2018 Legal Update
Half Day w/Breakfast
Featuring our Annual Vendor Fair & Silent Auction
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
General Session – This opening session will discuss new developments in the law, including new statutes, important court decisions, and regulatory activity over the past year.
Breakout sessions offered during session 1:
- What does At Will Mean – Can I Terminate?
At will means that an employer can terminate an employee at any time, without any reason, explanation, or warning. Over the years, courts have carved out exceptions to the at will presumption to mitigate its sometimes harsh consequences, including public policy and implied contract. There are also statutory exceptions to the “at will” doctrine, including illegal discrimination, protection for an employee’s off-duty activities, retaliation, and whistleblowing. This session will discuss the most common exceptions to the “at will” doctrine, as well as ways an employer may avoid unnecessary entanglements.
· “Me too” / Sexual Harassment
The #MeToo moment has shifted social attitudes, inspired widespread calls for change, and resulted in unprecedented accountability. How an enterprise handles a complaint—or even a whisper—of sexual harassment has significant impact. This session will discuss the new rules governing harassment in the workplace, updated guidelines for investigating harassment claims, discussion of new harassment regulations which impact severance agreements, and more.
- Wage Audits: What to do when DOL comes knocking on your door
It can happen to any business, at any time. A knock at the door, and suddenly you’re facing a team of Department of Labor (DOL) investigators demanding you produce your payroll and tax records. It can be a scary situation! This session will discuss what to do and how to respond to a wage audit notice, as well as things you could do ahead of time to be prepared for an audit.
Breakout sessions offered during session 2:
- 1-9 Compliance / Immigration
The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a priority, including piling more resources into worksite visits and tightening access to immigration benefits. This is occurring at a time where labor shortages are acute in many industries. This session will discuss every employers’ obligation respecting I-9 verification, retention, reverification, E-Verify program, worksite enforcement initiatives, and employer rights, as well as a general overview of the employment-based immigration system.
It remains true, each year that the most difficult HR situations involve employees with work restrictions or performance concerns accompanied by physical or mental health circumstances. This session will provide an overview of the legal obligations and the interaction of these workplace regulations concerning employee injuries, restrictions, leaves, etc. Note that this session will provide a more general overview and the final plenary session will tackle more complex application of these concepts.
- What is that question you want to ask but have always been afraid to ask?
This session is exactly what it says – if you have burning questions, or recurring situations, that keep you lying awake at night, bring them to this session to ask the panel of seasoned lawyers ready to answer those questions. Stump the lawyer, if you can! Feel free to submit questions in advance to Pam Berkovitz, Director of Programming, pberkovitz@master-fleet.com. Note: This session is not intended to provide you with legal advice for specific circumstances you may be working through.
General Session: Advanced ADA/FMLA – This closing session will tackle more advanced issues under the ADA and FMLA, as well as other leave laws, including overlapping leave obligations, complex employee leave and return to work situations, and some of the more complicated administrative issues resulting from an employer’s obligations under these laws.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
We are pleased to announce that we will once again learn from many of our area’s top attorneys including:
Jodi Arndt Labs – Conway, Olejniczak and Jerry, S.C.
Jodi counsels employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. She works with management and human resource professionals to minimize or prevent legal risk while allowing employers to achieve their business objectives. Jodi has represented employers in a wide variety of forums including proceedings before the Equal Rights Division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as state and federal courts in Wisconsin.
Kurt Goehre – Conway, Olejniczak and Jerry, S.C.
Kurt’s practice focuses on employment matters, including wage and hour litigation, post-employment restrictive agreements, contract disputes, labor relations, employee benefits, worker's compensation, employment discrimination litigation, and various regulatory compliance issues including, but not limited to, FLSA, FMLA, Title VII, ADA, NLRA, ADEA, WARN, OSHA, and Wisconsin Fair Employment Act.
Ross Townsend – Conway, Olejniczak and Jerry, S.C.
Ross specializes in employment law, including disputes under the WI Fair Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, ADEA, ADA, NLRA, FLSA, and many others. He advices and trains clients regarding ways to minimize or prevent legal risk while simultaneously achieving business objectives. Ross earned his J.D. from University of Wisconsin Law School.
Robert Burns – Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.
Rob represents employers in labor negotiations, discrimination defense, disability and ADA issues, wrongful discharge or employment contract disputes, non-compete issues, and other sensitive personnel transactions. He also provides advice on a wide variety of school law issues. Bob has his J.D. from Willamette University.
Bruce Deadman – Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.
Bruce represents employers in labor negotiations, discrimination defense, disability and ADA issues, wrongful discharge or employment contract disputes, wage and hour problems, non-compete issues, and other sensitive personnel transactions. Bruce also prepares non-qualified deferred compensation plans and performs basic compensation analysis.
