Suns introducing new employee clauses to protect against lawsuits

An email sent back in May 27 included a update version of the team’s employee handbook. The two-part was listed as Part A and Part B, with the former being much of the same material from the previous handbook. However, Part B included a section titled, “Confidential information, Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution Agreement.”

The passage was a contractual obligation to the team and “a condition of your offer of employment and/or continued employment.”

Holmes on new Suns agreement for employees:

“The document stated that the Suns and employees would “agree all legal disputes and claims identified below shall be determined exclusively by final and binding individual arbitration.” It further stated that the provision would last beyond that employee’s employment with the company.”

Holmes detailed that the provision covered employment discrimination, a sensitive subject for the franchise that is currently dealing with multiple lawsuits in that regard. According to litigator Patrick Hammon, the new agreement is actually close to industry standard in corporate America.

However, some have argued the new policy being problematic, giving employees an ultimatum to retain their jobs. Cortney Walter, an attorney that is a part of one lawsuit against the team, is furious with the Suns forcing employees to “sign away their rights.” Walter believes that people deserve their day in court, and the new policy doesn’t protect people within the organization.

Suns’ Vice President of Communications Stacey Mitch responded to the criticism against the organization by calling the policy “standard” amongst other NBA teams, ESPN and big corporations, which Holmes clarified isn’t true regarding Disney and ESPN.