In a recent analysis published on JD Supra, the nuances of common employer mistakes were investigated and their potential implications within work environments were explored. This was done with a nod to Clint Eastwood’s famed catchphrase from the 1983 film, Sudden Impact, “Go ahead, make my day,” demonstrating the perspective of plaintiffs’ employment lawyers, always in the wings, prepared to benefit from organizations’ legal missteps.
The contributing professionals from Lerch, Early & Brewer highlighted a dozen things that employers tend to do wrong – or fail to do at all – that create additional work for attorneys specializing in plaintiffs’ employment, while simultaneously multiplying legal exposure for the employers themselves.
These mistakes include everything from underestimating the importance of proper employee documentation and the mishandling of complaints, to failing to understand applicable wage and hour laws, or inadequately addressing employee requests for accommodations. Each of these missteps offers legal professionals an opportunity to engage, while providing lessons for firms aiming to mitigate future legal liabilities.
Oversights like these not only leave employers open to potential legal action, they also contribute to a work environment that may be perceived as hostile or inhospitable, creating deeper issues in terms of employee morale, productivity, and company reputation.
The detailed examination of these common mistakes by Lerch, Early & Brewer serves as a critical reminder for organizations of all sizes: proper forethought, execution of HR policies, and subsequent treatment of staff is of paramount importance in not only maintaining a healthy work environment, but also in avoiding unnecessary legal exposure.