Well, you’re in luck because this is another of our two day tracks that will be presented at the 21st Annual SHRM-Atlanta HR Conference on October 17-18, 2011 at Cobb Galleria Centre.
Whether in a union or nonunion workplace, HR professionals must understand critical legal issues that affect day-to-day business decisions. These sessions will highlight policies and practices and focus on key employment law issues that affect the way HR professionals conduct business.
We’ll cover this and more in the following sessions:
Creating and Keeping Employment Law Records | Speaker: Jennifer Sandberg, Fisher & Phillips LLP
Monday, October 17, 8:00 am – 9:00 am | General Credit
All employers face numerous recordkeeping requirements – particularly records related to human resource issues. Unfortunately, many employers lack even a basic policy or process for record management, retention and destruction. Likewise, many employers are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of records that need to be managed. While some managers fail to create the necessary records to substantiate employment law decisions, on occasion, managers create records that do more harm than good. Learn how to convince your managers to create beneficial and appropriate records. Do you ever wonder if some records don’t belong in a personnel file? Do you know what records should and should not be created and how long records need to be retained? What are the important limits on record destruction if the employer is on notice of a legal claim? Court decisions and changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have made non-compliance with record keeping requirements an extremely expensive and dangerous proposition. Non-compliance can result in fines against company employees personally and multi-million dollar judgments against the company. More than ever, employers need a process for managing employment-related records.
Privacy and Social Media: The Rewards and Pitfalls of Social Networking in the Workplace and Managing Risk with the Claims That Arise | Speakers: Natasha L. Wilson, Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Peter N. Hall, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Monday, October 17, 12:40 pm – 1:40 pm | General Credit
As social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have gained popularity over the last few years with employers and employees alike, the lines between business and personal communication often blur. This session will focus on how social networking sites are being used and the potential liabilities faced by employers and employees who use these social media.
Fundamentals of Wage and Hour Law: Insights for Managing the Risks of Wage and Hour Claims/Class Actions and Working with Outside Counsel | Speakers: Brett T. Lane, Greenberg Traurig, LLP; David Long-Daniels, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Monday, October 17, 2:20 pm – 3:20 pm | General Credit
This session will provide participants with detailed information on and a practical analysis of the intricacies of wage and hour law, both at the state and federal levels. With all of the rules, exemptions, definitions and exceptions counsel must apply in navigating this complex area of law, those new to wage and hour can become easily overwhelmed. The FLSA is one of the most complicated federal statutes; further, a number of states impose additional requirements on employers. Participants will come away from the workshop with a firm grasp of the nuts and bolts of wage and hour law.
Back to the Future: Increased EEOC and NLRB Enforcement Trends and What You Need to Know to Protect Your Company | Speakers: Todd Wozniak, Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Erik S. Rodriguez, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Monday, October 17, 3:35 pm – 4:35 pm | General Credit
During the prior Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) departed from prior practice and concentrated their enforcement efforts in a few non-traditional areas. Now, the rules have changed again. New leadership at the EEOC, the NLRB, and President Obama’s National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force are returning to some traditional areas but also are aggressively enforcing new areas, such as pay equity discrimination, regulations related to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), among others. In this session, learn about the latest enforcement trends and ways you can proactively audit human resources practices to uncover risks under the Agencies changed enforcement approach.
Personnel Management Following the Dodd-Frank Act | Speaker: Matthew Gilley, Ford & Harrison, LLP
Tuesday, October 18, 8:15 am – 9:15 am | General Credit
The Dodd-Frank Act is rightly viewed as “Wall Street” legislation, but its sweeping impact will be felt on Main Street. In particular, human resource and personnel managers in companies subject to the Act will see changes in executive compensation rules, corporate governance requirements, diversity and inclusion mandates, and whistleblower protections. Many of these provisions carry high-stakes penalties and deserve close analysis. This session will focus on the various Dodd-Frank provisions that will impact your human resource management.
Immigration & I-9 | Speaker: Justin Coffey, Ogletree Deakins
Tuesday, October 18, 10:00 am – 11:00 am | General Credit
This session will provide an overview of the I-9 process and current I-9 enforcement priorities and strategies targeting employers. It will provide suggestions for employers to improve compliance in order to reduce the risk of significant penalties if the company becomes a target of investigation. Finally, it will address recent developments related to the E-Verify program.
Just the Facts- Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations | Speaker: Deepa Subramanian, Esquire Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Tuesday, October 18, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm | General Credit
This session will show HR professionals how to conduct effective investigations in the workplace. From who conducts the interviews, to sample questions and procedures, through discipline and follow up, this session will teach you the ins and outs of an investigation and will show you how to best avoid litigation or at least create the best possible record should litigation ensue.
5 Critical Employment Law Challenges for HR Professionals in 2011 | Speakers: Traywick Duffie, Littler Mendelson; Dionysia Johnson-Massie, Littler Mendelson
Tuesday, October 18, 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | General Credit
Human resource professionals confront a constantly changing legal landscape. A single court decision interpreting the ADA or an issue implicating an employer’s social media policy can require the re-evaluation of a previously accepted HR policy or procedure. Significant changes to the ADA and FMLA, the rising occurrence of workplace bullying and the increasing use of social media all require new approaches to human resource management. In this fast-paced, highly interactive session, we will engage in a lively discussion, using realistic scenarios to address these 5 critical employment law issues affecting HR professionals now.
They Can’t Take It With Them: The Impact of Georgia’s New Non-Compete Law on Employers | Speaker: Jeffrey Mokotoff, Ford & Harrison, LLP
Tuesday, October 18, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | General Credit
On November 3, 2010, Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment which is intended to give effect to the Restrictive Covenants Act “RCA” passed in 2009. The RCA represents a dramatic change in the law governing non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants in Georgia. The RCA does not impact agreements entered into prior to the ratification of this amendment. Prior to passage of the constitutional amendment, a restrictive covenant that was deemed overly broad as to time, territory or scope of activities was void in its totality. The RCA authorizes Georgia courts to “blue pencil” or “modify” non-competes or non-solicitation provisions, in order to render them enforceable. The Act will likely result in increased enforcement of restrictive covenants in a variety of circumstances. Because the RCA represents a significant departure from existing law, any company that uses restrictive covenants today should fully understand how the RCA has altered the legal landscape in this area.
Online registration closes on October 12 and prices will increase onsite. Don’t miss this great opportunity to earn CEU credits, network with your peers and visit the resource partnership showcase.
Register today!
