We do our best during the hiring process to screen out potential conflicts and hire staff that we think will get along. That doesn’t always work out.

If you’ve had a verbal or physical altercation between employees, you may be wondering what to do next. Here are a few legal considerations if your employees got into a fight.

Employee Safety

First and foremost, employers must provide a safe working environment for employees. So if a disagreement ended up in fisticuffs, your first priority should be guaranteeing that all of your employees, including those that weren’t involved, are safe and secure in the workplace.

It’s possible that ensuring your personnel feel safe means firing one or more employees. While you may be justifiably concerned that firing an employee in such a charged environment will turn into another scene, if you set the appropriate tone and follow your existing protocols for termination, you should be fine. (You may want to check out these other legal tips for firing an employee.)

Just as important as keeping your team feeling comfortable and cohesive, is avoiding any further legal liability down the line. The easiest way to avoid an employee lawsuit is to have an well-defined dispute resolution policy for your employees.

What to Do

Also, as an employer, you are generally responsible for your employees’ actions, even against other employees. So if you knew an employee was dangerous and didn’t act properly, you could be liable for some hefty damages.

Last “To Do”

Follow FindLaw for Consumers on Google+.

Related Resources:

  • Browse Employment Law – Employer Lawyers by Location (FindLaw Directory)
  • 5 Types of Employees You May Want to Fire (FindLaw’s Free Enterprise)
  • Wrongful Termination Law: Avoiding a Lawsuit (FindLaw’s Free Enterprise)
  • Improve Your Office Culture Without Getting Sued: 3 Legal Tips (FindLaw’s Free Enterprise)

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Civil Rights

Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court

Criminal

Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records

Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules