2015 Annual Employment Law Conference ~ Transformation
ON-LINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
Please go directly to walk-up registration on Thursday to register. We look forward to your attendance.
Dr. Esmael Adibi, Director, A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research has accepted our invitation and will again be our morning keynote speaker. Check back as we continue to finalize our 2015 agenda.
Date:
March 26, 2015
Location:
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive
Cerritos, CA 90703
Time:
8:00 am Registration/Breakfast | 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Program
HRCI | MCLE Credit is available, 5 credit hours submitted.
Registration Fee:
$179 per person or $149 each for two or more from same organization or AALRR client.
AGENDA:
MORNING KEYNOTE
(General Session I):
Dr. Esmael Adibi, Director, A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research at Chapman University, will provide a fact-filled economic forecast for California and the nation.
8:30 - 9:45 am | Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts | Main Stage
Break 9:45-10:00 a.m.
Morning Breakout
Session 1
10:00-11:00 a.m.
(Advanced HR Focus)
Sex Discrimination: What it Looks Like in 2015. The EEOC’s Strategic Enforcement Plan for 2012-16 has targeted pregnancy-related discrimination; sexual harassment; disparate pay; and emerging issues regarding discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals under Title VII’s sex discrimination prohibition. Learn how to address these issues before they become a problem.
Morning Breakout
Session 2
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Performance & Behavior Issues: Legal Strategies. Performance issues create numerous workplace challenges. What are some key strategies for effectively addressing performance/behavior issues to minimize the likelihood of litigation? We will give practical suggestions for dealing with problematic conduct.
Morning Breakout
Session 3
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Proceed with Caution: Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law. Increase your knowledge of the most recent developments in the labor and employment arena, and how these new rulings and laws will affect you and your organization.
Morning Breakout
Session 4
10:00-11:00 a.m.
(Public Entity Focus)
Public Sector Investigations: Exploring Proper Techniques. What are the unique characteristics of employment investigations conducted by public agency employers? Join us for a discussion on strategies for dealing with those challenging issues that can arise during a public sector investigation, including First Amendment protections, public safety employee interview admonishments, FOIA issues, and the interplay between employee Skelly rights and the confidentiality of the investigation.
Break 11:00-11:15 a.m.
Morning Breakout
Session 5
11:15-12:15 p.m.
(Advanced HR Focus)
Bucket List: Practical Guidance for Leaves. What do you do if an employee takes every Monday or Friday off for intermittent FMLA leave, refuses to submit medical certification, obtains medical notes that seem insufficient, requests paid sick leave, or calls in with absences at critical times at the last minute? We will examine these and other tough leave situations and the best way to handle them.
Morning Breakout
Session 6
11:15-12:15 p.m.
(Public Entity Focus)
The Top Five Lawsuits by Police Officers…and How to Avoid Them. The confrontational nature of law enforcement makes police departments prime targets for litigation. Often times, however, the most challenging cases to defend are those lawsuits initiated by their own officers. It is critical that management is able to recognize the factual scenarios that most commonly lead to police officer litigation. We will break down some of the most prevalent police officer claims faced by departments today, including retaliation for protected activity, deprivation of due process in disciplinary matters, discrimination in the promotional process, sexual harassment, and violations of POBR rights.
Morning Breakout
Session 7
11:15-12:00 p.m.
Terminating Employment: Managing the Process. A practical “how to” guide for anyone involved in workplace terminations. Learn when and how to lawfully document performance issues and draft disciplinary documents which ultimately support truthful reasons for termination.
Morning Breakout
Session 8
11:15-12:00 p.m.
Technology Bytes Back. How do you address the potential wage & hour violations, off-site or privacy expectations when employees bring their own electronic devices to work (BYOD)? What happens if a jump drive is lost or information compromised? This session will address preventive measures and strategies, and will review essential policies, including HR & IT protocols.
Lunch and Networking
12:00-1:15 p.m.
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts - Sierra Room | Foyer
Afternoon Breakout
Session 9
1:15-2:15 p.m.
(Advanced HR Focus)
Mental Health and Disability Issues in the Workplace. Mental health and disability issues can present complex concerns in the workplace. Given the proliferation of employees with mental health and disability diagnoses, it is important to understand how these conditions are treated by courts and disability laws. Learn how to handle unique accommodation issues that arise when addressing these matters.
Afternoon Breakout
Session 10
1:15-2:15 p.m.
(Specialized HR Focus)
NLRB Impacts Union/Non-Union Employers. The NLRB has focused their attention on seemingly innocuous language in employee handbooks and manuals that, for years, if not decades, has survived challenge. Learn proactive strategies to avoid creating unintended risk from incorrect or improper language in company handbooks.
Afternoon Breakout
Session 11
1:15-2:15 p.m.
(Basic HR Focus)
Wage and Hour Laws: Essential Compliance. Using a checklist approach, this session will cover the key essentials of wage and hour law, highlight the do’s and don’ts for making sure company pay practices properly address federal and state wage and hour laws.
Afternoon Breakout
Session 12
1:15-2:15 p.m.
(Public Entity Focus)
Can Your Agency Reduce Retiree Health Benefits? A public agency’s ability to reduce retiree health benefits may be limited by the vested rights doctrine, and may also be impacted by PEMHCA and the PEPRA. We will detail the evolution of the vested rights doctrine, the expansion of that doctrine to retiree health benefits, and recent court decisions which provide critical guidance as to whether and how retiree benefits can be reduced.
Break 2:15-2:30 p.m.
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE
(General Session II):
Special Guest: Gig Kyriacou, Attorney & Mediator
2:30 - 3:30 pm | Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts | Main Stage
Mediation ~ The Real Deal. Learn the benefits and pitfalls of mediation and what to expect in the process as we provide the abc’s of Mediation Tactics. Our live demonstration will address the strategies and challenges associated with mediation.
Networking Reception
3:30 p.m.
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts - Foyer
Event Contact
Jane Novotny Guesnon
jguesnon@aalrr.com
Event Speakers
Partner
Partner