Most people only think about hiring an employment lawyer if they are upset about their treatment on the job or feel as if they were harassed or fired without good cause. While employees do need these lawyers on a regular basis to protect their rights, a great lawyer can also help employers. If you own a business or company, then it’s important to know when to hire lawyers and how they can help you.

1. You Want to Fire Someone

Before you fire an employee, it’s a good idea to check with a skilled employment lawyer Mississauga to make sure that termination will be legal. You don’t want to put yourself in a bad position by firing an employee without legal cause or if he or she is in a protected class. Always get legal advice if termination may result in violence, the employee has hired a lawyer for representation, or you are worried about breaching an employment contract that you have with them.

2. A Former Employee Is Suing You

Once you have fired an employee, you hope that he or she will leave peacefully but there is always the risk that he or she will sue you or your company. Employment lawsuits can be drawn-out and difficult to deal with. Getting legal help right away is important. You need to protect your rights quickly and hiring a lawyer is the best way to do this.

3. You Have Written a New Employment Contract

Any time that you update or change employment contracts, then you will want to have an expert lawyer look over it to make sure that it includes all of the necessary information and legal terms. You have to be sure that your contract will be upheld by a court if you ever get into a legal battle with an employee. Your lawyer will also be able to advise you if you have included any sections or language that may result in problems in the future and help you to remove the issue.

4. Your Policies Have Changed

It’s normal for companies to change their policies and update their handbooks but each time you do so, you need to make sure that you aren’t inadvertently violating any laws. Your lawyer will look for information about family leave and health and safety to ensure that your employees’ rights are protected. In addition, they may suggest to you additional information or policies that you want to include to ensure that your company is protected in case of disgruntled employees or to keep your employees from abusing the system.

5. A Decision Will Affect a Lot of Employees

Any time that you are going to make a decision that will have an impact on a large number of your employees, then you need to make sure that you are avoiding any legal problems in the future. Examples include if you are discontinuing a benefit that you offered to your employees in the past, going to lay off a number of employees, or need to make changes to your pension plan. Rather than dealing with major legal problems in the future, you can avoid these problems by getting professional help.