Handbooks are Not Enough for Employers

WHIPPANY, N.J., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the easiest ways for employers to minimize workplace exposure is to annually review your handbooks and ensure that they are simple, unambiguous and  compliant with the law, Stefani C Schwartz, a leading management-side attorney, was quoted as saying in the CLM Daily News.

"Annually looking at your policies and  your handbooks to make sure they're up to date, and revising accordingly, is a necessary evil," Schwartz, a partner with Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein & Celso in Whippany, NJ, said in the publication produced at the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance 2017 annual conference in Nashville.

Social media and other developments are rapidly changing the workplace and the laws governing it, and employers have to make sure the policies mirror the law.

Crucial To Curbing Litigation
"Educating employees and supervisors concerning the company's policies and procedures will help curtail litigation in the future," added Schwartz, who heads her firm's Labor and Employment Law Group.

The CLM 2017 conference drew professionals from all industries.

Schwartz spoke at the session, "Effective Management of Employment Practices Litigation Claims," which focused on reducing workplace risks.

Distractions From Work at Hand

She also told the CLM Daily News that while  her team can provide a strong defense  of employment claims in the Courts, they also provide counseling to avoid litigation.  Schwartz rationalizes that preventing  litigation provides a solid employee employer relationship and  the employer can focus on the growth of business.

Schwartz's panel focused on best practices for challenging claims involving whistleblower protection, social media use, transgender discrimination, harassment and retaliation, supervisor liability and mediation strategies.

About Stefani C Schwartz
Schwartz has considerable experience representing private companies in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful-termination matters. In-house counsel, human resource professionals and risk managers rely on her when making critical decisions. She has represented hundreds of companies in court, during arbitration proceedings and before administrative agencies. Her successes extend to jury and nonjury trials alike. She also is regular speaker at seminars and conferences on employment topics.

About Schwartz Simon Edelstein & Celso
The Whippany, NJ-based law firm provides full-service representation, from litigating matters for Fortune 500 companies to negotiating complex employment agreements to assisting startups.

SOURCE Schwartz Simon Edelstein & Celso