An effective interview process is perhaps the single most important employment practice in an organization. Not only does a strong hiring practice help ensure you are hiring the right people – if done properly it can ensure that your hiring practices are not discriminatory.

The employee handbook is a critical part of protecting your business and communicating guidelines and practices to employees. Having an effective handbook in place can help you keep your business out of court, improve overall operations, motivate employee performance, and establish clear communication.

Employers should ensure they are documenting employee disciplinary actions, regardless of their significance or seriousness. Appropriate documentation can aid in defending disciplinary terminations if legally challenged. It is important to pay terminated employees in a timely manner within federal and state laws, withhold appropriate deductions, pay out balances due as applicable, accurately retain employee records, and notify insurance carriers and other as needed.