by Stephen D. Hans | Nov 9, 2022 | Employment Liability for Restaurant Owners in New York
How Restaurant Owners Can Protect Against Liability Employment liability for restaurant owners is greater than in any other industry. Evidence of this fact lies in the number of claims filed by or through the EEOC. It is vital that you take steps to minimize liability and protect your interests. Tips for reducing employment liability for restaurant owners Complaints range from sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination to wage and hour and other issues. QSR recommends a number of practices to protect against claims. Create policies and procedures Restaurant owners should issue employee handbooks that lay out policies for employee treatment. Every year, owners should review their policies to ensure they are up-to-date with new laws or regulatory changes. The policies must explain the employees’ rights and their recourse if they have complaints. The handbook should outline: Reporting protocols How to lodge a complaint How to report inappropriate behavior and rules for doing so Investigation procedures Who performs investigations How investigations are done When investigations have completed Open the doors to communication Claims mount when communication closes down. You should provide immediate and thoughtful responses to complaints. This will reduce the likelihood of a claim being filed. Take action to rectify the situation as soon as possible. Put everything in writing Document complaints and requests in written form. In the event of a claim, having documentation is crucial. Keep all written correspondence in a separate investigation file. Even verbal communications should be summarized and you should send the email summaries to employees. Investigations require a written conclusion, even when the allegations did not have merit. Train employees Employees must receive...
