Stay Out of Court
Fortunately for small businesses that lack dedicated legal counsel, most workplace disputes can be resolved without litigation. This saves everyone a lot of time, money, and energy they can spend elsewhere.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that its mediation program has a 72% settlement rate. In nearly half of the cases, the settlement involved a non-monetary benefit. Employees often want intangible benefits, such as:
- reversal of adverse employment actions
- fair opportunities for employment or promotion
- sensitivity training for their supervisors and co-workers
- policy changes that protect others from similar discrimination
- reasonable accommodations (e.g., for disabilities, religious practice)
- apologies, acknowledgment, and respect
Facilitated communication continues to repair and improve relationships, even if employment ends. It also reveals underlying causes of poor performance, and it creates new opportunities for success.
Want to resolve your workplace dispute outside of court?
Combat Hostile Work Environments
A 2019 report by Paychex revealed what probably didn’t surprise many minority workers. “[H]iring bias against black and Hispanic employees hasn’t improved at all in over two decades.” A 2018 EEOC report indicates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) has also done little good over the past 50 years, and case statistics suggest the same regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Further, retaliation remains an issue in approximately 50% of all EEOC complaints.
It appears people haven’t developed the skills necessary to work with people who seem different from them. Rather than developing the necessary skills, they are actively or constructively terminating the people who speak up about inequities.
Rather than learn about your hostile work environment when you receive a claim from the EEOC, New York State Division of Human Rights, or the New York City Commission on Human Rights, you can start cultivating an environment today that invites employees to share and resolve concerns.
Prepare for the Most Diverse Generations
More Americans younger than 44 years old are members of minority groups, and they want workplaces where they feel welcome and respected. That’s what most workers want, but the ways we created that experience 40 years ago probably won’t be as effective going forward. Seventy-two percent of Baby Boomers are white, and many of the policies and procedures in place were implemented under implicit biases. It usually wasn’t intentional; implicit biases are hidden from us. Yet that’s no excuse for continuing to do things the way they have always been done. It might also negatively affect your bottom line and competitive advantage.
By embracing the diversity of your workforce and building skill in motivating employees from a variety of backgrounds, you can:
- Get ahead of your competitors
- Attract the best employees
- Develop and retain them
Testimonials
Nance at the core you are a healer too, and I’m so grateful to have met you. ~ J.Z., Business Owner, NY
I am so glad to be working with you and your style of “work/life” definitely inspire me…Getting even [the first result we got] feels like some form of vindication and puts me more at ease going forward…I know you are there in my corner and that helps.” ~ S.B., Business Owner, NY
You took my “spewing” and pull[ed] it down into a format that makes sense. This is SO helpful to me. You are truly gifted in bringing cohesive thoughts together while adding humor and sweet praise that is personal and meaningful. ~ C.H., Business Owner, PA
Thank you so much for your wonderful insights today. I learn so much from you…and you really are a wonderful coach. ~ N.K., Business Owner, NY
That conversation with you had me realize what I stopped doing that worked for me early in my career, and it is what I really like to do. It brought me at least five new clients and more than $33,000.00. ~ R.B., Business Owner, NY