Briefly discuss some ways in which employers can avoid wrongful termination lawsuits.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Employers can use the following four tips to avoid wrongful termination lawsuits.Terminate an employee only if there is an articulated reason. An employer should have clearly articulated, easily understandable reasons for discharging an employee. The reasons should be stated as objectively as possible and should reflect company rules, policies, and practices.Set and follow termination rules and schedules. Make sure every termination follows a documented set of procedures. Procedures can be from an employee handbook, a supervisory manual, or even an interoffice memorandum. Before terminating, employees should be given notices of unsatisfactory performance and improvement opportunities through a system of warnings and suspensions.Document all performance problems. A lack of documented problems in an employee's personnel record may be used as circumstantial evidence of pretextual discharge if the employee is "suddenly" discharged.Be consistent with employees in similar situations. Document reasons given for all disciplinary actions, even if they do not lead to termination. Terminated employees may claim that exception-to-the-rule cases are discriminatory. Detailed documentation will help employers explain why these "exceptions" did not warrant termination.