How To Stay in Business and Out of Court

Twelve (12) threats and how to protect your business

Labor/employment laws every owner must know

How to avoid legal trouble and paying attorney fees

THE LAW

 An overview of Federal and Michigan employment law having an impact on  employers. What you can do to protect your business right now to defend against claims, charges, and lawsuits.  

 UNIONS

 Union free workforces save their employers more than 30% in operating costs. What to do before a union organizer knocks on your door. How to prevent solicitation.

WRONGFUL DISCHARGE LAWSUITS

Why you should not maintain an employment at will policy. How an employee’s lawsuit can put you out of business. How to cut your liability exposure from six years to only six months. 

Safety and MIOSHA

MIOSHA can shut your business down. Criminal penalties may be assessed for willful violations of MIOSHA Safety Standards. Focus on and improve the company safety record, housekeeping, and  security.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND CIVIL RIGHTS

Recent cases establish employer liability for sexual harassment by co-workers. This subject must be included within your employee handbook. Why you should establish an in-house complaint and problem-solving procedure.

 10 MOST FREQUENT WAGE/HOUR VIOLATIONS

1. Exempt versus non-exempt: non-payment of overtime pay due to improperly classified “exempt employees.” 
2. Bonuses not calculated within a non-exempt employee’s regular rate of pay to determine overtime pay.
3. Banking of hours for vacations and time off outside of the regular work week.
4. Allowing non-exempt employees to work off the clock- no pay for time worked.
5. No payment of wages for attending mandatory company meetings..
6. No daily or weekly work records kept for non-exempt employees.
7. Working minors excessive numbers of hours.
8. Minors operating dangerous equipment.
9. Minors operating company vehicles.
10. Docking a non-exempt employee’s pay below the minimum wage with a signed deduction slip or docking a non-exempt employee without a slip.  

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

How to reduce your unemployment insurance costs. When to pay unemployment benefits, and when to appeal. Work rules that prevent an employee from collecting benefits.

EMPLOYEE DISABILITY

FMLA, ADA, and Michigan Law. How to handle malingerers who do not want to work.      

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

The IRS’s ” Twenty Question Test.”

ILLEGAL WORKERS

Compliance with the Immigration Laws.  I-9 forms. Identification documents. What you need to have in employee personnel files.

NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AND UNFAIR COMPETITION

How to deter an employee from stealing your customers. What you need to have in place to deter these practices.

COMPUTERS, ELECTRONIC MAIL, DATA BASES, AND THE INTERNET

What an employer must do to prevent unauthorized use of company computers, the Internet, and  electronic mail. Why you must must put employees on notice of your policies.