When problems arise, staying silent or looking the other way could put HR professionals in legal jeopardy. However, attorney R. Scott Oswald told attendees at the Society for Human Resource Management’s recent annual conference, that there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Start with detailed documentation. The saying, “If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen,” is popular for a reason. Particularly if a situation makes you uncomfortable or sets off concerns or red flags, write down details such as what happened, what was done and said, and why. Second, follow your organization’s own handbook and tie any recommendations or actions back to company policies, procedures, etc. Finally, realize that whistleblowing may be an option in some situations, particularly if there an immediate threat of danger in the workplace or taxpayers/investors are being defrauded. Read the full article.
