Employment Law Essentials: Best practices on hiring, disciplining, and terminating employees

Kristine J. Beaudoin | Perkins Coie LLP

Kristine Beaudoin counsels clients on employment and commercial matters, from early advice and workplace investigations up through litigation. Kristie regularly helps companies navigate internal employment issues, and clients trust her to handle sensitive matters. A litigator by training, Kristie has experience with all stages of civil litigation in a wide range of industries. In connection with her litigation practice, Kristie frequently assists clients with investigating complaints of wrongdoing, from employee misconduct to compliance issues and whistleblower complaints.

I. Hiring and Onboarding Employees | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

• Importance of creating a hiring process that complies with relevant laws
• Best practices for drafting job descriptions and posting job openings
  • Pay transparency laws require salaries to be posted in many states
  • Other state-specific laws that may be worth reviewing
• Strategies for conducting effective and compliant interviews and background checks
  • What are some “off limits” questions and topics?
  • Background check complications to be aware of
• Offer letters and/or employment contracts, at-will employment, etc.

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

II. Employee Discipline | 3:10pm – 3:40pm

• The role of attorneys and legal-driven policies in maintaining a positive workplace culture
• Creating and implementing employee policies and procedures
• Strategies for addressing employee performance issues and misconduct
• Techniques for documenting and communicating disciplinary actions

III. Terminating Employees | 3:40pm – 4:10pm

• Legal requirements and best practices for terminating employees
• Tips for conducting termination meetings
• Strategies for minimizing legal risks associated with employee termination
  • When are severance offers/agreements appropriate? What should they include?
  • Is there a solution to the problem that doesn’t involve termination?
  • Last-day logistics
  • Document retention for potential litigation
• Techniques for handling post-termination issues