Top 10 Employment Law Solutions You Need to Know for Your Business
By Phyllis J. Towzey

Know how to produce a simple HR employee handbook.
--EEO Statement
--Sexual Harassment Policy
--Rules for Employees
--No expectation of Privacy

Know whether Non Compete Contracts are right for you.
--Purpose, Scope and Enforceability
--Agreements re Non-solicitation, Confidentiality and Non-disparagement

Know your obligations under Federal, State and Local Employee Civil Rights laws.
--Age, Race, Sex, National Origin, Disability, Religion, Marital Status
--FMLA and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act
--Reasonable Accommodations under the ADA

Know Overtime Law: Who is an exempt employee and who is not?
--It’s YOUR duty to keep the records
--The laws have changed – make sure your classifications are up to date
--Don’t use “Comp Time” for hourly employees

Know how to terminate an employee properly.
--When too much niceness can hurt you
--Document the file
--Should you escort them out of the building? Factors to consider.

Know when to use a Severance Agreement.
--Severance - how being generous can save you $
--Severance Agreements - how to prepare a valid Release
--Guidelines: Key executive 1 month for each year of service
--Middle management 1 or 2 weeks per each year of service
--Other staff 1- 2 weeks pay total

Know how to administer a lay off of a large number of employees.
--Special rules apply for company-wide or department-wide layoffs
--Notice require for plant closings or sale of business

Know unemployment appeal hearings.
--What to provide – Get it right the first time
--How to conduct yourself at the hearing

Know what records to keep and what records to destroy.
--Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) legislation
--Federal Court Discovery Rules
--Electronic Document Retention

Know and understand about "Employment At Will"
--The central concept in 43 states including Florida.
--Your defense against employee entitlement