Recommended Reading: Don't Let HR Issues Turn into Legal Issues - Modern Distribution Management

Log In

Recommended Reading: Don’t Let HR Issues Turn into Legal Issues

Create employee handbook to cover yourself as much as possible.
Eric-Smith-84x84
Author
Date

Although distributors are focused more on growing their businesses than developing workplace policies and procedures, much less enforcing them, keeping HR issues from becoming legal issues is critical for company survival, according to Nancye Combs, in How to Navigate Key HR Issues in 2017.

Her advice: Make 2017 the year you create – or update – an employee handbook, because “if you don’t have written policies and procedures in place, you cannot control your workforce,” says Combs, president and CEO of HR Enterprise, a human resources consulting firm in Louisville, KY.

An employee handbook won't completely protect you from legal problems, but having written policies and procedures that each employee must read and sign will go a long way should a workplace complaint escalate.

“Policies on discrimination, bullying, workplace violence, at-will employment, confidentiality, substance abuse, social media, technology, are critical policies you have to have in place,” Combs says. “It may not totally keep you from staying awake all night, but it helps you to say, ‘At least I got us covered as much as I can.’”

One area where distributors can become especially vulnerable is noncompete clauses, or restrictive covenants. Companies should be vigilant in 2017 with keeping their “trade secret house in order,” according to Mike Greco, regional managing partner in the Denver, CO, office of Fisher & Phillips.

This might not need to go as far as a noncompete, Greco says. "The trend that we’re seeing across the country is that we don’t always need a noncompete when a lesser restraint will do." Those lesser restraints may include nondisclosure agreements or applying trade secret protections that are already in place.

Read more about employee handbooks, noncompetes and other HR issues to be mindful of this year in How to Navigate Key HR Issues in 2017.

Share this article

About the Author
Recommended Reading
Leave a Reply

Leave a Comment

Sign Up for the MDM Update Newsletter

The MDM update newsletter is your best source for news and trends in the wholesale distribution industry.

Get the MDM Update Newsletter

Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.

Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:

  • Up-to-date news in a quick-to-read format
  • Free access to webcasts, podcasts and live events
  • Exclusive whitepapers, research and reports
  • And more!

2

articles left

Want more Premium content from MDM?

Subscribe today and get:

  • New issues twice each month
  • Unlimited access to mdm.com, including 10+ years of archived data
  • Current trends analysis, market data and economic updates
  • Discounts on select store products and events

Subscribe to continue reading

MDM Premium Subscribers get:

  • Unlimited access to MDM.com
  • 1 year digital subscription, with new issues twice a month
  • Trends analysis, market data and quarterly economic updates
  • Deals on select store products and events

1

article
left

You have one free article remaining

Subscribe to MDM Premium to get unlimited access. Your subscription includes:

  • Two new issues a month
  • Access to 10+ years of archived data on mdm.com
  • Quarterly economic updates, trends analysis and market data
  • Store and event discounts

To continue reading, you must be an MDM Premium subscriber.

Join other distribution executives who use MDM Premium to optimize their business. Our insights and analysis help you enter the right new markets, turbocharge your sales and marketing efforts, identify business partners that help you scale, and stay ahead of your competitors.

Register for full access

By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.