In 1964, Bob Dylan famously sang, “The Times They Are A Changin’.” Those words still stand true today. The times are changing; particularly, the protections that employers are legally required to provide their employees. If employers do not change with the times, they run the risk of a lawsuit and incurring massive expenses.

Keeping your employee handbook/personnel manual up-to-date is an easy, but necessary step to ensure that you keep up with the times. First, if your business does not have an employee handbook, make sure you develop one. The employee handbook is a document that contains a company’s operating procedures. It is usually delivered to employees on their first day of employment, and they are required to sign or acknowledge it in some way. Handbooks are utilized to establish important policies that are expected in the workplace and to protect the rights of employers and employees. Handbooks contain information on topics ranging from dress codes and benefits, to a company’s policy on smoking and weapons in the workplace.

If your business has an employee handbook, that’s great; but, that is only half the battle. Recently, many states have passed legislation, or enacted regulations, requiring employers to provide a myriad of new protections for their employees. Things like heavily enforced rules against workplace harassment, or expanding protected classifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act and providing employees with paid time off to take care of family members or bond with a child. Make no mistake, the modern workplace is changing at a rapid pace. It is important that you stay updated on federal and state laws to ensure your employee handbook reflects these changes.

It also is important to invest in employment practices liability insurance. EPLI covers wrongful acts arising from the employment process including common workplace claims like sexual harassment; wrongful termination; and discrimination. While having an EPLI policy is not a replacement for adherence to the law, it is does provide assurance that if something does happen in the workplace, a policy will be there to help.

We are here to help. Give us a call today to discuss the proper coverage you need to protect your business in the event of a workplace claim.