Contents
1. Exposure to Liability in the Hiring Process
2. Failure to Adequately Document Terms and Conditions of Employment
3. Misclassification Issues
- Employee or Independent Contractor
- Exempt or Non-exempt
4. Failure to Comply with Wage Payment Laws
5. Inadequate Protection of Intellectual Property
Excerpt:
Emerging, venture capital-backed companies typically face a host of legal considerations but have limited personnel and monetary resources to address all of them comprehensively. Often lacking in-house human resources and legal expertise, many emerging companies employ a "band-aid" approach to HR-related issues, addressing problems only as they arise. There are, however, a few common employment law issues to be aware of, and a bit of advance understanding and planning can do a great deal to minimize the downstream risks of expensive legal headaches.
Distilled here are five employment law hazard areas that managers at early-stage companies often encounter. These areas, I have found, are where employment-related disputes most consistently arise at venture-backed start-ups. (continues...)
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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.