0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

People ● 205
How to Evaluate Your Hiring
and Firing Policies
• Consult with an experienced labor lawyer. Ask him or her to review
your job application to make sure it doesn’t violate any state or federal
employment laws. (For example, you can’t ask a job candidate
how old they are or whether they have kids.)
• Ask them to explain the steps and documentation required before
you can legally terminate an employee.
• Create an employee handbook and a policy manual. Your policy
manual should outline everything from the dress code to employee
benefits and vacation days. Be as specific as possible to avoid
confusion.
• You can buy software to create these documents or find an online
solution.
• Circulate copies to everyone and require employees to acknowledge,
in writing, that they have read them.
• Distribute a written policy prohibiting sexual harassment at
your company. Make sure all employees read and sign a copy
of the memo.
• Encourage your employees to suggest ways to boost morale
and improve communication with new policies or changes to
existing ones.
“Peter was part diplomat, part human resources legal counsel, and
part troubleshooter,” said LaNicca. “He helped us through the process of
restructuring jobs and creating separation packages for employees being
let go.”
Skeie helped LaNicca review all the company’s personnel practices,
including revising the employee policy manual and job applications. “From
the beginning, we wanted to have the best working environment possible,”
said LaNicca. In addition to providing traditional medical benefits and
flexible scheduling, the firm has a meditation room to help employees
“destress.”