All growing companies hire employees to carry out a range of tasks. There’s an old saying that people are a company’s biggest assets. And that sure rings true! For the most part, businesses have few problems with their staff. But, there are times where issues might arise for various reasons.
When those issues escalate, things can come to a head when the worker sues their employer. As you can imagine, that’s the last thing any company wants to happen. They would rather settle any disputes in a friendly manner outside of the courtroom. So, how can you lower the risk of getting sued by your staff?
By spending just a few minutes reading this blog post, you’ll know just how to do so!
Carry out regular risk assessments
The main reason employees sue for compensation is when they get injured at work. But, what causes those injuries? In the majority of cases, the injuries stem from poor health and safety provisions. For example, exposed live electrical cords hanging precariously somewhere.
Other causes might be down to poor construction of their workspaces and faulty tools. The safety of your employees should be of paramount concern to your business. That’s why it makes sense to carry out regular risk assessments. Doing so will help you identify new problems. You can then get them resolved in a speedy manner.
Keep an eye on their activities
Let’s face it. The last thing you wish to do is micromanage your staff! At the same time, you want to make sure they work according to your policies and company ethos. So, how can you keep an eye on their activities?
If you have an office environment, consider creating an open office space. That way, it’s easy to look from afar what your staff are doing. For industrial workplaces, consider installing security cameras. Especially when workers deal with expensive or volatile materials.
What to do if the worst happens
Let’s say that, despite your precautions, one of your staff wants workers’ compensation. What should you do next? Well, the obvious answer is to seek legal help from a lawyer.
Another thing you can do is consider legal insurance surveillance. How does that work? In a nutshell, a private investigator can review the claim. They will then carry out work to check the validity of it.
Did you know that some unscrupulous workers sue their employers for injuries sustained elsewhere? An investigator can help you to gain hard evidence to use against such claims.
Other ways to prevent your staff suing you
Making sure your staff work in a safe and secure environment is one thing. But, how else can you lower the risk of them suing you? You might not think it, but there are plenty of actionable steps you can take.
Some workers might sue your company for discrimination. It’s a sad fact that racial and sexual discrimination still exists in 2016. You can make sure you have the right policies in place to deal with such issues. And, of course, prevent any “bad eggs” from getting hired in the first place!
Last, but not least, create a detailed employee handbook. It should describe what you as an employer will do to handle various types of disputes. Good luck!
