March 2006

How to Avoid Incorrectly Treating a Worker as an Independent Contractor.

The penalties for incorrectly treating a worker as an independent contractor are significant. Consider these factors before deciding whether to treat a worker as a contractor.

Many business owners want to use independent contractors to complete certain tasks rather than hiring employees. There are…

How to Preserve Corporate Status and Maintain Limited Liability: Follow simple steps to preserve your corporate status and maintain limited liability.

If you are careless about maintaining the separation between the corporation and yourself, you can jeopardize your freedom from personal liability or certain tax benefits – the main reasons to incorporate. It is rare…

Who Should Conduct an Internal Investigation of Harassment: Considerations

Business owners often wonder who should conduct internal investigations of harassment. Here are some considerations:

Internal Investigators

1) Management. A direct supervisor may be less likely to be impartial. If a manager is chosen outside the direct line of supervision, that person should be of higher…

Iowa Registered Agent Services for Businesses:

Sullivan & Ward, P.C. provides Iowa registered agent services for your business. Corporations and limited liability companies are required to appoint a registered agent and office within Iowa to receive service of process. We serve as your business entity’s Iowa designee to accept official documents on your behalf such…

Des Moines Patent Lawyer Files RICO Lawsuit to Fight Alleged eBay Fraud

Des Moines patent lawyer Brett Trout recently filed a federal lawsuit alleging RICO violations against a woman Trout says is defrauding eBay users. Trout purchased a car from the woman for $22,000 on eBay. He received the car but the title was never…

Avoiding Sexual Harassment Claims in Iowa: Practical Advice

Employers have an obligation to prevent sexual and other forms of harassment in the workplace. Some ways to avoid harassment claims include the following:

  • Have a written policy against harassment which should include an anti-retaliation provision for those employees who report harassment.
  • Provide and communicate in writing

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Small Business Human Resource Audits: How to avoid employee lawsuits

Are your employment policies and practices up-to-date? Every employer is at risk for an employment-related lawsuit. Every lawsuit is potentially devastating to your business, given the high costs of defending a suit, negative publicity, employee time spent in litigation, and ripple effect of employee complaints.