Nursing Home Managers Get Guidance on Managing Layoffs and Lawsuits During a Down Economy
April 16, 2009
April 16, 2009 (PROVIDENCE) – Attorneys Sheri L. Pizzi and Andrew C. Coulam recently presented a seminar on effectively managing labor costs during a down economy to administrators of long term health care facilities.
Pizzi and Coulam offered tips and insights on reducing personnel costs and minimizing lawsuit risks when nursing homes are faced with tight budgetary constraints. If layoffs are the only option, they discussed how a facility can reduce its workforce and avoid liability for a wrongful termination. If, on the other hand, a nursing home wants to avoid terminations, Pizzi and Coulam provided guidance on tactics such as wage reductions, decreasing the number of hours worked, and furloughs.
Another hot button employment law topic is the Employee Free Choice Act currently pending in Congress. The measure, also known as the “Card Check” bill, would allow workers to join a union as soon as a majority of them sign authorization cards, making it easier for unions to organize employees without the need for a secret ballot. Pizzi and Coulam helped the audience to understand the potential impact of this bill on the nursing home industry.
Aside from knotty employment issues, Pizzi and Coulam also brought the audience up to date on lawsuits filed by residents and their families against long term care facilities. They suggested ways to either avoid these lawsuits, or, if involved in litigation, how to effectively manage the process, including tips on documentation and protecting the attorney-client privilege. The April 10, 2009 seminar – entitled “Approaches to Managing Labor Costs and Minimizing Risks of Malpractice Claims in a Down Economy” – was hosted by the Rhode Island Health Care Association.
About Taylor Duane
Taylor Duane is a leading civil litigation law firm in New England that helps businesses and individuals effectively and efficiently navigate complex legal matters. Its attorneys regularly try cases in federal and state courts, and also represent businesses in employment law matters. The Providence Business News named the firm in 2008 as one of Rhode Island’s Best Places to Work.
