Even "at-will" employees, those who "can be fired at any time, for almost any reason," have some protected rights when it comes to their employment status, says small-business expert and columnist Steve Strauss, with the most important protection being that a worker can't be fired on the basis of their color, sex, religion, age, ethnic background or disability. To protect your business from employment discrimination claims:
- Have an employee handbook outlining your nondiscrimination policy.
- Document frequently, with regular written performance reviews.
