Minimizing Wrongful Termination Claims

How operators can reduce risk with better documentation, consistent policies, and stronger training.I’ll never forget this moment with one of my clients.

One of their general managers had just let go of a team member for repeated tardiness. On paper, it seemed like a slam dunk—the employee had been late 18 times in two months. But when I asked about the documentation, I got a sheepish shrug. “Well, we didn’t write her up every time,” the manager said. “But we talked about it a lot.”

Turns out, three other employees were just as late—and none of them had been disciplined. One of them was even getting promoted. You can guess how that story ended.

Inconsistent documentation, unclear policies, and emotional decision-making are a recipe for wrongful termination claims—and in restaurants, where turnover is high and time is tight, it’s all too common.

So how do you protect your business and treat your people fairly?

Here’s what every restaurant operator needs to…