THE CONFERENCE ON STATE AND FEDERAL PERSONNEL LAWS – TWO DAY

In this conference you'll learn...

Discrimination litigation is on the rise, and it is one of the most expensive and time-consuming legal actions to defend. Even a small error can be devastating. Here´s your opportunity to get completely up to date on the EEOC´s latest rulings and more that are on the way ... and to get your internal policies and procedures in line. Topics include:
While, in theory, employers have the right to terminate employees "at will," legislative actions and court decisions continue to chip away at your right to discipline and discharge employees, diluting your ability to create the work environment you need to succeed. And, in a growing number of lawsuits initiated by employees against their employers, sympathetic courts and juries are awarding large settlements intended to "send a message" to employers. Attend this session for the legal fuel you need to terminate safely, in spite of the continuing erosion of the employment-at-will doctrine. Topics include:
With the rise in the number of workplace harassment complaints, every manager needs to know how to conduct thorough internal investigations without trampling employees´ due process rights. If you haven´t yet had to follow up on an allegation of sexual harassment, drug abuse, theft or other employee misconduct, chances are you will. Attend this session and learn how to sidestep tricky and legally explosive land mines as you interview witnesses, obtain evidence, develop required reports and handle other steps in the complex process. Topics include:
Employee privacy is one of HR´s hottest issues as recent technological advancements, legislation and concern for employee privacy collide. What are your rights in monitoring telephones, computer terminals, voice mail and e-mail? Are you ready for compliance in the most sweeping privacy reforms established in the last decade? This session examines both sides of these controversial subjects to ensure you have the information you need to stay on firm ground. Topics include:
Fasten your seat belts! Even though OSHA is under a new administration, this regulatory powerhouse is still alive and well. And OSHA´s busy agenda—packed with new plans, standards and revisions—means new risks for your company. Our regulatory expert will alert you to the latest changes and trends you need to know about—including the hotly contested area of repetitive stress injuries—and prepare you for what the future could bring. Get the easiest, most cost-effective ways to run a safe, healthy and compliant workplace—this session is loaded with big ideas. Topics include:
Is your employee handbook a ticking time bomb? You may think you´re on legally solid ground, but a judge may well disagree. More and more courts are treating handbooks as binding employment contracts which create legal rights and obligations which cannot be modified or terminated in the same way as "at-will" relationships can. Attend this session to find out what is happening in these cases, how handbooks are eroding employment-at-will, and how to head off problems in your organization. Topics include:
The discipline and termination of problem employees is essential if you´re to keep productivity and morale up. But when the problem is a poor attitude or negative personality, it can get tricky, and even the sharpest employers can get tripped up. In this session, get answers and information you can depend on as you assert your right to staff your business with the people you need to succeed and get rid of those who hamper your progress. Topics include:
Employee absenteeism, excused and unexcused, is a challenge most organizations face. Actually calculating the cost of absenteeism can be a truly eye-opening experience. Research is telling us that to successfully address absenteeism, you must have a clear understanding of your policies and the nature of the problem. This session will offer you insight into these issues and more. Topics include:
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has been law for some time. But the courts are still struggling to define the parameters, causing endless confusion about where it overlaps—or even conflicts—with other laws. As an employer trying to sort out your compliance strategy, you´re left with more questions than answers. This session will shed new light on recent court decisions, including the first U.S. Supreme Court decision involving FMLA, address the latest legal "hot spots" surrounding FMLA and provide clear direction as you update and lawsuit-proof your practices. Topics include:
You may hire, discipline, evaluate and terminate employees on a regular basis—but don´t fool yourself into thinking these are "routine" management responsibilities. Employees today are well-informed about their rights and willing to fight for them in court. That means you must be on your toes at all times. "That´s the way I´ve always done it" simply won´t fly before a jury. Update your skills in this idea-packed session and learn new twists to the way you promote and transfer employees, treat contract workers, discipline employees claiming mental and stress disabilities and more. Topics include:
Over the years, employers have routinely but innocently violated the complex laws governing exempt/nonexempt classification of employees. But recently, the Department of Labor has put a priority on seeking out classification errors—and businesses found not in compliance run the risk of devastating back pay and overtime liability settlements. Don´t be taken by surprise ... get the information and legal insight you need to get your classifications in order and avoid serious liability. Topics include:
The days when you could leave employment law concerns in the hands of your attorney are over. Today you´re in the hot seat, expected to know countless laws, regulations and federal decisions so you can adjust and modify your company´s employment practices accordingly. This session will help you do just that by giving you an up-to-the-minute update on the exact information you need to know. Then the session leader will give you expert insight and interpretation on each law and regulation—clearing up the confusion of contradictory laws and telling you how to apply and put into action what you learn. If you have any questions about how to comply with federal employment laws while still keeping your business competitive, you can´t afford to miss this session!
