Prevention Philosophy Chapter 1 Prevention Philosophy

Prevention Philosophy The Future Hospitality Manager and the Legal Environment The Hospitality Manager and Legal Management Preventative Legal Management Ethics and the Law

In This Chapter, You Will Learn: Why a study of laws related to hospitality is important. The historical origins of the law and its evolutionary nature. A philosophical framework to help prevent legal difficulties before they begin. How to evaluate management actions on an ethical basis.

The Future Hospitality Manager and the Legal Environment Unique and diverse operating environment Estimated that 60 - 70 percent of decisions made daily has legal dimension Those decisions influence the potential for litigation

The Future Hospitality Manager and the Legal Environment Legalese: Attorney - Any person trained and legally authorized to act on behalf of others in matters of the law.

The Future Hospitality Manager and the Legal Environment Legalese: Litigation - The act of initiating and carrying on a lawsuit. Often, used to refer to the lawsuit itself.

The Hospitality Manager and Legal Management Legalese: Law - The rules of conduct and responsibility established and enforced by a society.

The Hospitality Manager and Legal Management Know the historical origins of the law. Recognize that laws have an evolutionary nature, based on changes in society. Understand how to use a philosophy of preventative management to manage the legal environment and minimize the chances of litigation.

Historical Origins of the Law Legalese: Common Law – Laws derived from historical customs and usage of a society, and the decisions by courts when interpreting those customs and usages.

Historical Origins of the Law Legalese: Civil Law – The body of law (usually in the form of codes or statues) created by governmental entities that are concerned with private rights and remedies, as opposed to criminal matters.

The Evolutionary Nature of Common Law Legalese: Hospitality Law - Those laws which relate to the industry involved with the provision of food, lodging, travel and entertainment services to its guests and clients

Historical Origins of the Law Common law Civil law Criminal law Changing society Federal, state, and local

Search the Web 1.1 Log on to the Internet and enter www.findlaw.com Select: U.S. State Resources Select: US State Codes Select Your State. Search for categories related to laws regulating tobacco use and sales in your state. Draft a one-paragraph essay summarizing the laws governing tobacco use in your state. Are there any special stipulations that a hospitality manager would especially want to be aware of (such as the designation of smoking and non-smoking areas in a restaurant or public lobby)?

Preventative Legal Management STEM The Tide of Litigation

What Is STEM? “A process that can be implemented that will reduce employee errors and omissions - and litigation.”

The Components of STEM Select Train Educate Manage and Motivate

STEM the Tide of Litigation Legalese: Liable – To be legally responsible or obligated.

Select Select the right employee for the specific job. Cannot just hire anyone at the last minute. Cannot “just hire” anyone anymore. Use specific job qualifications, written job specifications, and information derived from a thorough investigation for all candidates.

Applications Ask job-related and legally acceptable questions. Review the application form for obvious problems. Note any large gaps in employment, or frequent job changes. Contact the applicant immediately to answer questions. Ask the applicant to sign an authorization and release form for checking references. Don’t just hire anyone, be selective. negligent hiring

Checking the Applicant’s Records Interview the applicant’s former manager by phone to: Check the facts on the application form. Probe for information. Ask about how the applicant interacted with other employees. Ask if the employee left on good terms and is eligible for rehire at that company. Check the applicant’s educational record, credit rating, and criminal convictions.

Testing Applicants Hiring Tests Must be legal and valid. Must comply with Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Must not be biased against anyone because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, or disabilities.(exception: bona-fide occupation qualification).

Train and Educate These two aspects are interrelated. Train your employees the right way to perform the task(s) the first time. It is easier to train than to retrain. Ensure that the trainer is properly trained himself/herself. Remember, it is the evidentiary trail that wins lawsuits, not who is right or wrong.

Train and Educate Educate yourself about new trends, technological innovations, laws, and rules and regulations which impact your industry. Now you are in a better position to train your employees about important changes. You are in a better situation to compete in the industry.

