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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A R C H 2 0 1 5
S U R G E O N S ' L O U N G E
A
difficult employ-
ee puts all that
matters to a sur-
gical facility at risk: quali-
ty of patient care, opera-
tional efficiency and pro-
fessional reputation. But
even a fully justifiable dis-
ciplinary action or termi-
nation might result in
another risk — costly,
time-consuming, disrup-
tive and stressful litigation
that alleges workplace
discrimination, harass-
ment or retaliation. While
you can't protect yourself
against every employment dispute, Arlene Switzer Steinfeld, JD, sen-
ior counsel in the labor and employment practice at the Dykema law
firm's Dallas office, offers a few steps you can take when dealing with
difficult employees that will put your facility in the best possible light
in the event of a claim.
• See all sides. Before imposing discipline on employees believed to
be less-than-competent or unprofessional, carefully investigate all the
relevant facts and don't rely solely on the word of a single employee,
even if that employee is a manager.
Will Fired Employees Come Back to Haunt You?
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
z SHOWN THE DOOR When it's necessary to act on difficult employ-
ees, compliance with employment law will put you on firm ground.
E M P L O Y M E N T L A W