HR professionals often find it challenging to keep up with federal employment law regulations. More difficult is the task of keeping abreast of state court and legislative activities. State laws are trending toward expansion into new areas like genetic discrimination, broadening of unemployment laws concerning insurance and FMLA, sexual orientation discrimination, comparable worth, privacy issues and living wage laws. Considering that many of the hot employment issues are coming from state and local levels, your job may be getting even harder. Topics will include:
Hiring, discipline, performance management and investigations all have one thing in common: The need for thorough documentation and maintenance of those records. Airtight documentation is something that really can´t be left to chance. In your workplace, you can´t afford not to pay attention to detail when documenting work-related issues. Attend this session of the "how-to´s" of fair, complete and legal documentation and record keeping. Topics will include:
Hopefully, your company will never have to suffer through a long and messy litigation process. It can be financially devastating—in fact, some companies never get back on their feet. But, in today´s lawsuit-happy environment, you must be prepared. Join this session and explore the legal pros and cons of two increasingly popular ways to protect your company. Can alternative dispute resolution (ADR) really keep you out of court and save you money? Will the new Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) protect you from every claim? Get the answers here. Topics include:
In today´s competitive job market, companies are looking hard to fill vacancies with the best candidates whose qualifications come closest to matching the organization´s needs. But beware, even when managers in your company are under pressure to fill vacant positions, they can´t afford to "break the rules" when screening candidates. More than ever, you must step up your awareness of legal land mines in this confusing area and develop sound practices that keep you out of court. Attend this session and gain insight into how to expertly balance your need to hire the right person with growing and complex legal restrictions. Topics include:
A decade has elapsed since the establishment of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Employers and the courts are still struggling with many complex issues related to parameters and compliance. This session will address recent court rulings and will provide the answers to challenging questions faced by employers concerning what a reasonable accommodation is under the ADA. Topics include:
Employees couldn´t be happier with the growing trend toward more relaxed work policies. But where and how do you draw the line when employees threaten to push the limits too far? You must be aware of both your rights and your employees´ rights to avoid unknowingly stepping into legal traps. Our expert in this important session will provide you with step-by-step guidance that you can apply to keep control in this unexplored and volatile area. Topics include:
As an employer, you´re between a rock and a hard place in your obligation to provide employees with a safe workplace. Terminate a threatening employee and you run the risk of being held liable for discrimination or for violation of the ADA. But if you fail to take action and the employee harms another worker, you´re in jeopardy of being deemed negligent. Here you´ll gain expert guidance in managing this complex balancing act while lessening your liability. Topics include:
The workplace today is a hodgepodge of young, old and in-between employees who don´t see work—or life––the same way. That spells new opportunities and conflicts for managers. If you´re not currently dealing with the confusion and new legal risks of this "generation clash," you will be soon. This session will alert you to some surprising demographic statistics and what to expect and how to respond, help you understand the gulf that separates the generations and prepare you to correctly manage the differences, challenges and opportunities. Topics include: