Pillar 4 of 6
Employment &
Safety Compliance
Would your employment practices
survive an audit or a lawsuit?
Your employees are your greatest asset. They're also one of your greatest legal exposures, especially if your employment practices haven't been reviewed recently.
Employment law changes constantly. What was compliant two years ago may not be compliant today. And most business owners don't know what they're missing.
The Blind Spot
Employment claims are among the most common and most expensive legal problems for small and mid-sized businesses. Wage and hour violations. Misclassification of workers. Terminations that weren't documented. Handbooks that haven't been updated in years. None of these feels urgent until someone files a complaint.
The worst part: most of these problems are completely preventable. You don't need a legal department. You need a legal checkup.
Real Scenario
Real scenario: A construction company with 22 employees had been classifying workers as independent contractors for years. An audit triggered by a single complaint revealed that 6 of those workers should have been classified as employees. The resulting penalties, back taxes, and benefits claims totaled over $220,000; all from a classification decision the owner made without knowing the rules had changed.
What This Pillar Covers
Pillar 4 examines your employment practices from hiring to termination — and every step in between. We look at:
Employee handbook: Is it current, compliant, and do employees acknowledge it?
At-will employment and anti-harassment policies: Are they clearly stated?
Wage and hour compliance: Are overtime, breaks, and pay classifications correct?
Worker classification: Are the people you call contractors legally classified that way?
Confidentiality and IP assignment agreements: Are your business secrets protected?
Non-solicitation provisions: Are they actually enforceable in your state?
Termination documentation: If you ever let someone go, are you protected?
OSHA and safety compliance: Do you have what you need to pass an inspection?
Leave policies: Are you complying with state and federal leave requirements?
What You Get From This Assessment
WITHOUT this assessment
• Wage and hour violations you never knew were happening
• Worker misclassification penalties that land without warning
• Terminations that turn into costly wrongful termination claims
• Safety violations discovered during an inspection, not before
WITH a clean Pillar 1
• Employment practices that hold up under scrutiny
• Clear, current policies employees have acknowledged in writing
• Documentation that protects you in a termination dispute
• A workplace that's safe, compliant, and ready for any audit
Watch the Video
Eric Jeppson discusses the most common and most costly employment mistakes he sees in growing businesses and what it takes to build a workforce your business can actually stand behind.
Your Next Step
The Pillar 4 Checklist gives you a clear picture of where your employment practices are solid and where they expose you, including questions to ask your lawyer. Score each area, identify your gaps, and leave with a concrete action plan.
Get the Pillar 4 Checklist
Know exactly where you stand on Employment & Safety Compliance. The Pillar 4 Checklist walks you through every critical item, with plain-English explanations, real-world scenarios, and action steps you can take today.
Or book a free 15-minute Legal Health Review → jeppsonlaw.com