What advice do you have for companies interested in hiring a more diverse workforce?
Human Resources mentor Rudy Karsan responds to the following question from an inc.com user: "Many growing companies would like... Read more
Legal Issues
Recent Legal Issues Articles
Got a New Job? Better Check That Non-Compete Clause
Few would dispute the ability of the Internet to generate and spread information instantly and on a global basis. And few would deny that the Internet has... Read more
The Shadow of Domestic Violence
"It shouldn't be the business of business to get involved in employees' lives." But domestic violence is different. Read more
Red Tape Brainstorms
Name: Cherrill Farnsworth Number of companies founded: Six Why the big appetite: Irresistib... Read more
Terminating Pregnant Employees
Can you terminate an employee who is pregnant during her probation period? Read more
Trade Secret Basics
Trade secret law gives the owner of important commercial information the right to keep others from usingit. Here's what business owners need to know to pr... Read more
If You Publish It, Will They Come?
If you've decided to jump into online publishing -- putting out an online newsletter, magazine, or othercontent that will interest your customers -- you m... Read more
Pick a Legal Location and Avoid Zoning Trouble
Legally speaking, it's far less important whether a certain spot is a good one for your business than if it'sproperly zoned for what you plan to do. The f... Read more
Do I need workers' compensation insurance?
Offices & Operations mentor Mie-Yun Lee responds to the following question from an inc.com user: I've started a business and am... Read more
The Two L's of Legal Compliance: Leadership and Learning
The U.S. Supreme Court has articulated its mandate to employers: Not only is a policy prohibitingharassment and discrimination in the workplace required, ... Read more
What questions should I ask an attorney I might work with?
Law & Taxation mentor Chip Morse responds to the following question from an inc.com user: I'm interested in starting a corporati... Read more
What Does Copyright Protect?
The Copyright Act of 1976 protects creative expression: literary, dramatic, and musical works; pantomimes and dance; pictorial, graphic, and sculptural wo... Read more
Credit Card Laundering Is Dirty Business
Credit card laundering, sometimes referred to as "factoring," works like this: A company that does not have a credit card merchant account with a bank or ... Read more
Create an Ergonomic-Friendly Workplace
This commonsense advice will help you take the pain out of your work space. Read more
The UCITA: An Act Designed to Squash Your Rights
The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA), a commercial code for software licenses and other computer information transactions, is picking... Read more
What Web Site Builders Need to Know about Trademark Law
Doing business on the Web doesn't spare you from many of the same laws and customs that govern businesses in the physical world. You must pay especially c... Read more
Legal Hiring Practices FAQ
A big part of your job as an employer is finding and hiring new people for your company. From composing job advertisements to making an offer of employmen... Read more
Legal and Illegal Preemployment Inquiries
The chart below outlines the type of information you can ask for in applications and during job interviews as specified in federal laws. The chart may als... Read more
Lost in the Translation
Communication is tough. It's even tougher when workers don't speak your language Managing workers who don't speak English as their... Read more
Your Basic qué pasa?
Communicating with non-English-speaking workers isn't just an intellectual exercise; it's a daily, hands-on challenge, says Lisa Willis Johnson of the Soc... Read more
Selecting an Attorney
An entrepreneur should consider his or her legal needs early in the business development process. These needs can vary greatly, from occasional consultati... Read more
Working with Your Attorney
While law firms may negotiate a fee arrangement with an entrepreneur, the legal fees may still be a significant part of the operating expenses. Thus, the ... Read more
Attorney-Client Privilege
When hiring an attorney, the entrepreneur should clarify whom the attorney represents. The attorney-client privilege does not protect communications with ... Read more
Proprietary Information: Nondisclosure Agreements
A strong nondisclosure agreement is especially critical to Silicon Valley businesses and other fast-growth companies. An employer must insist that all its... Read more
Recruiting Employees
Employment laws become relevant long before you even hire an employee. In particular, discrimination laws may form a trap for the unwary would-be employer... Read more
A Vintage Cleanup
Imagine a football field covered in garbage. It's a foot deep, so when you walkaround in it - slogging through office paper, food pulp, old Bic pens - it ... Read more
Whatsnext.com for Microsoft
Microsoft, the world's biggest company interms of market value -- $458 billion inNovember -- and the dominant player in theglobal computer industry, was t... Read more
Netscape Time
Netscape Time by Jim Clark with Owen Edwards St. Martin's Press, 276 pages, $24.95 In a few short years, the Internet has moved ... Read more
What Is Negligence and How Do I Defend against a Negligence Claim?
Introduction Nowadays, million dollar verdicts no longer shock the conscience. Indeed, the $2.7 million punitive damage award in t... Read more
What Are Land Owners' and Tenants' Duties to Visitors?
Landowner or Tenant Duties A landowner or tenant may be liable for injuries or harm suffered by persons on and off the land. This ... Read more
Tort Claims Business Owners Should Watch Out For
Intentional Torts Unlike negligence, intentional torts require a defendant to have intended his harmful act. Depending on the tort... Read more
Tort Basics: Trespass, Nuisance, and Conversion
Intentional Torts to Property Intentional torts may be committed against property. Here are some of the more common ones. <... Read more
Business Torts: Misrepresentation, Contract Interference, and Unfair Competition
A general understanding of business torts can help you protect your bottom line. Read more
Tort Liability Basics: Strict, Vicarious, and Joint Liability
Strict Liability Strict liability torts, which do not require a finding of intent or negligence, are primarily confined to ultraha... Read more
Tort Liability Basics: Contribution and Indemnification
Under the doctrine of contribution , a defendant who has paid more than his proportionate share of the award has a claim against the other... Read more
