The Employment Law Manual

A Practical Guide for Business Owners, Managers, and Executives

Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2026
• Print ISBN:
  9781394394197
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781394394203
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Business Law
• Index: Business

A landmark resource for executives, managers, and business owners on mastering employment law

The first of its kind, this comprehensive guide is a roadmap for navigating employment law complexities while building stronger, more productive workplaces. Drawing from his four decades of frontline experience defending companies in employment litigation, Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. follows the chronological sequence of employment relationships – from hiring to firing, and everything in between – providing actionable strategies that have been stress-tested in courtrooms across America.

Not stopping there, Maatman reveals the hidden dynamics of how judges and juries evaluate personnel decisions, sharing insights gleaned from winning and losing court cases, teaching trial advocacy, and hearing directly from jurors about what influences their verdicts. Readers will learn how to:

• Implement effective hiring practices and conduct fair terminations
• Handle difficult employees and prevent sexual harassment problems
• Manage documentation requirements and structure personnel policies that protect both companies and workers

The Employment Law Manual: A Practical Guide for Business Owners, Managers, and Executives is an essential practical toolkit that enables business leaders to make confident personnel decisions while minimizing legal exposure and create workplaces characterized by trust, fairness, and mutual respect that foster both productivity and legal protection.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Preface
• 1 An Introduction to Workplace Law
• 2 What Managerial Personnel Need to Know About the Law of the Workplace
• 3 Strategies for Effectuating Fair and Just Terminations
• 4 Avoiding Sexual Harassment Problems in the Workplace
• 5 Strategies for Effective Hiring
• 6 Getting Employee Orientation and Education Right
• 7 Strategies for Handling Employee Evaluation and Disciplinary Matters
• 8 Dealing with Serious Employee Problems and Problem Employees
• 9 Managing Workplace Issues Arising from Electronic Communications and Internet Access
• 10 Dealing with Substance Abuse and Violence in the Workplace
• 11 Strategies for Managing Nontraditional Employment Relationships: Contingent Workers, Telecommuters, and Independent Contractors
• 12 Additional U.S. Employment Laws That Management Personnel Should Know About
• 13 Understanding the Keys to Proper Personnel Documentation
• 14 What Employers Should Know About the Process of Defending Employment‐Related Litigation
• 15 Employment Practices Liability Insurance
• 16 Conclusion
• Glossary of Employment Law Terms
• APPENDIX 1: Pre‐termination Checklist
• APPENDIX 2: Exit Interview Form
• APPENDIX 3: Checklist of Negotiating Items for Employee Releases
• APPENDIX 4: Sample Release Form for Use with Employees Under the Age of 40
• APPENDIX 5: Sample Release Form for Use with Employees Over the Age of 40
• APPENDIX 6: A Guide for Employers on Conducting an Internal Investigation of an Employee's Complaint of Sexual Harassment
• APPENDIX 7: Sample Offer Letter
• APPENDIX 8: Sample Equal Employment Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, and Anti‐Harassment Policy
• APPENDIX 9: Sample ADA/Reasonable Accommodation Policy
• APPENDIX 10: A Guide to Responding to an Employee's Request for a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
• APPENDIX 11: Sample Personnel Policy on Confidentiality
• APPENDIX 12: Sample At‐Will/Management Rights—Employee Acknowledgment Form
• APPENDIX 13: Sample Employment Code of Conduct
• APPENDIX 14: Sample Workplace Ethics Policy
• APPENDIX 15: Sample Religious Accommodation Personnel Policy
• APPENDIX 16: Sample FMLA Policy and Forms
• APPENDIX 17: Sample Neutral Leave of Absence Policy
• APPENDIX 18: Sample Open‐Door Policy
• APPENDIX 19: Sample Orientation Form
• APPENDIX 20: Sample Disciplinary Policy and Guide for Managers on Imposing Discipline
• APPENDIX 21: Sample Personnel Policy on Workplace Violence
• APPENDIX 22: Independent Contractor Agreement
• APPENDIX 23: Workplace Agreement to Mediate and Arbitrate All Employment Disputes
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Index
• End User License Agreement