#HR: 2018 Employment Law Symposium

Human Resources is buzzing along at the speed of NOW. Is your company able to keep up?

Gentry Locke’s Employment Law Team will help your company be prepared for and inoculated against some of the most potent viral movements we’ve ever seen. Register now to learn about the most click-worthy issues affecting businesses this year!

Registration is open for Lynchburg (May 14)

Professional Credits: As a SHRM Recertification Provider, Gentry Locke is recognized by SHRM to offer 6.5 hours of Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP^SM or SHRM-SCP^SM for this day of programming. This program is approved for 6.5 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, PHR^®, PHRca^®, SPHR^®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through the HR Certification Institute^®.

Cost: $185 per attendee includes a Continental breakfast at sign-in, lunch, and all materials.

Refunds: Our policy is to allow the switching of event locations if needed. Full refunds will be made by check if cancelled no less than two weeks prior to the event date. All refunds will be made by check, no matter how the registration was paid.

Questions? Email glrm@gentrylocke.com, we’re glad to help!

#Agenda

8:00 – 8:30 am – Continental and sign-in
8:30 – 9:20 – Trump Revealed: What HR Needs to Know About Employment Law Changes Presenter:  Todd A. Leeson
9:20 – 9:30 am – Break
9:30 – 10:20 am – Safety First: OSHA/VOSH — On the Job and At Your Door Presenters: K. Brett Marston, Spencer M. Wiegard
10:20 – 10:40 – Break
10:40 – 11:30 am – Malcontents: How to Spot and Deal with Them  Presenters: John R. Thomas, Jr., Justin M. Lugar, Mia Yugo
11:30 – Noon – Tax Cuts and The Job Act of 2017: How it Affects HR & Company Employees  Presenter: W. William Gust
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 pm – What Happens in Richmond Doesn’t Stay in Richmond: Legislative Changes Affecting Employers  Presenter: Gregory D. Habeeb, Virginia Delegate
1:30 – 2:20 pm – FYI: FMLA & ADA — Notes from the Front Lines (and the Hot Seat)  Presenters: Paul G. Klockenbrink, Catherine J. Huff
2:20 – 2:40 – Break
2:40 – 3:10 pm – Trials and Tribulations: The Saga of Carnell Construction Corp. v. Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority Presenter: Glenn W. Pulley
3:10 – 4:00 pm – Back to the Future: Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era  Presenters: W. David Paxton, Catherine J. Huff

#Sessions

Trump Revealed: What HR Needs to Know About Employment Law Changes
Todd A. Leeson

Every new presidential administration results in change in the workplace, but President Trump’s transition has been quite dramatic. In this session, we will discuss the changes that will have the most profound impact on the employment law landscape. We will focus on initiatives and priorities at the EEOC, NLRB and DOL, and you’ll get practical take-aways to help your company minimize its legal risk:

1. Better understanding of the Trump Administration’s initiatives and enforcement priorities for selected employment laws including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, NLRB and FLSA
2. Information to evaluate your current policies and practices, and identify whether changes are necessary to help minimize the risks of employment-related claims or lawsuits
3. The ability to advise senior management of changes that may be necessary in resources, training and/or HR policies in light of any legal changes or initiatives in the Trump Administration

Safety First: OSHA/VOSH — On the Job and At Your Door
Brett Marston, Spencer M. Wiegard

Knowing the OSHA/workplace safety rules and how the Virginia-based program works is important for management for all types of businesses. This session will review how the OSHA laws are established and work in Virginia. Importantly, our attorneys will present tips for knowing what to do when OSHA inspectors present themselves at your business. You’ll come away with a better understanding of how to prepare now for a safer workplace, and what you should be prepared to do when OSHA shows up at your office door.

Malcontents: How to Spot and Deal with Them
John R. Thomas, Justin M. Lugar, Mia Yugo

Gripers and malcontents – every organization has them! What motivates them? You may not realize it, but the griping you hear from a malcontent could actually fall within a whistleblower statute or remedy. There are a wide variety of whistleblower statutes (FCA, Dodd-Frank, OSHA, SOX, Bowman claims, and more). What are the things to watch for? How do you investigate these issues? Where is the line and when is it worth fighting back? You’ll learn how to properly investigate and track the moving parts of these highly complicated issues.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 – How it Affects HR & Company Employees
W. William Gust 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act aims to spur economic growth across the United States by adjusting tax structures for individuals and businesses. What are the implications for companies like yours? Attendees will learn how these provisions may impact HR-related functions and employees.

What Happens in Richmond Doesn’t Stay in Richmond: Legislative Changes Affecting Employers  
Gregory D. Habeeb, Virginia Delegate

Along with a slate of newer delegates, there will be a lot of new employment-related bills. Delegate Greg Habeeb will discuss protected classes, the federalization of State Employment Law, mandatory benefits, workers compensation, and more. Attendees will learn what legislation is likely to affect their businesses, and will hear the likelihood of what might become state law.

FYI: FMLA & ADA — Notes from the Front Lines (and the Hot Seat)
Paul G. Klockenbrink, Catherine J. Huff

FMLA and ADA continue to challenge the best of employers, and Congress is not likely to be sending in any reinforcement. We will cover both real scenarios and hypotheticals, and as a cautionary tale, we will once again watch an HR professional’s testimony combust in a mock cross-examination. Attendees will learn how to prepare, act, and react when faced with the challenge of balancing the mandate of the government, the needs of the employee, and the realities of workforce management.

Trials and Tribulations: The Saga of Carnell Construction Corp. v. Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Glenn W. Pulley

As a trial attorney in this landmark case, Gentry Locke Partner Glenn Pulley represented the Housing Authority against a 1000-attorney law firm in Richmond. The lessons learned in litigating this race discrimination case in federal court encompassed email communications, PR consultations, and jury selections. A minority-owned construction contractor in Martinsville that was selected as the low bidder on a contract alleged that the Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority (DRHA) engaged in race discrimination and retaliation, both during the contract selection process and during the administration of the contract.  When DRHA countersued for breach of contract, the parties faced off in litigation that included 4 jury trials in federal court which produced drastically different outcomes over a period of 5 years. You will learn valuable insights on what type of evidence is admissible if a discrimination claim is litigated, and how to avoid inadvertently creating evidence that can hurt management and help the claimant.

Back to the Future: Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era  
W. David Paxton, Catherine J. Huff

We’ve noted in past events that the DOL statistics show that sexual harassment training has been largely ineffective, and the #MeToo movement shows us how rampant this issue has been. National newscasts have delved into the confidentiality aspects of company documents, and the use of mediation and nondisclosure agreements. Should companies be protecting managers and the company from defamation? We’ll provide a more in-depth look at the current landscape and will reveal important factors when responding to claims of sexual misconduct in the workplace. We’ll cover the most up-to-date EEOC guidance and best practices to utilize on a going-forward basis.