Geared Up Issue 2 2015 | Page 42

Tips to Protect Your Franchise from Possible Unemployment Claims Y our very first step to protect your franchise from possible unemployment claims should be to create a staff handbook that clearly outlines all company rules and policies including pay periods, staff benefits, dress codes, anti-harassment policies and staff disciplinary procedures. Make sure that every employee receives the staff handbook on their date of hire and signs off stating that they’ve read and understand its content. 1 2 If your franchise is located within an at-will employment state, meaning an employer does not need cause to terminate an employee, it needs to be clearly defined within the staff handbook. 2015 Issue 2 | GearedUp Establish an employee complaint procedure. Below is an example of my franchise’s procedure, which is clearly defined within our staff handbook: It is policy to deal promptly and fairly with employee complaints. This complaint procedure is established to alert management to the reasons for employee complaints and to provide an effective means for resolving [K