For most businesses, litigation might be the most unpleasant, difficult, and expensive of all employment related activities.
Maintaining accurate and complete documentation as a standard business practice can help employers prevail or possibly avoid costly lawsuits altogether. The company's documents will prove more reliable, credible, and admissible in court if:
each document is dated and clearly states its purpose and the expectations related to it
the preparer of the document is required to sign it, and clearly print his or her name and job title on the document
the names and job titles of attendees are listed if the document refers or relates to a particular meeting
the employee is required to sign it and he or she is allowed to include his or her written comments if the document is a disciplinary memorandum or a performance evaluation (an employee who refuses to the punitive action management generally takes in such situations is described (if necessary, explain why the employee’s actions warrant a different approach in this instance)
the company's position is not overstated – limit the use of inflammatory adverbs (excessively, foolishly, recklessly, intentionally, carelessly) that could prove difficult to substantiate later
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