(January 5, 2009) As the economy remains unstable, many business owners and human resource managers are forced to downsize their operations, but businesses must be aware of the proper protocols before initiating layoffs. That’s why CalBizCentral, a division of the California Chamber of Commerce, will cover the do’s and don’ts of layoffs in its upcoming free live web seminar, Checklist for Conducting Layoffs, on Jan. 7, 2009, from 10 to 10.45 a.m. Pacific time.

“A reality of this tough economy is the challenge of laying off employees without exposing your company to liability,” said Jessica Hawthorne, web seminar presenter and employment law counsel with CalBizCentral. “That’s why it’s so important to proceed professionally within the boundaries of the law. Clear policies and procedures and proper training of employees carrying out the layoff can reduce the chances of a lawsuit being filed against the employer.”

The 45-minute web seminar, presented by three of CalChamber’s experienced attorneys, will give attendees a clear outline of the issues to consider before conducting layoffs and how to effectively communicate information to employees without creating confusion or exposing the company to unnecessary liability. This web seminar is the perfect primer for CalBizCentral’s in-depth 90-minute Layoff Live Web Seminar coming later this winter.

Topics to be covered by the live web seminar include:

• Layoff policy: Why businesses should have one and what it should contain.
• Critical issues: Before managers layoff employees, factors such as seniority and performance must be considered as this will have an impact on who gets laid off.
• Final pay: Ways to manage final paychecks to employees.
• Other impacts: How a layoff could affect employee bonuses and unemployment insurance.

To register for the free Checklist for Conducting Layoffs web seminar or for more information, please visit www.calbizcentral.com/training or call (800) 331-8877.