It is important to ensure that employment policies are current and fully protect the library's legal interests. Employee handbooks are essential for employers in today's litigious environment. However, there are mistakes in drafting policies that could jeopardize an employer's ability to successfully defend employment claims. Attorney Mike Blum of Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC explores phrases and terms that should never be used in employment policies and discusses do's and don'ts of drafting an effective employee handbook, as well as strategies for getting employees back to work once Gov. Whitmer's Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order expires, and how to deal with employees who resist and would prefer to collect unemployment benefits.

Now that the library is closed to the public, you may have additional time to dust off the library’s policies and make sure they are up to date! Library policies are the cornerstone of library operations and provide an important tool for staff to deal with library patrons. In this webinar, Attorney Anne Seurynck from Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC reviews the most important library operational policies such as Patron Behavior Policy, Internet Use Policies, Freedom of Information Act Policies and Meeting Room Policies, the need for record retention and media policies, and also discusses emergency preparedness in light of the most recent COVID-19 issues faced by libraries.