Running a business can be challenging. To ensure your daily operations run smoothly, there are many things to consider. On top of the administrative, financial, and other essential company operations, you also need to manage your employees properly to avoid potential lawsuits and other legal troubles against them. This is because anything you do that violates their rights and duties may turn out bad for you and your company.
However, with all the legal matters that should be handled, it may be challenging to keep up with employee management. Due to this situation, it’s essential to work with an employment lawyer to take care of the legal aspect of your business.
If you’re unsure about when to seek legal assistance, below are the four signs it’s time to hire an employment lawyer:
- Your Business Is Facing A Lawsuit
Dealing with a lawsuit is certainly one of the signs that you should seek legal help. Unless you’re a legal professional by yourself, you need the services of someone who can navigate a legal situation for you.
Generally, employers like you can be sued for the following employment and labor cases:
- Discrimination: A case can be filed against your business when the suing employee alleges that you treat them differently based on their age, gender, race, religion, and other conditions.
- Harassment: Your business can also be a subject of a lawsuit when an employee feels they’re being sexually assaulted or harassed.
- Wrongful Termination: You can also become a defendant in a lawsuit when the employee alleges that they’re wrongfully terminated without justifiable reasons.
- Retaliation Against Whistleblowing: An employee may also sue you if you take disciplinary action against them for being your company’s misconduct or illegal activities.
- Employees Not Receiving Their Benefits: Your employee can also file an employment case against you on the ground that they failed to receive the benefits they were entitled to.
Given these cases, it’s crucial to have a legal professional at your side. Most dedicated attorneys at law can assess the facts of your case, help you gather evidence, and represent you in all court proceedings. They ensure that all your rights and interests are protected throughout the legal process.
- You Want Your Business To Be Compliant With The Law
Your business is governed by the employment and labor laws in your state. Non-compliance with specific laws, rules, and regulations can lead to serious legal troubles. Hence, if you want to make sure your company policies are compliant with the law, it’s best to hire an employment lawyer as soon as possible.
For example, they can check whether your policies about employee salaries, overtime, and work safety and health adhere to specific state laws. They can identify all other provisions that may put your company at risk for statutory violations. They can also advise you to add policies that protect your employees’ rights and responsibilities.
- You Need Help With Legwork
Every employer has to deal with a lot of paperwork to keep the employment aspect of their business running smoothly. These documents can include employment contracts, severance agreements, job descriptions, job orders, and similar agreements.
However, if you’re unfamiliar with the laws about contract-making, you probably require an employment lawyer to handle the process for you. With them in your corner, you can ensure all your contracts are drafted in compliance with certain employment laws and in a language that won’t potentially harm you and your business interests.
- You Need To Make Some Important Employment Decisions
As an employer, there are also other employment-related matters that you should attend to regularly. These matters can include decisions that can significantly affect your workforce. For example, if you need to retrench some employees due to financial losses, you need to hire a legal professional to help you in the decision-making process. They can help ensure that your decisions are beneficial for your company and your employees.
If there are some potential legal pitfalls along the way, they can also identify them ahead of time, making sure that you’re legally safeguarded against negative consequences.
Bottom Line
Typically, you don’t need a lawyer for every little thing you do with your business. But when it comes to the employment aspect of your company, having a lawyer at your side proves to be beneficial. Violating your employees’ rights comes with legal consequences that can damage your business’s reputation.
Therefore, keep the signs mentioned above in mind to ensure you have legal protection in your favor when the need arises. When all vital employment situations come with legal assistance, you can undoubtedly attain a more desirable outcome for yourself and your company.
