Tired of being the SOB? Get your SOPs in place.
Is your business sailing toward a lawsuit? The absence of SOPs is a blueprint for legal disaster, operational chaos, and costly errors. Find out why clarity is your greatest defense.
By: G. Selah
As a good friend of mine put it, ” It’s better to have an S.O.P than to be a S.O.B” for not having one. Skip your SOP, and congratulations—you’re officially the Source Of Blame (S.O.B) – Gotcha!
A business without Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is like a ship without a compass, drifting perilously on choppy seas. It’s a buzzing hive of well-meaning chaos, where employees stumble in the dark, customers get lost in the shuffle, and lawsuits loom like thunderclouds. The absence of SOPs doesn’t just create confusion—it invites legal storms that could sink even the most promising ventures. After 25 years of watching businesses both flourish and flounder, one thing is clear: lack of direction is costly, risky, and avoidable.
Trader Joe’s
Take Trader Joe’s. In 2020, an employee bravely raised concerns about safety during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of a clear SOP that protected whistleblowers, the company faced a lawsuit for firing the employee, accused of retaliation for speaking out. Later, OSHA fined Trader Joe’s nearly $217,000 for repeated safety violations, including unsafe forklift operations and a lack of forklift operator training at their Greenwood Village, Colorado store. These repeat violations, also seen in states like Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, underline a systemic failure to put effective procedures in place to protect employees and provide clear safety guidance.
McLane Northeast
Then there’s McLane Northeast, a large distributor slapped with a $1.675 million jury award after blatantly ignoring a deaf job applicant. The company had no procedures to accommodate disabilities or even follow basic fairness in hiring. Result? A costly verdict that could have been dodged with just a little foresight and some well-crafted SOPs ensuring all candidates get a fair shake.
Small Businesses
Small businesses aren’t immune either. Consider the regional retail chain where a newly promoted manager, untrained on harassment policies, made racially insensitive remarks and triggered a lawsuit. Lack of documented training and discriminatory policies left the business exposed. Whether big or small, the absence of SOPs on conduct, safety, and fairness turns workplace disputes from manageable to monumental. These cases emphasize that size is no shield when silent SOP gaps exist.
The emotional toll? Employees feel unprotected; customers lose faith; and business owners face sleepless nights worrying about the next lawsuit. These aren’t just stories—they’re wake-up calls. But here’s the spark of hope: SOPs are more than manuals; they’re blueprints for respect, clarity, and protection. A simple step toward creating or evaluating your SOPs can transform your business from vulnerable to invincible.
Consumer Business Network is your partner in this turnaround. With decades of expertise, we don’t just produce SOPs—we craft tailored strategies that shield your business from costly missteps. We offer a FREE SOP evaluation and a 30-minute consultation, designed to identify your risks and lock down your defenses. Imagine peace of mind knowing your team is safe, your decisions consistent, and your liability minimized.
Don’t wait for the crisis. Turn confusion into clarity. Call Consumer Business Network today—your compass for navigating business risks with confidence and care. The future is bright for those who prepare, and it starts with one free call. Your business deserves that kind of security.
References and Court Case Information Links:
- Trader Joe’s OSHA fines and safety violations:
HR Morning OSHA report
OSHA Press Release
OSHA Violation details - McLane Northeast ADA discrimination lawsuit:
Legal Dive on jury award - Small business employee lawsuits and SOP importance:
AllVoices blog on employee lawsuits
13 Lawsuits That Threaten Companies & How HR Prevents Them | AllVoices
A look at 7 Supreme Court cases Big Business will be watching | Legal Dive
OSHA Finds Safety Hazards, Fines Trader Joe’s Nearly $217K
Small Business
Where to find court cases:
- Federal cases: PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov)
- State cases: respective state court websites
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