Please join us at Hilton Portland on Wednesday, April 26, as we partner with Associated Oregon Industries to present our 34th Annual “Best Practices for Best Employers” Labor and Employment Seminar. This is the ideal event for employers, HR professionals, in-house counsel and managers interested in learning the most recent insights in employment law to help navigate tough employment issues, understand legal obligations, remain compliant, and avoid disruptive and expensive audits, charges and lawsuits.
Agenda:
8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast and Registration
9 – 9:05 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
9:05 – 10:10 a.m. Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law and What to Expect From the New Administration
Paul M. Ostroff, Lane Powell PC
This presentation will review recent developments in labor and employment law, including state and federal legislation and regulations, regulatory agency practices, and trends in court decisions. We will also focus on some of the major developments that employers are likely to face under the new administration.
10:10 – 10:40 a.m. Employers and the Oregon Legislature
Betsy Earls, Vice President and Counsel, Associated Oregon Industries
Betsy Earls will discuss employment related proposals currently before the Oregon legislature and the impact of Bureau of Labor and Industries Rulemaking on employer implementation.
10:40 – 10:55 a.m. Break
10:55 – 11:30 Hello From the Other Side: Employee Benefits Update for HR Professionals
Craig A. Day, Lane Powell PC
This session will address the most pressing employee benefits issues that every HR professional or employment lawyer should know about. This session will cover recent developments in employee benefits, including:
- What employers should do to comply with the Affordable Care Act and the impact of recent changes in Congress and the White House;
- An update on recent health care class action lawsuits and how they will impact your health plans;
- Collecting health care premiums while employees are on a leave of absence;
- Dealing with ACA reporting and marketplace notices;
- Recent changes to the IRS’s determination letter program for retirement plans and what it means for your organization; and
- The problem with COBRA subsidies for executives.
Learn best practices for dealing with these and other employee benefits issues even if you are not responsible for benefits in your organization.
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Workplace Harassment: Culture Clashes, Implicit Bias and Favored Treatment
Susan K. Eggum, Lane Powell PC
Balancing and protecting the interests of a profit-driven entity and the rights of the individuals who support the entity is no simple task. Along with tools for prevention and mitigation, Susan will address why robust workplace harassment policies and practices remain core strategies for employers in this time of divisiveness and social change.
12:15 – 1 p.m. Lunch
Lunch will be served.
1 – 1:45 p.m. Lawful Hiring Practices: Prevent Employment Headaches Before They Happen
William E. Weiner, Lane Powell PC
This presentation will provide practical guidance for complying with the complex web of employment rules that govern recruiting, interviewing, and hiring. Topics will include emerging issues surrounding discrimination law, ban the box, and worker classification, among others. The presentation will also advise as how companies can best protect themselves at the outset of an employment relationship with appropriate policies, job descriptions, and agreements.
1:45 – 2:30 p.m. When Cancer Comes to Work
David G. Hosenpud, Lane Powell PC
Statistics show it is highly likely some of your employees may be battling cancer, or caring for a loved one with cancer. This session will provide holistic approaches to the unique challenges cancer causes in the workplace, including adapting your zero tolerance drug policy to anticipate the medications integral to this disease. You will also receive insightful suggestions from the perspective of a cancer patient on how employers can better handle uncommon situations while supporting employees affected by cancer.
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Changes to Employment-based Immigration Practices With the New Administration
Dustin J. O’Quinn, Lane Powell PC
This presentation will review Department of Labor audit updates, Immigration and Customs Enforcement worksite raids, audits of Form I-9 and changes to visa options.
3:45 – 4 p.m. Event Raffle