Personal Advancement
Legal employment seminars target auto dealersDealer Operations Training Inc. (D.O.T.), a Canadian-owned and operated company that provides training services to the automotive industry, will be providing critical legal employment seminars to all new-car dealers and businesses across Canada. |
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 [ 2002-05-22 ] |
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Farid Ahmad, president of D.O.T., personally sought the consulting services of the top employment lawyers in Ontario and strategic partners to stage these seminars.
"Having worked in the retail industry for over 21 years, I have experienced first hand the frustration and confusion surrounding hiring and terminating issues," Ahmad says.
He now owns several businesses, one a recruitment agency, AutoRecruit Inc.
"In working with clients across Canada, regardless of their size, I was always consulted by clients on internal issues when it came to dealing with employees," he says.
"I have seen some clients face huge unnecessary costs in defending themselves against frivolous law suits brought on by ex-employees, only because the client lacked the knowledge to hire, discipline or terminate employees the right way.
"D.O.T. is committed to helping any Canadian client in reducing their legal costs," he says. As 93% of all dealerships in Canada do not have an H.R. manager on staff, dealers are often not aware of how the law affects their dealership when it comes to the hiring and termination of employees.
"This, combined with the upcoming legislative changes to Canadian employment law, make these seminars the two most important training seminars for the Canadian Automotive Industry in years," says Laura Williams, LLB, Employment Lawyer with Crawford Chondon & Andree LLP.
"The contents of these seminars are every bit as relevant to hiring managers from all industries -- this is employment law."
Furthermore, says Williams, "The incidence of wrongful hiring practices resulting in litigation has risen substantially over the past few years.
It seems that most hiring managers within auto dealerships have little or no H.R. training, and this, coupled with the fact that they are busy selling cars, has left the auto industry particularly vulnerable.
Applicants, especially in the auto-industry, are becoming increasingly savvy. Ask an illegal question and fail to hire that same candidate and chances are -- you could be sued!"
Wrongful dismissals are another point for concern. "When it comes to hiring and terminating -- knowledge of employment law is key. It really is quite simple to avoid the pitfalls of the hiring and terminating process -- we just need to get the message out as to how. I think the audiences attending these seminars will be amazed, and many will be counting themselves lucky considering some of their past practices."
The seminars will address the law and pitfalls of the hiring process, as well as the need to minimize employer liability when terminating employees.
Williams will cover the legal considerations and laws surrounding the entire employment process from advertising, interviewing and hiring to terminating without cause. Hiring managers will gain new legal knowledge, cost and time effective strategies for handling these processes.
"These interactive seminars are practical, user-friendly and delivered in plain English in a pull-no-punches manner, and the content is essential for hiring managers from any industry," says automotive specialist Kim McLeod, vice-president of Hire Performance Inc., a co-sponsor of the seminars.
"With employee turnover within the auto industry being what it is, when combined with the increasing tendency toward litigation, dealers should expect to face a substantial increase in employment related lawsuits," says Doug McCarten, director of insurance operations Canada for P&D Insurance, another co-sponsor.
"These seminars however, will no doubt keep dealers from falling victim to a wave of potential litigation."
D.O.T. will launch its GTA seminars May 28 and May 29.
For more information on D.O.T. or its program, contact Kim McLeod at 905-946-0777 or visit www.dealeroperations.com.
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