Disciplining or terminating an employee is one of the riskiest actions an employer can take—and one of the most common sources of costly litigation. This CLE course provides practical strategies and legal insights to help you guide your clients through performance management, discipline, and termination while minimizing the risk of discrimination claims and other employment-related liability.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of the legal framework surrounding employment decisions, including federal anti-discrimination laws and the employment-at-will doctrine. The program will highlight best practices for drafting policies, documenting performance issues, and handling disciplinary actions and terminations in a way that protects both employers and their counsel from future challenges.

• The federal employment discrimination statutes most frequently implicated in termination cases
• The employment-at-will doctrine, its exceptions, and how they shape litigation risk
• Crafting and enforcing workplace policies that stand up under legal scrutiny
• Protected classes under federal law and how claims typically arise
• Ensuring consistent application of HR policies to minimize allegations of disparate treatment
• Documentation strategies: creating a defensible record of performance issues
• Key elements of disciplinary warnings that help insulate against legal claims
• Drafting termination letters that reduce the risk of subsequent litigation
• Practical guidance on advising clients through high-risk termination decisions