Employers: Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep
Laura Bartlow of Zelle LLP writes in a post on JDSupra that the very first item on her list of rules for employers is this: Don’t make promises to your employees that you can’t or won’t keep.
“Employers’ promises include those set out in employment contracts, of course, but there are others promises made by employers that can create legal liability and that are worth regular attention,” she explains. “And it works both ways – employees, related businesses, and vendors may also be obligated by the agreements that they have made with you.”
She discusses some of the most important points to consider, including: obligations in written employment contracts’ obligations in written policies and handbooks; obligations of employees, related organizations, and vendors; and obligations created by government contracts.
