Dealing With Problem Employees: A Legal Guide, 2nd Edition

Table of Contents......Page 9
Introduction......Page 13
A. The High Cost of Problem Employees......Page 14
B. How This Book Can Help......Page 17
D. Who Should Not Read This Book......Page 18
E. Icons Used in This Book......Page 19
1. What’s Your Problem?......Page 21
A. Performance/Productivity Problems......Page 25
B. Interpersonal Problems......Page 28
C. Insubordination......Page 32
D. Excessive Absenteeism and Sick Leave Use......Page 36
E. Drugs and Alcohol......Page 40
G. Violence......Page 48
H. Morality Issues......Page 49
2. Employment Law Basics......Page 63
A. Employment at Will......Page 64
B. Employment Contracts......Page 69
C. Breaches of Good Faith and Fair Dealing......Page 83
D. Violations of Public Policy......Page 84
E. Discrimination and Retaliation......Page 101
3. Performance Evaluations......Page 121
A. The Benefits of an Evaluation System......Page 124
B. The Risks of the System......Page 125
C. Step 1: Create Job-Related Standards and Goals......Page 126
D. Step 2: Observe and Document Employee Performance......Page 134
E. Step 3: Conduct Interim Meetings to Discuss Progress and Problems......Page 143
F. Step 4: Conduct an End-of-Year Evaluation......Page 145
4. Progressive Discipline......Page 159
A. Getting Results With Progressive Discipline......Page 162
B. Using Progressive Discipline in Your Workplace......Page 168
C. Guidelines for Effective Discipline......Page 187
D. Preserve the At-Will Status of Your Employees......Page 193
E. A Sample Written Progressive Discipline Policy......Page 194
5. Complaints and Investigations......Page 197
A. When Is Investigation Necessary?......Page 200
B. Complaint Policies and Procedures......Page 204
C. Preparing to Investigate......Page 210
D. Conducting Interviews......Page 217
E. Written and Physical Evidence......Page 235
F. Employees’ Rights to Privacy......Page 236
G. Making the Decision......Page 243
6. Making the Decision to Fire......Page 255
A. Is It Time to Consider Firing?......Page 256
B. Making the Decision to Fire: An Employer’s Checklist......Page 263
7. Planning For The Aftermath......Page 283
A. Legal Constraints On What You Say......Page 284
B. What to Tell Coworkers......Page 294
C. What to Tell Reference Seekers......Page 296
D. Continuing Health Insurance......Page 306
E. Unemployment Compensation......Page 325
F. Written Explanations of the Termination......Page 330
8. Severance and Releases......Page 345
A. Are You Obligated to Pay Severance?......Page 348
B. If You Have a Choice, Should You Pay Severance?......Page 354
C. Should You Ask For a Release?......Page 357
D. What Should You Offer?......Page 361
E. Writing a Release......Page 366
F. Agreements to Protect Your Business......Page 376
9. How to Fire......Page 381
A. The Termination Meeting......Page 384
B. The Exit Interview......Page 411
10. Looking Forward......Page 419
A. Improve Your Hiring Process......Page 421
B. Workplace Policies......Page 449
11. Hiring a Lawyer......Page 469
A. When to Hire a Lawyer......Page 471
B. How to Find a Good Lawyer......Page 477
C. Legal Fees......Page 483
D. Working With Your Lawyer......Page 486
E. Firing a Lawyer......Page 488
Appendix......Page 491
Federal Agencies Enforcing Workplace Laws......Page 492
Federal Fair Employment Laws......Page 493
State Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Private Employment......Page 497
State Agencies that Enforce Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Employment......Page 510
Labor Departments......Page 516
State Departments of Insurance......Page 522
State OSHA Laws......Page 528
State OSHA Offices......Page 529
Index......Page 533
Related Products......Page 551