HandlingEmployment for Bosses and Supervisors Guidelines to Avoid Employee Lawsuits,
With a Touch of Humor
by Geoffrey H. Hopper
Labor and Employment Attorney
Received highest independent rating in North America
Cases of this book could prevent Cases in Court!
It is estimated that one out of three bosses/ supervisors will be involved in claims during their careers, frequently in the six- and seven-digit numbers. This can literally destroy a business, oftentimes with bosses or supervisors oblivious they were even in violation of any laws.
“Geoff has taken this topic and created a clear, concise, and very workable tool that can be used to deal with the day-to-day questions that employers are so often faced with.” - Robin Hood , V.P. of West Coast Operations, Mathis Brothers Furniture
“This book is short but filled with sage advice based on Geoff’s success as an attorney, which will be invaluable to conscientious bosses and supervisors.” - Dr. Ronald Ellis, President, California Baptist University
“As always, Geoff’s straightforward and comprehensive depiction of employment guidelines provide an excellent foundation for all supervisors and managers. If more people followed his suggestions, employment attorneys would have little to do.” - Erin Fuller, SVP Human Resources, Altura Credit Union
“This is one of the most important topics in business, and this book is a must-read for any owner/manager or executive on any level! Save yourself and your business some time, money, and grief by reading this book by Geoffrey Hopper. Geoff's insight and expertise on employment law will help any business manager save their company money if they only read the book and follow the advice given. And for such a dry subject Hopper makes it humorously bearable.” - Bill Evans, VP/GM, Desert Television
REVIEWS:
Practical Pointers for Avoiding Employment Pitfalls and Problems, December 15, 2007
Successful attorney Geoffrey H. Hopper writes from a rich background gained from his business experience in steel fabrication and through litigation in the area of employment and business law. In his new book "Handling Employment for Bosses and Supervisors" Geoffrey offers guidelines to improve employee moral, for reducing absenteeism, and litigation fees, while increasing productivity.
The book follows a natural progression beginning with a listing of "23 Factors Causing Employment Problems" and a brief history of employment law in the introduction. He follows with a chapter explaining to the reader why they should be reading this book. The chapters that follow are packed with practical recommendations on subjects including: Employee training, evaluations, employee applications, screening, and interviews. In the final chapters Hopper offers important guidelines for handling sexual harassment issues, violence in the workplace, employment practices, and suggestions for selecting qualified legal counsel.
Geoffrey writes with a flare for humor as he clearly articulates the pitfalls of employer practices in handling human resources. Chapter titles include: "Remember the Blue Haired Lady Doctrine." I particularly enjoyed the pithy quotes and sage advice from such diverse persons as Malcolm Forbes, Dolly Parton, Winston Churchill, and Abigail Van Buren.
Employers, and supervisors, as well as indiviual employees will benefit from the important guidelines provided in "Handling Employment for Bosses and Supervisors." This is a "must read book" for every CEO, Human Resource Director, and Department Head.
Handling Employment for Bosses and Supervisors: Guidelines to Avoid Employee Lawsuits, With a Touch of Humor
Reviewed by Kathleen Dowdell for Reader Views (4/08)
Written by a labor and employment attorney, “Handling Employment for Bosses and Supervisors” presumes to be a guideline for avoiding employee lawsuits. In the author’s section, titled “Thirty-One Steps on How to Keep Your Home,” he lays out thirty-one ideas of practical information that employers should use to protect themselves from litigation that may cost them their home (employment litigation) or their lives (workplace violence). Hopper spends a good chunk of time explaining employment litigation and its repercussions likening it to going through a divorce. He includes twenty-three factors that cause employment problems and he provides practical, legal suggestions how managers and supervisors can avoid litigation. He points out that “the United States is viewed by many as the most litigious country in the world having more than 20,000 discrimination lawsuits filed in 2000.” Staggering figures like that make this book a must have in any employers’ library.
The evolution of employment law in the United States began about forty to fifty years ago, modeling itself from England’s employment law in the beginning of the 1800s. An interesting fact the author points out is how the term “fired” came about. Back in 1871 “fired out” meant to throw out or eject someone from a place or location. Some years later “out” was dropped and the term “fired” came to be synonymous with “dismissal of an employee.” When an employer has to fire someone, he has made two mistakes: hiring the person in the first place and failing to train the person to become productive. Investing in your employees pays off in the long run as is pointed out in one of the thirty-one steps he discusses. Employees, as Hopper points out, should always be treated with dignity and respect. If everyone remembered and acted that way, the workplace would be a better place.
This book contains practical, concise information and makes a great reference for managers and supervisors. Every factor of employment is covered in this book including interviewing techniques, policy writing, sexual harassment, unlawful employment practices, termination, and workplace violence. Hopper uses humor to keep the book from becoming too morose. The subtitle of the book “Guidelines to Avoid Employee Lawsuits, With a Touch of Humor” is aptly named. Quotes of famous people interspersed throughout the book make the information more personal and adaptable to the reader.
I would recommend “Handling Employment for Bosses and Supervisors” to owners of small business as well as managers and supervisors. Its content is informative, practical, and humorous. The book is laid out in short, easy to read sections. By adding humor to the content, Hopper’s great writing style makes what could be laborious reading interesting and fun.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: What Seminar Attendees Say About Geoffrey Hopper: * Very funny * Outstanding * Helpful * Gives wonderful examples
* Informative * Makes legal stuff understandable * Frank
* Extremely knowledgeable * Direct & to the point
* Personal & professional * Intelligent & engaging * Fantastic Geoffrey Hopper(see photo below) began employment at the age of six working for his father’s steel company located in California, working his way up through the family-owned business and obtaining his contractor’s license as a teenager while at the same time going to college and graduating from law school by the age of twenty-four where he was selected as best oral advocate.From there he was employed by a prestigious law firm where he worked for nearly twenty years, during which time he also served as the president of California, Riverside County’s Bar Association and began his practice in the area of employment and business law.Eventually this practice evolved into not only writing numerous articles but also providing in excess of 1,000 lectures and seminars for attorneys, law schools, universities, businesses, service organizations, and clients.In 2001, he retired as a partner from his old firm and started his own firm and now practices in Redlands, California, serving literally hundreds of employers in both labor and employment matters.He has been selected as one of the best attorneys in the United States as well as having received the highest independent rating available for attorneys in the North America.He and his wife Lauralea have three children and reside in Lake Arrowhead, California.
Visit him at www.hopperlaw.com. Having presented more than one thousand (1000!) seminars, he is the man for you to call at (909) 798-9800.
EMPLOYMENT B S - ISBN 978-1-931741-89-7, $19.95 softcover, 144 pages FOR QUANTITY DISCOUNTS, CALL the publisher,
Robert D. Reed Publishers at (541) 347-9882.
Buying cases of this book could well prevent you
from having cases in court!