The Training Trail What was taught? Who was taught? How was the training conducted? When was the training provided? How did you determine its effectiveness? The evidentiary trail.

Some Current Litigation Trends Negligent retention Negligent supervision Failure to properly train

Positive Management and Employee Loyalty How to become a positive manager and build employee loyalty. raise employee morale and self-esteem reduce turnover enhance service enhance customer satisfaction reduce litigation enhance the bottom line

Proper Management and Motivation As a manager - Lead by example! Today’s culturally diverse workforce will require diverse motivating techniques. People are motivated by different things. Find out what it is that motivates your employees. Involve employees in the process. Ask your employees how you are doing as a manager.

Analyze the Situation 1.1 A fellow supervisor and friend confides in you that that he has been arrested a second time in two years for driving under the influence of alcohol. His current case has not yet gone to trial. This supervisor is responsible for the late-night closing of the restaurant in which you both work. You know bars in your city close at 2:00 A.M., the same time the restaurant closes.

Analyze the Situation 1.1 Should you discuss this situation with the restaurant's General Manager? Which aspect of STEM is relevant here?

Ethics and the Law Legalese: Ethics – Choices of proper conduct made by an individual in his or her relationships with others.

Ethical Situation Assume that you are the Food and Beverage Director of a large hotel. You are planning for your New Year’s Eve gala, and require a large amount of wine and champagne. You conduct a competitive bidding process with the purveyors in your area, and, based upon quality and price, you place a very large order (in excess of $20,000) with a single purveyor.

Ethical Situation One week later, you receive a case of very expensive champagne, delivered to your home with a nice note from the purveyor’s representative stating how much they appreciated the order and that they are really looking forward to doing business with you in the years ahead. What do you do with the champagne?

Ethical Situation Ethical Analysis Your first thought may be the most obvious one; that is, you drink it. But hopefully, you will first ask yourself the seven questions of the ethical decision-making process.

Ethical Decision-Making Process Is it legal? Does either the law or company policy prohibit this activity? Does it hurt anyone? Will this action negatively impact any stakeholders? Is it fair? To all the stakeholders Am I being honest? With yourself, and with the company Would I care if it happened to me? Would I publicize my action? What if all the stakeholders became aware of your action? What if everyone did it? Could the business effectively operate in an equitable fashion?

What Would You Do? Assume that your local municipality is considering the passage of a law that would prohibit the sale of all tobacco products from the interiors of bars and restaurants, but not grocery stores. The restaurant you manage has a cocktail lounge, and cigarettes are both consumed and sold in that section of your restaurant.

What Would You Do? There is no current effort to prohibit smoking in cocktail lounges, such as the one you operate. You are considering whether to address the local government body charged with creating such legislation:

What Would You Do? What are the major considerations you will think about before you decide to support or oppose the proposed legislation? Will the fact that you do or do not smoke influence your position? Which ethical issues are in play here?

Rapid Review Prepare a five-minute training session for your staff that emphasizes the importance of prevention, rather than reacting to, legal liability. Give an example of a situation where this might arise. Give an example, other than the one mentioned in the text, of a recent change in federal, state, or local law that has impacted the hospitality industry. Explain why you believe the law was enacted and whether you believe it was good legislation.

Rapid Review Give a hospitality example of the importance that “selection” makes in the STEM process. Give a hospitality example of the importance of “teaching” in the STEM process. Give a hospitality example of the importance of “education” in the STEM process. Give a hospitality example of the importance that “managing” makes in the STEM process.

Rapid Review A vendor has agreed to clean your hotel carpets at a very competitive price. In a telephone conversation with you, the vendor states that if it gets the contract, will “do your home carpets once a year” as a thank-you. Apply the seven criteria for ethical behavior to this situation. Using the World Wide Web, locate a state law of any type that relates to business operations. Use your search engine to help. Keywords to use include “state,” “laws,” and “business.” Describe the law in a one-paragraph essay.