Did you realize that an unfair dismissal claim is filed every three and a half minutes?
If you are an owner of a business, one of your main goals should be avoiding claims filed by an unfair dismissal lawyer. Without the proper amount of preparation and information, you will be at risk of having frivolous lawsuits filed against you. The last thing you want is to pay out a large settlement for something you didn’t do.
Read below to find out about some of the steps you can take when trying to avoid unfair dismissal claims.
Act Quickly To Address Employee Issues
If you start to notice an employee is engaging in inappropriate workplace behavior or they are having performance related issues, you need to act quickly to resolve these problems. Waiting to fire an employee for one of these offenses can lead to an unfair dismissal claim being filed. Taking swift and immediate action as soon as problems occur can save you a lot of stress and money in the long run.
You Need to be Thorough
Carrying out a thorough investigation after inappropriate workplace behavior is detected is also important. During your investigation, you need to document and compile evidence against the employee in question. By doing this, you can have some ammunition at the ready should the employee file an unfair dismissal lawsuit.
Keeping detailed records of your disciplinary and termination processes is not only wise, it is the law in most countries. These detailed records can make the difference between success and failure when defending yourself against a disgruntled former employee in court.
Make Sure the Crime Fits the Punishment
Before making a decision to fire an employee, you need to make sure the crime fits the punishment. If you do not have a valid reason why you are firing an employee, it will usually result in an unfair dismissal lawsuit being filed.
Things like deliberate misconduct and poor performance on a consistent basis are some of the most common reasons for a dismissal. Abiding by the three strikes and you’re out rule will show the courts you gave an employee plenty of chances to correct their bad behavior before firing them.
Keep an Open Mind
Going into a disciplinary meeting with an employee with a predetermined outcome in mind can lead to big mistakes being made. If the details of an employees’ misconduct warrants them being fired, you will need to handle this firing with kid gloves to avoid lawsuits in the future.
Consult With a Lawyer
Are you dealing with employee misconduct issues and aren’t sure how to solve them legally? The best thing you can do in a situation like this is to consult with a lawyer familiar with unfair dismissal laws. These legal professionals will have no problem giving you the guidance needed to handle these sensitive issues with ease.
Treating your employees with respect is a great way to avoid being sued for things like unfair dismissal. If you are confronted with this type of lawsuit, working with experienced legal professionals is essential.