Jacob M. Sitman, Shareholder and Chair of the firm’s Employment Law & Labor Relations Group, was a guest on HRMorning’s Voices of HR podcast. This weekly conversation with HR practitioners, thought leaders, and C-suite executives addresses what works and what doesn’t in human resources, people strategy, corporate culture, and more.
Mr. Sitman offered his seasoned perspective on the necessity to update employment handbooks and maintain personnel files, as methods to safeguard businesses from potential litigation in an episode entitled “Handbooks and Documentation: Your First Line of Defense,” which originally aired on April 10, 2024. He was interviewed by the show’s host Berta Aldrich, Outperformance Coach, and author of “Winning the Talent Shift.” 
In 2023, the EEOC filed 143 lawsuits on behalf of victims of workplace discrimination—an increase of more than 50% over 2022, securing more than $665 million in monetary relief for more than 22,000 victims. Mr. Sitman addressed how companies should have their handbooks and policies reviewed by an employment attorney (a service offered by FLB) at the onset and reviewed every two years at minimum to ensure they are current with state and federal laws and trends. Additionally, proper recordkeeping like personnel files and time tracking adds a layer of protection amidst pending legal action.
Mr. Sitman represents employers and executives in a wide array of employment law and traditional labor matters. A skilled litigator, Mr. Sitman often represents employers in federal and state court in defense of claims of discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, breach of contract, wrongful discharge and workplace safety claims filed in state and federal courts, with administrative agencies and in arbitration. Additionally, he counsels and trains business owners, executives and human resource managers in ways to reduce the risk of legal claims and how to make smart, strategic and cost-effective personnel-related decisions.
Click here to listen to Jake’s Voices of HR podcast.
Is your business in need of legal guidance on employment issues? Please reach out to our Employment Law & Labor Relations Group.
