Litigation is something that every company has to think about. The reality is that we live in a litigious society. With that being said, there are steps that businesses can take to reduce the risks of litigation.
As it is such a serious issue on many levels, one area where companies may want to focus is discrimination. A discrimination lawsuit can be costly, time-consuming, damaging to reputations and detrimental to morale.
What steps can businesses take to protect themselves from discrimination claims?
Thorough Anti-Discrimination Policies
Talking about anti-discrimination policies within the company is crucial, but this should be backed up in writing. This can be done through an employee handbook. The handbook is a written manual, that can be given to all workers, outlining fundamental policies and procedures.
The handbook can express in writing that discrimination is not tolerated at any level. Importantly, it can also explain how employees can report discrimination complaints should they arise. If matters can be resolved internally, then litigation can be avoided.
When cases come up and are resolved, it’s important that the complaints and outcomes are recorded and stored. This can not only protect the business from discrimination claims but also allegations of wrongful dismissal, etc.
Proactive Training
Discrimination can occur out of malice, but this is not always the case. Often, discrimination occurs due to ignorance of how working environments have evolved. Regular training activities and refresher courses can help with this. These do not have to be dry and boring, but can be engaging and morale-boosting for all workers. A company is much more profitable when the workforce is on the same page.
To find out more about preventing discrimination lawsuits, it may be beneficial to seek legal guidance.