As a small business owner or manager, you carry the weight of every decision you make in your business. People decisions are among the most critical, and each one can have a major impact on your business and your employer liability. That has never been more true than it is today.
The issues employers are facing today are far more complicated than at any time in recent history. Workplace challenges continue to evolve, employee needs are becoming more complex, family and personal stressors are affecting employees in new ways, and the legal landscape has become increasingly employee-focused.
Here are four areas of your business where you need to be cautious in how you approach issues and make decisions - and when to get guidance before you act.
Hiring Employees
Although the economy has been slower than usual, the need to hire still arises because of turnover and other changes. The temptation is to “get bodies in the door”, but that’s not always the best path.
An important thing to be aware of when hiring, is that many candidates may have gaps in employment, inconsistent work history, or changing career paths for a wide range of reasons. It can be easy to skip past a deeper review of work history, but now is not the time to overlook something so important. You need to understand who you are hiring, where they have been, and what they have been doing.
When it comes to that next hire, make sure your job post is accurate, review candidate job history carefully, ask questions, do not settle for less, and most importantly - listen to your intuition.
Responding to Performance and Attendance Issues
Performance and attendance issues are becoming more frequent, more sensitive, and more complicated.
When you have an employee who is having issues with attendance or performance, do not wait to act, and do not walk on eggshells when it comes to dealing with the problem. At the same time, do not make rash decisions either.
Better to take a few moments out to navigate not only compliance aspects of also the little nuances that can make what seems like a simple decision into a nightmare.
Managing Leave Issues
Leave issues are becoming more common, and employers need to be prepared to respond appropriately and consistently.
Between medical leave, family-related leave, pregnancy and parental leave, accommodation-related time off, and other protected absences, it is important to understand which laws and policies apply to your specific situation. Leave laws continue to evolve, and even routine situations can quickly become more complex than they first appear.
The moment you become aware of a potential leave issue - whether it involves an employee's medical condition, family care responsibilities, or another need for protected time away from work.
Terminating Employees
Terminating an employee may seem like a logical business decision, but in California, these situations often carry more risk than employers expect. Before moving forward, it is important to make sure you have done the necessary due diligence, including reviewing documentation, confirming policies have been applied consistently, and considering whether there are any leave, medical, or other protected issues involved. What seems clear on the surface is not always so clear from a legal or compliance standpoint.
Before making a termination decision, contact Infinium HR so we can help you assess the risks, review the circumstances, and determine the best path forward for your company.
Don't Hesitate to Contact Infinium HR
These are just a few of the areas where you may need to take some extra steps. Just understand that whatever you do, there will likely be ramifications. It is best to understand those ramifications and then take precautionary measures to help mitigate liability.
That is what we are here for. Please do not hesitate to contact the HR team at Infinium HR. Our experience engaging in complicated issues on a daily basis should make it easy for that first call to be to your HR team at Infinium. We would rather help you early than have a small problem become a big problem.