Beyond the Handbook

How to Conduct a Workplace Investigation: The 5-Step Framework for Employers

One wrong question cost an HR director her job. Workplace investigations are where good companies quietly create their biggest legal exposure. In Episode 5, Chris Scott walks employers through the 5-step framework for running investigations that are prompt, impartial, documented, and defensible without turning a complaint into a lawsuit. When to investigate, who should run it, the five interview questions that matter, credibility assessment, and the five mistakes that cost companies the most. For HR professionals, business owners, and in-house counsel.

Episode 4: The Performance Improvement Plan

Performance Improvement Plans: Are they genuine coaching tools or just countdown clocks? Chris Scott breaks down the framework for PIPs that work.

FMLA: No Magic Words, Two Ways to Lose and Supervisor Liability

FMLA problems rarely start with a formal request—they start with an employee saying, “I need time off,” and someone missing the cue. In this episode, we break down the real-world risks of FMLA interference vs. retaliation, why there are no “magic words” required to trigger protections, and the plot twist many employers overlook: individual supervisors can sometimes be personally liable. Practical examples, clear takeaways, and a quick tease for next time: Performance Improvement Plans—how to use them as a tool, not a countdown clock. Visit US at www.tthlaw.com

Episode 2: Employee Handbooks

Every employer has a disciplinary policy; not everyone has one that actually helps. In this episode, we look at how discipline can protect you in litigation, when it should give you room to act fast, and how the beloved 90-day probationary period manages to confuse everyone equally. Plus, a one-page corrective action script and documentation tool to keep “verbal warnings” from disappearing into the void.

Episode 1: The Interactive Process

The ADA says “interactive process,” but most handbooks stop at “good luck.” In this episode, we walk through the five steps HR actually needs, the traps employers fall into, and why an under-desk bike might save you from litigation. Includes a free flowchart to help you handle accommodation requests without losing your sanity.