2nd Annual Legal Conference: 2014 HR Legal Summit

Transcription

1 2nd Annual Legal Conference: 2014 HR Legal Summit Labor and Employment Law Compliance for Today s HR Professional Friday, September 12, :30 AM 4:30 PM Sheraton Bucks County 400 N. Oxford Valley Road Langhorne, PA

2 PROGRAM 8:30 AM 9:30 AM Large Group Presentation Brian D. Pedrow HR Developments That Impact Business Operations This session will explore the most significant labor and employment legal developments of the past year that affect business operations beyond human resources. Discussion topics will include: Legal developments affecting what constitutes reasonable accommodation in the workplace An overview of recent developments in health care reform and the changes that go into effect on January 1, 2015 The ongoing immigration reform debate Attacks on how businesses use social media BREAK-OUT SESSIONS All four sessions will run concurrently during the two Break-Out Sessions: 9:45 AM 10:45 AM and 11:00 AM 12:00 PM. Session #1 HR Lessons Learned from Litigation How often do you have to explain your conduct and thought processes from an event that occurred two or more years ago? That is exactly what you have to do when testifying in a deposition or at trial Frank Chernak or appearing at a fact-finding conference in a discrimination, harassment, or other workforce-related proceeding. The steps you take, or fail to take, when handling these situations whether discipline or discharge, an accommodation dialogue, or employee complaints can be critical when litigation ensues. This session will use real-life examples from depositions and trials of workforce litigation to help increase your awareness of how the conduct of HR professionals and managers may look before a jury. Participants will gain insights into best practices and practical measures for ensuring that you put the organization in the best defense posture. Session #2 You Be the Labor Board: Understanding the Ever-Expanding Reach of the NLRA to the Non-Union Workplace This interactive presentation will address the application of the NLRA to the non-union Dan Johns workplace. The presentation will be organized around hypothetical unfair labor practice charges arising out of employers policies and discipline in the non-union workplace. Topics will include some of the most recent NLRB cases in this area, including social media, confidentiality policies, at-will disclaimers, and off-duty access rules. Session #3 Before You Hit Send: How Can Get Employers in Trouble The average corporate worker sends and receives more than 100 messages each day. Considering the prevalence of use in the workplace, the potential Lou Chodoff liability for its misuse by employers and employees is tremendous. We will offer tips for avoiding these traps, suggest best practices, and provide realworld examples of questionable or incriminating s that proved critical when it came time for a trial. In addition, we will review the latest developments and laws governing the monitoring of and other electronic communications and activities, make recommendations for your electronic communications policy, and discuss issues surrounding discovery in employment litigation. Session #4 Wage and Hour Self-Audits: Proactive Steps To Avoid Wage and Hour Traps Federal and state wage and hour laws are a trap for the unwary, with litigation mushrooming. Employers can help avoid those traps by examining their Shannon Farmer pay practices. This session will focus on practical steps employers can take to help identify and avoid potential problems before they wind up in court and minimize the damage when litigation does occur. The session also will address the most commonly litigated wage and hour violations and the employer pitfalls contributing to the violations.

