When you are in business, there are going to be clients or employees who are going to be unhappy. Whether it is your fault or not, they are going to want to take legal action to make you pay for a fall, a slip, an injury, or it could very well just be vengeful. If you start new practices in your daily operations to ensure that all the facts are indeed facts, you will have the paper trail, emails, and proof that you are not at fault. Here are a few practices you can start that will help keep you protected from a lawsuit.
Put Everything On Paper
Anytime you have to speak to an employee, put it on paper. Keep a running record of what you spoke about and if any disciplinary action was taken or if any warnings were given. You won’t be able to record a meeting without everyone’s consent, but it will help if you can have a third party in the room as well in order to keep all the facts straight. In case an employee wants to accuse you of something false, you will have all the proof you need to clear the air.
When it comes to clients or customers, do the same. Make sure all emails are documented and filed away. If there is a complaint or something goes wrong, you will have everything on file regarding what you spoke about and what services were agreed to be offered.
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Have Great Legal Council
Having a solid legal time in your corner will give you peace of mind that if you have any kind of disputes you will be taken care of in the courtroom.
Finding a law firm that specializes in contracts, like Hage-Chahine, will also increase your chances of knowing that any and all contracts you give out to clients are solid and will protect you against lawsuits or any other legal action that may be the result of someone trying to hurt your business through false claims. A firm that has open and honest communication with you at all times will allow you to know what is going on and how and what you can prepare to win your case.
Hire a Strong HR Department
Whether you have in-house HR or you outsource to a third party, make sure your HR representatives are doing their job well. HR is always the go-to source for all information, and HR is the first line of defense when it comes to employees feeling slighted or wanting to instill change in the company.
All employee complaints go through HR, and if HR is on top of their game, they will be able to effectively explain policies and procedures to employees that will give them the answers they need in order to not have to take their complaints any further or take legal action to make the change they are looking to make. If you feel there are any weaknesses in HR, strengthen them fast.
