Employer Handbooks Can Open Door to Legal Challenges; Alan Model Prescribes Clarifying Language

"Policy Pitfalls: Court Finds Common Handbook Language Violates National Labor Relations Act," InsideCounsel

In this article discussing recent cases where llanguage used in employer handbooks unintentionally violated employees' rights, Littler Mendelson shareholder notes that "The common thread running through these cases is that if there is a policy prohibiting employees from freely discussing the terms and conditions of their employment, that's when it becomes problematic." Model also suggests that companies use plain language, or insert a clarifying statement after potentially ambiguous rules. "If you don't know what a word means, don't use it," Model says.

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