The California Self Storage Association (CSSA) is now offering a fully customizable employment-manual template to help self-storage operators avoid employment lawsuits. Written specifically for the CSSA by labor and employment specialist Lisa Barnett Sween of Lewis Brisboe Bisgaard & Smith LLP, the manual was designed to help the association's owner members communicate information about working conditions, employee benefits and company policies to new and current employees in a manner that is conducive to personal and professional growth. The guide will be updated annually, with updates provided free of charge to members in good standing.

This manual is available to current CSSA owner members for $299. Similarly drafted items can cost upward of $1500 to $10,000, according to a CSSA announcement. "Our hope is that by offering our members a model for creating current and reliable forms, we will be able to provide California operators a degree of protection from unnecessary legal disputes," the announcement read.

In addition, the CSSA will be hosing two-hour classes with Barnett Sween, giving members the opportunity to ask questions and learn how to further protect themselves. Only one class will be available in Northern and Southern California, and seating is limited. Attendance will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and advanced registration will be required. Event dates and locations will be announced soon through the CSSA online events calendar.

CSSA owner membership must be current to purchase the employment manual. The product will not be available to associate or vendor-level members. A user agreement must be executed upon purchase of the manual, and the CSSA cannot be held liable for issues resulting from the customization of the manuals.

The manual can be purchased by visiting www.californiaselfstorage.org and choosing "Employment Manual" from the Benefits drop-down menu on the top navigation bar.

The CSSA will be exhibiting this week in booth No. 224 at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas. Attendees can learn more about the association and take advantage of discounted event registrations.