Miscellaneous

Sam Zell's Tribune Company employee handbook

By Walter Olson, Ted Frank, and David Nieporent

The blogosphere is abuzz with the new employee handbook for the Tribune Company (parent of the LA Times and Chicago Tribune), written by a layperson in plain English with verve and humor. [LA Times, Jan. 17; Lattman] "I'm amazed and amused at what lawyers get businesspeople to do," the author, Randy Michaels, the CEO for interactive and broadcasting, said about his efforts. Not to worry: the lawyers are ready to punish Tribune for that transgression. Bruce Nye also worries from the defense side.

No one suggests: Gee, if the litigation environment makes it impossible to have a short, plain, jocular, common-sense employee handbook, maybe there is something wrong with the litigation environment rather than the handbook? Or: why can't employees choose to work in an environment governed by a less stodgy handbook that is intended to promote a better workplace rather than by the cookie-cutter rules imposed by federal and state bureaucracies that require $500/hour employment attorneys to navigate safely?

(Update: Daniel Schwartz comments.)

Full post as published by Overlawyered on January 22, 2008 (boomark / email).