Taking your business to the next level? Your staff plays such a big role in your business!
Listen to my interview with Sandra Lepson, an experienced employment attorney.
She will give you insight on how to be mindful as the CEO of your business – especially with your employees!
Our podcasts are interviews between Justin Krane, Krane Financial Solution’s President, and various professionals, one or more of which are or have been Krane Financial Solutions clients. However, nothing stated within the podcasts should be considered a testimonial or endorsement of Krane Financial Solutions or Justin Krane, and the professionals have not been directly or indirectly compensated for being interviewed.
Sandra L. Lepson has over 30 years of experience and advises employers on the full spectrum of employment law. She has a focus on growing businesses and startups. A USC Gould School of Law graduate, she has served clients from all sides—corporate, non-profit, union, and plaintiff—giving her unique insight into crafting tailored and balanced legal solutions.Sandra is a sought-after speaker on topics like harassment prevention, diversity and inclusion, and LGBTQ+ workplace awareness. She believes in building compliant, respectful workplaces that foster productivity and reduce risk.
Sandra breaks down the HR rules every business owner thinks they’re following… but probably isn’t. We cover the legal essentials of running a team and how to protect your business from expensive (and totally avoidable) employment claims. Sandra brings decades of experience working with employers, and if you run a business with even one employee, this conversation could save you massive time, money, and stress.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Why Every Business Needs an Employee Handbook
- What an employee handbook actually is (and why it’s different from an operations manual).
- Why outdated handbooks are one of the biggest legal risks for business owners.
- How employment laws change constantly and why templates often miss critical requirements.
Independent Contractor vs. Employee: The Rules
- The real meaning of misclassification and why it leads to major penalties.
- Explanation of California’s AB5 / ABC test and how it impacts hiring.
- Why businesses often misclassify to “make it easier”, and why that backfires in audits.
Hiring in Multiple States
- Why California-compliant policies usually cover most states, but with some important exceptions.
- How she helps clients create unified multi-state policies for harassment, discrimination, and leave laws.
- The pitfalls of state-specific templates from big HR platforms.
Common HR Mistakes in Onboarding & Offboarding
- Onboarding mistakes:
- Not providing required state and federal notices.
- Improper criminal background check procedures (especially strict in LA/California).
- Offboarding mistakes:
- Not assessing discrimination or risk factors before layoffs.
- Real-world example: a company laying off all mothers returning from maternity leave.
How Employers Should Think About Legal Risk
- EPLI insurance: what it covers and how attorneys work with carriers.
- Why business owners cannot and should not try to be their own employment lawyer.
- The importance of documentation, documentation, documentation.
Sandra’s Professional Journey & Approach
- How starting her career in social work shaped her as an employment attorney.
- Her passion for helping people solve workplace problems with clarity and kindness.
- How she maintains focus and energy working in such a demanding legal field.
Final Advice for Business Owners
- Be kind, both ethically and strategically.
- Remember your employees are human beings with lives, stress, and circumstances.
- But always pair compassion with clear metrics and strong documentation
Connect With Sandra
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