Employee Documentation
Properly documenting decisions regarding employees is extremely important to keep a business out of legal trouble. Hiring, pay, and firing decisions can all be subject to serious legal repercussions if there is not a paper trail explaining choices with which employees (or the government) might bring into question. If you don’t have the documentation to justify your position, there is little preventing the possibility that your business will lose large sums of money in a legal settlement.
A national survey showed that 1 out of 3 employers said their documentation of employee-related topics was “not very good.” This means that disputes are left to consideration of your word versus the word of the disgruntled employee. If you would like advice for improving your company’s employee documentation or if you are facing litigation, the Austin business lawyers of Slater Kennon & Jameson, LLP can help.
Tips for Performance and Conduct Documentation
The following pointers can help ensure your business will have the paper-trail necessary to defend its decisions:
- Document all conversations and diagnostics the same day they occur.
- Record dates and times of conversations with employees.
- Do not abbreviate, generalize, or make editorialized statements in written records.
- Have conversations face-to-face, not through e-mail.
- Always follow your company’s policies regarding personnel filing protocol.
Contact Us
Your business deserves to be protected from unfounded and unjustified lawsuits seeking monetary settlement. A legal professional adept at the intricacies of business law can help assure you are doing all you can to remain out of trouble. If you are facing business litigation or would like to consult an expert, contact the Austin business lawyers of Slater Kennon & Jameson, LLP at 512-472-2431 today.