Performance Management For Dummies

Chapter 18

Staying on the Right Side of the Law

IN THIS CHAPTER

Implementing performance management systems that are fair

Implementing performance management systems that comply with the law

Implementing lawful performance management systems in domestic and global organizations

Performance management systems that are fair and acceptable to employees are typically also legally sound.

A basic principle that guides the design of a fair system is that procedures are standardized and that the same procedures are used with all employees. In other words, when the rules and procedures are known by everyone and they are applied in the same way to everyone, the system is likely to be regarded as a fair one. This is also the basic principle that underlies the implementation of performance management systems that are lawful.

This chapter covers how to implement a lawful performance management system.

Implementing the Golden Rule

Legislation and court cases in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other countries around the world show that the discriminatory effects of a performance management system can be minimized by applying this golden rule:

Treat everyone in exactly ...