintain and update an employee manual
   Be sure that every employee receives, reads and understands your company’s policies and procedures. They need to know how discrimination is defined and what process is in place for them to register a complaint or ask a question. 
4. Set the example
   As a leader, you must set the example of absolute fairness and consistent enforcement of company policy. Insist upon a respectful workplace and demonstrate in your everyday interaction with employees just what that looks like. Communicate your values to your employees and invite their involvement in seeing that differences are celebrated not discriminated against.
5. Provide sound, proven corporate compliance training
   Don’t assume your managers, and for that matter your employees, know how to behave appropriately and within the ever tightening anti-discrimination laws. Teach managers the importance of maintaining complete and accurate records of employee performance and complaints. Documentation is critical back-up if complaints arise. 

Give managers the background and the corporate compliance training they need to stay legal and promote the kind of positive culture you seek.

Download Corporate Compliance Toolkit