Tony Steffek – Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.
Tony assists individuals, business and public sector entities in a wide range of matters. His extensive litigation experience includes representing clients with regard to a wide array of insurance, contractual, construction, and environmental issues. Immediately prior to joining Davis & Kuelthau, Tony practiced in-house with a multinational trucking, transportation, and logistics services company – experience that provides him with a unique understanding of the issues faced by his clients.
Geoffrey Lacy – Strang, Patterson, Renning, Lewis & Lacy, S.C.
Geoff advises employers on employment law issues, including hiring, discipline and discharge, discrimination defense and policy, FMLA, FLSA, and other areas of employment law. He also provides representation in labor relations, including contract negotiations, grievance processing, and related areas. He also devotes a significant portion of his practice to school and municipal law.
James Kalny – Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.
Jim serves as Chair of Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.’s Labor & Employment Team. He offers over 35 years of experience assisting clients in collective bargaining issues from coordinating costing and authorization strategies to interest and grievance arbitrations. Jim advises clients in preventive strategies and provides legal defense in employment law matters such as discrimination and wage laws. In addition, he advises on a broad variety of Municipal Law issues such as planning and redevelopment, public records and open meetings issues, and zoning appeals matters.
Annie Eiden – Godfrey & Kahn
Annie Eiden is a shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn and is based in its Appleton and Green Bay offices. Annie is a member of the Firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on employment litigation and she regularly represents employers in disputes before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. She also has a broad-based employment counseling practice, advising employers with respect to discipline and termination decisions, reductions in force, employment policies, employment and separation agreements, and wage and hour issues.
Annie earned her law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Annie received her Bachelor of Arts degree, with highest distinction, from the University of Wisconsin.
Abby Busler – Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.
Abby is a member of Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.'s Labor & Employment team and the School and Higher Education practice group in Green Bay. Her practice primarily focuses on counseling education clients in school law and labor and employment issues. Abby worked as a law clerk for the Department of Public Instruction, where she conducted extensive legal research on educational law issues and assisted the legal department in representing the state superintendent in cases regarding open enrollment, expulsion appeals, the school choice program, and the food and nutrition programs.
Meeting Schedule
7:15am – 7:30am Registration and Networking – Windsor Room
7:30am – 8:15am Breakfast Buffet and Vendor Fair/Silent Auction Bidding
8:15am – 8:30am SHRM Business and Sponsor Spotlight
8:30am – 9:30am General Session – Legal Update
9:30am – 10:00am Vendor Fair & Silent Auction Bidding
10:00am – 10:50am Breakout Session I
Choose 1:
· What does At Will Mean – Can I Terminate?
· “Me too” / Sexual Harassment
· Wage Audits: What to do when DOL comes knocking on your door
10:50am – 11:00am BREAK (Silent Auction Bidding)
11:00am – 11:50am Breakout Session II
Choose 1:
· 1-9 Compliance / Immigration
· General ADA/FMLA/WC
· What is that question you want to ask but have always been afraid to ask?
11:50am – 12:00pm BREAK (Silent Auction Bidding)
12:00pm – 12:50pm Closing General Session – Advanced ADA/FMLA
12:50pm – 1:00pm Pick up your Silent Auction Winning Items
Menu: Sunrise Buffet Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar and Chives, Choice of Breakfast Meat (Ham, Breakfast Sausage, and Bacon), Potatoes O’Brien, Our House Made Danish, Fresh Baked Muffins, Assorted Donuts, Assorted Bagels. Snacks will include: Gardetto snack mix, fresh fruit, cookies, and refreshments.
Reservation Deadline for this meeting is Monday, September 10th @ 5:00pm
$45 – GB SHRM Member*
$55 – Guest of GB SHRM Member*
$25 – SHRM Student Chapter Member
*Those who register after Friday, September 7th will be charged a $5 late fee.
So that we may get an accurate meal count in a timely manner, please register at https://gbshrm.org/event-2850321
*NOTE: The Green Bay Area SHRM Chapter is obligated to pay The Rock Garden for all reservations made. If you register for this meeting and are unable to attend, you must cancel by the Friday prior to the meeting to receive a refund. Any requests for cancellation after that date will still be charged the meeting fee.
GREEN BAY AREA CHAPTER OF SHRM is a recognized provider of recertification credits. This program has been submitted to the HR Certification Institute for review.
GREEN BAY AREA CHAPTER OF SHRM is recognized by SHRM to offer SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP professional development credits (PDCs). This program is valid for 3.5 PDCs. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.
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