When it comes to owning your own business there are many different hurdles you have to jump over followed by hoops to jump through. Generally speaking, as long as you have followed the correct guidelines and have certain processes in place then you’re going to be able to run a business with relatively small amounts of problems. If you start acting against some of these rules then you’re going to face many issues. Being in a situation where your business is getting sued is never good and will be costly for you and the business so it’s best to avoid these situations at all costs.
But what are the likely reasons your business will get sued? Read on to find out.
Breach Of Contract
One of the main reasons companies get sued is breaching the terms of a contract. This can be for a huge variety of reasons as we have contracts for anything we do in a professional sense. Delivering goods that are damaged is a breach of contract, failing to pay for goods is also a breach, even sending incorrect goods. As you can see, the breach of contract can be applied in many different circumstances and will be approached as a serious issue.
You’re more likely to be sued by another business when it comes to breach of contract, as many customers just want the product they have ordered and things can be de-escalated easily with the correction of a problem. But that’s not to say they won’t file a lawsuit against you.
Injury In The Workplace
As a business, you have a duty of care not only to your employers but to your customers as well. This could be a safety procedure, a fire escape plan, keeping the building safe from minor damages, and even a mere cleaning schedule. These are all essential to your duty of care and if they’re broken it can lead to a lawsuit.
One of the most common injuries in a workplace is the slip & fall, usually caused by a spillage, wet floors, or an uneven surface. When talking with a Fort Wayne personal injury lawyer they explained that if a sign isn’t out when the flooring is wet it will lead to a lawsuit as the company hasn’t completed their duty of care. Even if the pavement entering their building is damaged, it’s the companies duty to get it repaired to ensure no person entering has an accident.
Discrimination
If an employee or customer suspects any form of discrimination then there is a high chance a lawsuit will land on your desk. Discrimination takes place more than we care to admit in the business world and consists of racial, sexual, religious, or gender bias. Not only is this completely unacceptable but it’s also unforgivable. If you’re holding an interview make sure all of your questions are above board. If you’re unsure then there are some online sources that can help you tailor your questions so they fit perfectly amongst the modern world.
Harassment
Whilst a harassment case might not be filed against you as a business owner, it could be filed within your company against other members of your staff. Every business should have a human resources department and they ensure that a code of conduct is in place for everyone to abide by whilst working. Any infringement of that code should be taken seriously and brought up with the offending party. As a business owner you should do everything in your power to ensure harassment within the workplace never happens because if it does, you’ll find yourself in the middle of a legal battle.
Intellectual Property Rights
Using someone else’s intellectual property for personal or business gain without their permission is a sure way to find yourself in the hot seat. If they can prove the idea was theirs in the first place and you took it without asking or even a conversation then you can expect a lawsuit. People are very protective of their ideas and will do many things to try and stop people from using them.
If you hear an employee’s idea and believe it’s a good one and something that will help the business then it’s best to make it worth their while. Offer them a bonus if the deal does well or even create a separate project for them to run. This will make them feel as though they are worthy of giving ideas, as long as it’s worth their while.
These are just a few examples of how a business can get sued easily. As long as you follow the rules then everything should be fine. Make sure you keep up to date with certain aspects of these laws as wording can change and things can become unacceptable to say overnight. Keeping your entire workforce happy is no easy feat, but if you can do it then you’ll have a successful and long-running business.
