Session

Time

Title

Description

Presenter(s)

7:30am

Registration/
Breakfast 

Welcome  General Session 1

8:00-9:00 am

Breaking Waves: Employment Law Update

California employers are constantly adjusting their policies and procedures as new laws are enacted. This session will discuss new laws and regulations, recent notable court decisions, and tips to mitigate employer risk.

Paul Fleck

9:00-9:15 am - BREAK

Session
1

9:15-10:15 am

When the Tide Goes Out: Administering Leaves in the Workplace

Leave obligations continue to expand for California employers. This presentation will review the different types of leaves, the various California and federal laws that govern them, and best practices employers can leverage to stay compliant.

Ann Smith

Casandra Secord

Session
2

9:15-10:15 am

The AI Tsunami is Approaching

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is arguably the wave of the future, and it seems to be creating as many questions for employers as it answers. This presentation will address risks to employers and areas of consideration when developing company policies.

David Lester

Session
3

9:15-10:15 am

Preparing for Turbulent Waters: Workplace Violence Prevention Plans

SB 553 requires almost every employer in California to create a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) by July 1, 2024. This presentation will discuss key elements of a compliant WVPP including evaluating unsafe conditions, required reporting, training, and investigating workplace violence incidents.

Jonathan Vick

Michael Watts

10:15-10:30 am - BREAK

Session
4

10:30-11:15 am

45 Mins

Riding the Remote Work Wave

Many employers have employees working remotely at least part of the time. The presenters will discuss some of the legal challenges that arise with remote work arrangements, including effectively managing employee performance, complying with wage and hour laws, navigating disability concerns, and addressing reimbursement requirements.

Catherine Lee

Glen Williams

Session
5

10:30-11:30 am

High Tide: Marijuana and the Workplace

Recent changes in the law that restrict an employer’s ability to take action against employees for off-duty marijuana use present unique challenges. This presentation will discuss timely topics including drug testing, the intersection with federal laws and regulations, and reasonable accommodation considerations.

William Betley

Session
6

10:30-11:30 am

Navigating Rough Waters: A Wage and Hour Case Study

Employers must be aware of the complex and constantly evolving state and federal laws governing wage and hour compliance obligations. Using a case study involving a company faced with pending wage and hour litigation, this session will explore compliance strategies for the evolving wage and hour challenges employers face.

Susan Steward

Carol Gefis

11:15-12:45 pm – LUNCH/NETWORKING

Session
7

12:45-1:45 pm

Charting the Buoys of Reasonable Accommodation

Chart a new approach when handling accommodation requests in the workplace. This scenario-based session will delve into several complicated reasonable accommodation scenarios and will provide actionable insights, legal knowledge, and effective tools to handle the interactive process.

Amber Solano

Session
8

12:45-1:45 pm

Wave Hopping and Wipeouts: Employee Mobility and Restrictive Covenants

California has long observed a strong public policy in favor of employee mobility and free competition in the workforce. Two new California laws that went into effect on January 1, 2024, further strengthened California’s prohibition against noncompete agreements and created new potential liability for employers who require their employees to sign—or who try to enforce—unlawful restrictive covenants in employment agreements. This presentation will provide best practices to protect valuable trade secrets and goodwill while remaining vigilant and legally compliant.

Brian Wheeler

Sean Anderson

Session
9

12:45-1:45 pm

Ripple or Current: Social Media in the Workplace

Social media has become an integral part of employees’ personal and professional lives. This presentation will address social media usage that affects the workplace, with a focus on privacy, harassment, discrimination, employee comments, NLRB compliance, and responsible usage.

Jonathan Judge

Melisa McKellar

1:45-2:00 pm - BREAK

General Session 2

2:00-3:00 pm

Breaking Waves: Economic Forecast Update

Chapman University President Emeritus Dr. James Doti will forecast the future of the economy to help guide and fortify Southern California’s business community. Mixing data with insights from colleagues, Dr. Doti will discuss the state of the economy, where it may go, and the potential for job growth in professional, business, education, and health fields.

Dr. James Doti

Introduction by Robert Wenzel

3:00 pm

 Reception

Networking/Refreshments

This program will be submitted for 5.0 PDC hours for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo is recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.

This program will be submitted for 5.0 Conference recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute homepage at www.hrci.org.

The use of this official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.