Information that could help business owners avoid thousands of dollars in fines and possible court proceedings will be presented during a free workshop held in June by the Metro Parker Small Business Alliance.

The 90-minute class will be presented by Christine Morgenweck, president of Wicks & Associates Human Resources Consulting, from 6-7:30 p.m. on June 12 at Ascensions II, 6405 E. Ponderosa Drive .

Morgenweck said the open forum will make it easy for business owners to ask about specific human resources issues they may be facing in their businesses or with their employees.

Some of those issues could include being in compliance with federal and state laws, making sure the company handbook or procedures manual does not get the business in legal trouble, finding good employees and salary constraints, and disciplining employees while keeping the company out of litigation.

For example, Morgenweck said businesses who fail to fill out I-9 Forms on employees risk facing hundreds to thousands of dollars in fines. This form must be filled out on each employee in accordance with federal law, as well as an Affirmation Form for the State of Colorado that should be attached to the I-9, she said.

In addition, she noted that companies that have a handbook or procedures manual should follow those guidelines or they may open themselves up to litigation. Those documents should be written in general terms to best avoid a lawsuit, she said.

Morgenweck, who has almost 30 years of experience in human resources as well as an advanced degree in the field, said she also can present information on how to interview prospective employees, how to find good employees, how to determine a good salary for employees in specific industries and how to discipline employees without fear of legal repercussions.

When a company takes care of its human resources issues and lets employees know what is expected of them, the employees are happier and the work environment is more pleasant, Morgenweck said. That, in turn, will make the company a better place for customers to do business, she added.

MPSBA holds classes each month - from 6-7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday at Ascensions II. For information, go to MPSBA.org.

To attend this free workshop, please RSVP to 303-380-4580.

Susan Cormier is a member of MPSBA.