Musical Chairs: Ethical Challenges When Changing Jobs

Learning Objectives

• To discuss appropriate records including electronic communications and social media posts so you have the information needed to demonstrate that as an employee you acted ethically when starting or leaving employment or as an employer, you abided by the law. 
• To analyze as an employee what to disclose to prospective employers about your obligations to former or current employers and as an employer what you can and should ask considering applicants.
• To analyze as an employee your contractual rights and obligations to your current employer and any future employer, and how as an employer your contractual rights and obligations to your employees. 
• To leave without either employee or employer burning bridges. 
• To discuss how to resolve disputes and reduce the risk of legal battles when you leave a job or an employee leaves your company.

Course Description

Over recent years, there have been considerable changes in how we work, where we work, and what we expect as employers and employees. During the mandated closures and risks of the pandemic, many of us became remote workers, others lost jobs or had to leave to attend to family, and others changed jobs as the circumstances made us rethink our situations.

We have experienced the “Great Resignation” and people want more flexibility in our work, and we have seen the unemployment rate drop as the demand for workers exceeds the supply of available employees. We have seen healthcare workers burning out from the long hours and increased stress and teachers leaving education jobs due to increased violence, lack of resources, and strain of remote teaching. 

The work world has changed dramatically and the likelihood that you will change jobs has increased. For employers, these changes create enhanced competition for employees and increased expectations as to workplace accommodation and conditions.

This CPE Ethics Course will cover what employees and employers need to consider when employees are hired and when they leave to avoid ethical and legal issues.

Key Topics Covered:

• Discuss the legal and ethical obligations employees and employers to clients and customers when employees leave
• Discuss the legal and ethical obligations of employees and employers to each other when joining or leaving employment
• How to keep appropriate records to show that you complied with your contractual and other obligations
• Discuss how to transition without burning bridges on either side
• Consider how to avoid and resolve disputes and reduce the legal risk for either side when an employee leaves
• How to avoid and resolve disputes and reduce the legal risk for either side when an employee leaves

You might also be interested in our PDC/RCH courses.

Overview

• Why is this important?

  7 mins
• The rights and responsibilities of employees and employers

  13 mins
• The beginning: prepare for the new job search

  23 mins
• Case study - Leaving your current job

  31 mins
• Whose property is it anyway?

  40 mins
• Case study: Importance of communication

  49 mins
• Keeping employees happy

  55 mins