How to Become a Best Workplace Starting Today!
Join Lane Powell, the Greater Seattle Business Association, Puget Sound Business Journal, AIG, Lake Washington Human Resource Association and the Washington Bankers Association on Tuesday, October 11 for the “Best Practices for Best Employers” 34th Annual Labor and Employment Seminar. This consistently popular seminar, repeatedly fresh and relevant, is the ideal event for employers, HR professionals, in-house counsel and managers, where you will get the most recent insights in employment law to avoid disruptive and expensive audits, charges and lawsuits. Join us to learn what to do now to be ready for changes coming in 2017.
Agenda:
9:30 – 10 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
10 – 10:10 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
“Get Smart”: Top 10 Things Employers Need to Know in 2017
Katheryn Bradley, Lane Powell PC
This session provides updates on recent labor and employment developments and recommendations on how to stay compliant, including:
- Steps to comply with new wage theft and paid sick leave laws sweeping the country;
- Updating your hiring practices to comply with new laws affecting background checks;
- How to accommodate religious beliefs in light of new federal initiatives;
- Managing leave and disability accommodations to avoid claims;
- Dealing with new rules regarding “joint liability” employer status under the NLRB’s new test;
- Implementing your wellness plan to comply with new EEOC rules; and
- How the “gig” economy impacts your workforce, and what to do about it.
The New “Price is Right”: Pay Equity and Statistics — Avoiding and Defending Claims
D. Michael Reilly, Lane Powell PC and G. (Ted) Anderson, PhD, Welch Consulting
Pay equity is an increasing focus. Learn about current litigation, legislation and enforcement trends, proactive practices to avoid and minimize liability using statistical analysis, strategies for using audits, selecting statistical models and developing pre-suit defense strategies.
“Stranger Things” … Bizarre Tales From the Employee Benefits World
Craig A. Day, Lane Powell PC
Employee benefits lawyers and practitioners see strange things every day. Discover some practical and creative ways to avoid bizarre new issues, and recent developments in the benefits world including retirement plans, executive compensation, severance, the Affordable Care Act, the Mental Health Parity Act and COBRA. Receive practical answers to the following questions:
- Who gets your deceased employee’s 401(k) account if she was married to a man currently married?
- Do I have to pay for expensive applied behavior analysis therapy for health plan participants who are autistic?
- When an employee goes on a leave and remains on our health plan, how do I collect the premiums?
- Can I offer to subsidize COBRA benefits for an employee under a severance or separation agreement?
Lunch
“Closed Case Files”: Timing is Everything When It Comes to Your EPLI Claims
Mark R. Girolamo, Regional Manager, AIG
What kinds of employment claims are you most likely to see? Find out the recent claim trends experienced by a broad range of industries. This session also explains the steps you should take when you learn you have an employment claim, and how and when to respond to employment disputes.
“Law & Order”: Newest Trends and Practices from Department of Labor Enforcement — Policies, Targeted Investigations, Audits and Litigation; and Protecting Your Future Interests if an Audit Turns Into a Prosecution
Chuck P. Rullman, Lane Powell PC
The Department of Labor has changed its approach in investigation and audits. Learn new trends and practical approaches in responding to a DOL audit, steps to avoid litigation with the DOL and how to prepare your best defense.
“Breaking Bad”: When Cancer Comes to Work
Kelly Lipscomb, Lane Powell PC
Statistics show it is highly likely some of your employees may be battling cancer themselves, or caring for a loved one with cancer. This session provides holistic approaches to the unique challenges cancer causes in the workplace. You will also receive insightful suggestions from cancer patients on how employers can better handle unique situations while supporting employees affected by cancer.
“The $47,476 Pyramid”: How to Win the FLSA Overtime Exemption Game
Sarah Swale, Lane Powell PC
This session addresses practical strategies for employers in restructuring/reclassifying workers to meet the new federal overtime regulations and changing pay practices to minimize litigation risks. The session will also discuss the real-world challenges of changing employees from exempt to non-exempt, and the interplay of the new federal overtime regulations with Seattle, SeaTac and Tacoma minimum wage laws.
3:45 – 4:15 p.m.: Networking and Q&A Sessions With Speakers
A 30-minute session for attendees to meet with the presenters casually to ask questions and/or to network in the room.