Guest Speaker: Karina B. Sterman - partner at Ervin Cohen and Jessup LLP, who specializes in Litigation and Employment Law spoke to our group and guests on September 3rd’s meeting on hiring in the American workforce. Karina provided guidelines on the effectiveness of a proper interview as well as the information and guidance on employment hires. Here are some of the key points of the presentation.
The most recent statistics show that the average American workplace is experience tremendous turnover; employers are hiring the wrong people who they then have to fire and employees who are great are leaving for better opportunities. So, how does an employer minimize this expensive and demoralizing process? The answer it to “Focus on the hiring phase”. The key to successful hiring for all employers is first to understand what it means. I suggest the definition is “hiring an employee who is qualified and capable, who is willing to work at the pay you are offering, who will be loyal enough to give you the benefit of the doubt when you make a mistake,” because you will. With that definition, successful hiring necessarily takes place in three stages:
1. Thoughtful planning of the job description and interview process;
2. Honest and realistic hiring of the new employee;
3. Strategic training of the employee and mentor partnering with another employee during the onboarding and orientation phase.
If executed properly, an applicant will turn into a successful hire and help grow, strengthen and maximize the profitability of a workplace.
About Karina B. Sterman:
Karina B. Sterman is a partner in the Litigation and Employment Law Departments of ECJ. A published author and frequent guest speaker on employment law and intellectual property matters, Karina maintains a Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating of AV Preeminent. She has also been recognized by her peers for many years as a Rising Star and most recently as a Super Lawyer in the Field of Employment Law, as published by LOS ANGELES magazine.
A creative and ardent advocate for her clients, Karina defends companies in class action lawsuits as well as in single plaintiff discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other lawsuits. Karina also defends companies in administrative proceedings in front of the EEOC, Department of Labor, California Labor Commissioner and others.
Karina has significant experience in “behind the scenes” counseling on wage and hour and other employment law compliance, drafting employment related documents, and participating in business minded employment strategy to avoid litigation and costly long-term mistakes.
Karina also builds Trade Secret and Intellectual Property protection plans for companies to maximize the value of their investment in their intellectual property.