How to Avoid HR Nightmares: Fines, Lawsuits & Toxic Workplaces Explained

Most businesses break employment law not out of malice, but because they simply don’t know what they don’t know — and by the time they find out, it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, or worse, jail time.

In this episode, host James Newcomb sits down with Diane Faulkner, an HR consultant and self-described “HR threat detective,” to unpack the hidden mistakes that get employers in serious legal trouble. Diane shares the real story of walking into a company with a 92% employee turnover rate and turning it around to just 7% in under a year — plus what she learned along the way about toxic workplace cliques, bad hiring practices, and weak leadership.

You’ll learn:

• Why employees really quit (hint: it’s rarely just about the money)
• The dangerous mistake small businesses make with independent contractors
• How workplace cliques quietly damage company culture and customer experience
• Why you legally can’t stop employees from discussing their pay
• What happens during a government labor audit — and how to avoid one
• How Diane helps business owners get ahead of costly legal risk before it happens

Diane is also the author of the upcoming book “Don’t Get Sued, Get Smart,” releasing this November.

Learn more about Diane and her work at dianefaulkner.com