Business owners have to be aware of many laws, including those dealing with employment discrimination. Laws have been added and changed over the years, making it difficult for business owners to stay up to date.

Discrimination is one of the top reasons employees file lawsuits against their employer. Discrimination covers a wide range including age, equal pay, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, national origin, race/color, retaliation, religion and sex.

To avoid discrimination lawsuits, employers should maintain thorough documentation and files for all employees, hold employee training seminars, and have an attorney they can reach out to about such matters as they arise.

Keeping employee documents can really help in a lawsuit. Often, businesses get into trouble for not documenting hours correctly, or not having a time card system. Holding regular training sessions about discrimination and harassment can also help businesses avoid lawsuits. Proper training is critical in making sure employees understand these issues.

Because discrimination laws change often, having a knowledgeable attorney available as a resource can reduce the liability. An in-house attorney, such as InnovaCounsel, can make sure the correct hiring processes are in place, and assist with employee handbooks and training programs.