Frank Kollman

I was sitting in a client’s office last week when a book on his desk caught my eye. It was called “The Procrastinator’s Handbook: Mastering the Art of Doing it Now” by Rita Emmett. I asked him about it, and he told me that the book would make me money. That really caught my interest.

It seems that Ms. Emmett recommends making a “to-do” list of all the things you have been “meaning” to do, but haven’t. Then, as you employ the strategies in the book, the “to-do” list becomes smaller and smaller. My client had done such a list for his business, and it included more legal work for me.

Rather than ask to see his list, I decided to create a list of my own for this column. What would I recommend that a client put on his “to-do” list for labor relations?

Here’s what I came up with:

1. Train my supervisors in labor law, people skills, and writing techniques.

2. Develop an employee handbook (or have it updated). Develop job descriptions.

3. Develop a safety program that complies with OSHA and state safety laws.

4. Review my wage payment policies to insure compliance with minimum wage and overtime requirements.

5. Organize personnel files.

6. Sponsor a seminar on sexual harassment for my employees.

7. Have a meeting with my employees to discuss their ideas, concerns, and problems, and schedule these meetings regularly (e.g., every three months).

8. Review and revise my employment application.

9. Review and revise my disciplinary forms.

10. Use regular, written evaluations of employees.

11. Check to make sure I am paying a competitive wage.

12. Have my health insurance, retirement, and other fringe benefit programs reviewed to make sure I am getting good rates and giving good, tangible benefits.

13. Write my state delegates and federal representatives to get them to repeal ridiculous labor laws.

14. Get access to the Internet to take advantage of resource material, such as the interactive forums on www.kollmanlaw.com.

15. Meet with my managers to evaluate what other things need to be placed on my “to-do” list.

16. Hire a labor lawyer, if I don’t already have one.

There are probably a couple hundred more that could be put on this list, but these 16 represent a good start. It is so easy for an employer who has never had a lawsuit or charge against it to ignore these items, but once a lawsuit is filed, having done these things will help reduce litigation costs and increase the likelihood of winning.

Ms. Emmett suggests that we procrastinate for a variety of reasons (yes, I bought the book). For example, I now know why I am writing this column on the day I promised it to the editor. Nevertheless, it is amazing how quickly jobs get done once a person starts to do them. Ms. Emmett recommends getting a timer and devoting one hour each day to a task on the “to-do” list. So, drycleaners, buy a kitchen timer, set it for one hour, and start working on that employee handbook.

Frank Kollman is a partner in the law firm of Kollman & Saucier, PA, in Baltimore, MD. He can be reached by phone at (410) 727-4300 or fax (410) 727-4391. His firm’s web site at www.kollman-law.com has articles, sample policies, news and other information on employee/employer relations.