Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the content that will be covered during three brown bag sessions for department managers on the topics of record keeping, ethics and law, and succession planning. The first session will focus on maintaining accurate employee records and will identify four reasons for doing so. The second session will examine the legal and ethical aspects of termination decisions, particularly in a cost-saving initiative, by analyzing the case of four employees with differing characteristics. The third session will provide recommendations for a process to identify and groom internal candidates for senior-level leadership positions.
Session 1: Maintaining Accurate Employee Records
The first session will focus on maintaining accurate employee records, which are critical to an organization’s legal, ethical, and operational needs. The four reasons for maintaining accurate and objective employee records are:
- Compliance: Organizations must maintain accurate employee records to comply with various legal and regulatory requirements, such as tax laws, wage and hour laws, and workplace safety laws.
- Performance Management: Employee records can be used to track performance and productivity, identify areas for improvement, and provide feedback to employees.
- Legal Defense: Accurate and objective employee records can serve as evidence in legal disputes, such as discrimination lawsuits, wage and hour disputes, and wrongful termination cases.
- Succession Planning: Employee records can be used to identify high-performing employees who can be groomed for leadership positions and who can fill critical roles in the event of unexpected turnover.
Session 2: Ethical and Legal Termination
The second session will examine the legal and ethical aspects of termination decisions in the context of a cost-saving initiative. The case involves four employees with differing characteristics, including a disabled employee, an employee paid significantly more than others, an employee over 60 years of age, and an employee planning to take an extended family leave. The legal implications of termination decisions will be analyzed with reference to specific statutes or laws governing employment law. Ethical facets of termination decisions will be examined with reference to an ethical framework to support assertions or positions. The aim is to provide guidance for managers on how to make fair and legal termination decisions, while considering ethical implications.
Session 3: Succession Planning
The third session will provide recommendations for a process to identify and groom internal candidates for senior-level leadership positions. Succession planning is a critical process for organizations to ensure continuity of leadership and to maintain organizational effectiveness. The process of identifying and grooming internal candidates for senior-level leadership positions will be described in detail, including the use of talent management programs, mentoring, and leadership development initiatives. Recommendations will be provided on how to ensure that the selection process is fair, transparent, and effective.
In conclusion, these three brown bag sessions will provide department managers with a comprehensive understanding of record keeping, ethics and law, and succession planning. Accurate employee records, legal and ethical termination decisions, and effective succession planning are critical to organizational success and sustainability. By implementing best practices in these areas, organizations can ensure that they operate in a fair, ethical, and effective manner, and that they are well-positioned for long-term success.
