When most people think of those being falsely accused of a crime, they only consider the common person. While this may be true in some cases, business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs have also become victims. It is crucial to note your position and remember the risks that you take every day, when serving a large number of people. Whether you own a small or large business or provide medical and other public services to consumers, you will be at risk of being falsely accused of a crime. Below, you will discover several tips on how business owners can protect themselves from being falsely accused.
False Accusations Should Not Be Taken Lightly
Everyone is falsely accused at some point in his or her life, whether it is as a child, adolescent or an adult. The key is to never take these accusations lightly, because the consequences can be extremely serious. In fact, many victims have failed to heed to the warning signs and ended up behind bars. This is definitely something that you do not want to happen to you, which is why it is crucial to take any accusation serious. Of course, you can just shrug your shoulder at the accusation if you want, but you may find yourself being slapped with a civil lawsuit and eventually found guilty.
Business owners especially should take immediate steps to prevent legal ramifications in the near future. If you do not, you may end up being found guilty, charged and sent to jail or prison. This means that you would have to sell your business, just to pay the criminal defense team.
Keep Good Documentation
At the moment you find out about the accusation, you should start documenting the process. Be sure to include as much detail as possible about the person that is making the allegations, case and witnesses. All of this information will come in handy later on down the road, plus you will be able to provide it to your attorney, so they can utilize it as part of your defense. If possible, you should get the names of the witnesses, addresses and phone numbers, because they will be called to testify if you end up battling the case out in court.
Be Cautious What You Say To Employees
False allegations of sexual harassment are a huge problem in today’s world. In fact, hundreds of business owners, regardless of gender, are accused of sexual harassment every month in United States. When you hire a new employee, you should immediately have them to attend a new-hire training course, which includes the basics about the position, company, dress code and what to do in the event the employee is sexually harassed.
Over time you will become comfortable with every employee you hire, but inappropriate topics should be classified as inappropriate. If the employee approaches one of these topics, you should immediately remind them of the sexual harassment clause in the employment policy. This incident should also be documented in the employee’s file for further references.
Get Educated
Many new business owners and professionals fail to research the potential risks of dealing with the public and a large number of employees. The first thing you should do is get educated on those risks, so that when you are falsely accused you will know exactly how to handle the situation. Do more homework on the legal system, criminal offenses and potential outcomes of similar cases. The more you know, the more you will be prepared to handle any false accusation and a civil lawsuit that comes your way.
Know You Rights
If the individual making the accusation files a police report, you should expect to be questioned. This is why you should become familiar with the peoples’ rights. You will have the option of working with law enforcement or you can just “remain silent”, because it is your right. The explanation can always be left for later, when you attorney is there to represent you.
Kidal Delonix is a contributor to Mr. Hoffman's blog. The views and opinions are entirely his/her own and may not reflect Mr Hoffman's views.
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