Even the most well-run businesses will run into labor disputes and employment law concerns at some point in time, and our perception of these disputes is–understandably–not particularly rosy. From Federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission charges to non-compete disputes, harassment claims to wage concerns, all sorts of labor issues can pop up while running a business, and they’re always a headache.
This is why it makes so much sense to take advantage of common-sense preventative services that can help make your employment problems as non-disruptive as possible and help you focus on the work of actually building your business.
What makes labor law so stressful?
The best businesses feel like workers and employers are coming together as a team to work in the best interest of the business and their careers–everybody operates together in relative harmony and with few frictions or disputes. But labor conflicts can shatter this perception, as they remind us that at the end of the day, we all have our own individual interests and that our obligations to our businesses and our employees are not always completely voluntary, but often bound by law.
This means that when labor disputes arise, tensions run high: employers want to protect the success of their business and their livelihood while employees want to protect their income source and their professional reputations. And often, when these goals come into direct conflict with each other or the law, conversation comes to a halt and people see high-stakes litigation as the only path forward. Talk about a headache!
What are preventative services in labor and employment?
This is where the idea of preventative services comes into play. As the name implies, preventative services are legal options business owners and managers can take in advance that help reduce the chance of labor conflict, or reduce the chance of having to resort to high-stress litigation should conflict arise.
Preventative labor services can take many forms. It can be setting your business up for success from the very beginning of the new-hire onboarding process with options like employee agreement or employee handbook drafting, which can make sure that all parties are aware of the applicable rules, laws, and expectations to avoid difficult situations.
It can look like additional learning opportunities such as workplace anti-harassment training or anti-discrimination workshops which can not only keep your team working together and treating each other with respect, but also help you avoid running afoul of unlawful discrimination accusations and lawsuits.
It can even look like general advisement services that help upper management understand and anticipate potential sticky workplace dilemmas so that you can work together to avoid them or handle them quickly and effectively if they do arise.
Of course, these are just examples. Preventative services can also encompass misconduct investigations, legal counsel in active conflicts to keep them from getting out of hand, and much, much more.
Avoid litigation with preventative labor services
When it comes to employment and labor law, preventative services can be the business maintenance that pays off by avoiding some of the most difficult legal concerns. It’s not controversial to say that most people don’t want to end up in court. Even those leveling lawsuits or bringing litigation often prefer to avoid the stress of a courtroom or massive legal battle and find that taking steps to prevent this will save them time, money, and emotional turmoil.
If you have a business that could benefit from preventative labor services to help keep you out of the courtroom, Segal Duffek Moen is here to help. For professional assistance in all labor and employment law concerns, contact Segal Duffek Moen at 952-358-7400 or by emailing Info@Segal Duffek Moen.com.
