Dealing With Problem Employees: A Legal Guide

Table of Contents......Page 9
Introduction......Page 13
The High Cost of Problem Employees......Page 14
How This Book Can Help......Page 16
Who Should Not Read This Book......Page 17
1. What’s Your Problem?......Page 19
Performance or Productivity Problems......Page 21
Interpersonal Problems......Page 23
Insubordination......Page 26
Excessive Absenteeism......Page 28
Drugs and Alcohol......Page 30
Theft and Dishonesty......Page 35
Violence......Page 36
2. Employment Law Basics......Page 45
Employment at Will......Page 46
Employment Contracts......Page 49
Breaches of Good Faith and Fair Dealing......Page 58
Violations of Public Policy......Page 59
Discrimination and Retaliation......Page 61
3. Performance Evaluations......Page 87
The Benefits of an Evaluation System......Page 89
Step 1: Create Performance Objectives......Page 90
Step 2: Observe and Document Employee Performance......Page 94
Step 3: Conduct Interim Meetings to Discuss Progress and Problems......Page 99
Step 4: Conduct the Year-End Evaluation......Page 101
4. Progressive Discipline......Page 117
The Benefits of Progressive Discipline......Page 118
The Steps of Progressive Discipline......Page 120
How Progressive Discipline Works......Page 128
Guidelines for Avoiding Legal Trouble......Page 135
Sample Progressive Discipline Policy......Page 140
5. Complaints and Investigations......Page 143
When Investigation Is Necessary......Page 145
Complaint Policies and Procedures......Page 147
Preparing to Investigate......Page 151
Conducting Interviews......Page 155
Written and Physical Evidence......Page 166
Employees’ Rights to Privacy......Page 167
Making the Decision......Page 171
6. Dispute Resolution Programs......Page 179
Types of Alternative Dispute Resolution......Page 181
Which Procedures Are Right for Your Company?......Page 190
Tips for Creating an Effective Program......Page 193
7. Making the Decision to Fire......Page 197
Is It Time to Consider Firing?......Page 198
Making the Decision to Fire: An Employer’s Checklist......Page 202
8. Planning for the Aftermath......Page 217
Legal Constraints on What You Say......Page 218
What to Tell Coworkers......Page 220
What to Tell Reference Seekers......Page 221
Continuing Health Insurance......Page 227
Unemployment Compensation......Page 228
Written Explanations of the Termination......Page 230
9. Severance and Releases......Page 257
Are You Obligated to Pay Severance?......Page 258
Should You Pay Severance?......Page 262
Should You Ask for a Release?......Page 264
What Should You Offer?......Page 266
Writing a Release......Page 269
Agreements to Protect Your Business......Page 275
10. How to Fire......Page 279
The Termination Meeting......Page 281
The Exit Interview......Page 294
11. Looking Forward......Page 305
Improve Your Hiring Process......Page 307
Workplace Policies......Page 325
12. Researching the Law and Hiring a Lawyer......Page 341
When to Hire a Lawyer......Page 343
How to Find a Good Lawyer......Page 346
Legal Fees......Page 349
Working With Your Lawyer......Page 351
Firing a Lawyer......Page 352
Doing Your Own Legal Research......Page 353
Appendix......Page 357
Federal Fair Employment Laws......Page 358
State Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Private Employment......Page 361
Agencies That Enforce Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Employment......Page 376
Departments of Labor......Page 380
State Departments of Insurance......Page 384
Index......Page 389
Related Products......Page 413