3 PROGRAM (CONT.) 1:00 PM 2:00 PM Lunch Presentation Spencer H. Lewis, Jr., District Director, Mary Tiernan, Training and Outreach Coordinator, Philip M. Kovnat, Trial Attorney EEOC Panel Presentation As we mark the 50th anniversary since the passage of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we welcome representatives of the EEOC s Philadelphia District Office to present a discussion of discrimination and harassment laws. This session will address the development of Title VII and other civil rights laws, with emphasis on the current policy and litigation priorities of the EEOC. Topics will include hiring accomodations; telecommuting as an accomodation; reasonable accomodation processes; ground-breaking Title VII cases; and emerging issues related to LGBT rights. 2:15 PM 3:15 PM Large Group Presentation Denise Keyser Hot-Button Issues under the ADA This session will explore hot topics under the ADA from the perspective of the EEOC and the courts. In the past year, the EEOC has focused significant attention on ADA litigation related to no-fault attendance policies and maximum leave policies. This session will discuss the potential issues employers may face in maintaining these types of policies, including the duty to consider reasonable accommodation. The session also will address other significant ADA issues currently being litigated by the EEOC and plaintiffs, including the ever-broadening definition of a disability and hiring issues. 3:15 PM 4:15 PM Large Group Presentation Steve Suflas Safe Terminations in High-Risk Situations This session will address the legal circumstances that make certain employee terminations high-risk and how to address those risks. Initially, this session will review the employment laws under which an employer can be sued for terminating an employee, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower laws. The session then will focus on practical steps to manage the termination process, including tips for drafting separation agreements, and it will conclude with an A to Z checklist for terminations. Registration Information and Fees Registration fees include continental breakfast, lunch, and a conference binder. Before August 21 August 21 or after Walk-In* Members $145 $160 $190 Non-members $175 $190 $220 Students $100 $115 $145 * Unless registration has been closed due to capacity. To register, go to There is limited seating for this event. Attendance will be reserved on a first-come, first-paid basis. If the event is sold out, SEPA will not be able to accommodate nonregistered walk-ins. Refunds will not be provided for cancellations, except if the event has sold out and SEPA is able to resell the reserved space to another prospective attendee who is on the waiting list. We welcome non-sepa members who wish to designate SEPA as their Chapter and receive the member discount; such designation must remain in effect for 12 months or the full fee will be charged. This program has been approved for HR Certification Institute and CLE credit. Attendees will be eligible to receive 1 Business and 5 General HR Certification Institute credits, as well as 6 Pennsylvania and 7.2 New Jersey CLE credits. There is a fee of $1.50 per PA CLE credit. Payment will be accepted via cash or check on the day of the event. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HR Certification Institute s criteria to be preapproved for recertification credit.

4 SCHEDULE TIME EVENT LOCATION 7:30 AM 8:15 AM Registration/Networking/Continental Breakfast/Exhibitors University Ballroom and Lobby 8:15 AM 8:30 AM Welcome/Opening Remarks University Ballroom 8:30 AM 9:30 AM Large Group Presentation: HR Developments That Impact Business Operations University Ballroom 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM Break: Time to move to Break-Out Sessions 9:45 AM 10:45 AM Break-Out Session: Round A Session 1: HR Lessons Learned from Litigation Session 2: You Be the Labor Board: Understanding the Ever-Expanding Reach of the NLRA to the Non-Union Workplace Session 3: Before You Hit Send: How Can Get Employers in Trouble Session 4: Wage and Hour Self-Audits: Proactive Steps To Avoid Wage and Hour Traps Penn Princeton I Princeton II Villanova Amp. 10:45 AM 11:00 AM Break: Time to move to Break-Out Sessions 11:00 AM 12:00 PM Break-Out Session: Round B Session 1: HR Lessons Learned from Litigation Session 2: You Be the Labor Board: Understanding the Ever-Expanding Reach of the NLRA to the Non-Union Workplace Session 3: Before You Hit Send: How Can Get Employers in Trouble Session 4: Wage and Hour Self-Audits: Proactive Steps To Avoid Wage and Hour Traps Penn Princeton I Princeton II Villanova Amp. 12:00 PM 1:00 PM Lunch/Exhibitors University Ballroom 1:00 PM 2:00 PM Lunch Presentation: EEOC Panel Presentation University Ballroom 2:00 PM 2:15 PM Break 2:15 PM 3:15 PM Large Group Presentation: Hot-Button Issues under the ADA University Ballroom 3:15 PM 4:15 PM Large Group Presentation: Safe Terminations in High-Risk Situations University Ballroom 4:15 PM 4:30 PM Closing Remarks University Ballroom 4:30 PM 5:15 PM Certification Workshop: Important Update on New Certification Issues Immediately following the Summit

5 We would like to thank our sponsors and exhibitors for their participation in the 2014 HR Legal Summit: Large Group Session Sponsors Exhibitors SEPA