Agenda

1. Employment Law Update

2. Successful Hiring and Recruitment Steps

   1. Drafting Accurate Job Descriptions
   2. Job Applications: Getting the Data You Need
   3. Proper Way to Conduct Background Checks
   4. Screening References Through a Filter of Reality
   5. The Job Offer or Rejection Letter
   6. Checklist for a Legal Hire
   7. Orientation and Training
   8. Immigration Compliance Documents (I-9 and E-Verify)
   9. IRS and Federal Compliance Documents (SS-4, W-4, Form 940)

3. Employee Handbooks and Policies in the 21st Century

   1. Guidelines for Whether Your Organization Should or Should Not Have a Handbook
   2. Ensuring Handbook Style Fits With Corporate Culture
   3. Revising the Old vs. Starting Anew
   4. Topics That Should Be Included
   5. Boilerplate Language

4. Wage and Benefit Issues

   1. State-Specific Wage and Hour Laws
   2. What Qualifies as Overtime?
   3. Differences to Be Aware of: Salaried Exempt vs. Salaried Non-Exempt
   4. Options for Employees Reporting Time Worked
   5. Handling Deductions From Wages
   6. Leave Policies
   7. Part-Time Employees and Temps: Wage and Benefit Obligations
   8. Unpaid Internship and Training Programs
   9. Benefits: Health Insurance, Flex Spending, and Retirement Plans
      1. Modifications to the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA)
      2. Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
      3. Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Pitfalls to Be Wary Of

5. Other Employment Laws You Need to Know

   1. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
   2. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
   3. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)
   4. Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
   5. Age Discrimination and Employment Act (ADEA)
   6. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Sexual Harassment
   7. Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
   8. Uniformed Services Employment Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

6. Controlling Unemployment Compensation Costs

   1. General Rules on Who Is Entitled to Unemployment Compensation
   2. Key Information to Present Regarding the Initial Claim
   3. When Is It Important to Fight an Unemployment Compensation Claim?
   4. What You Need to Know About the Hearing Process
   5. Traditional Ways to Manage Unemployment Compensation Costs

7. Workplace Behavior and Privacy - Current Developments

   1. Employee Surveillance
   2. Searches of Desks, Smartphones, Lockers, Vehicles, Equipment, etc.
   3. Monitoring Employee Communications: Calls, Email, and Internet Use
   4. Dress Code/Personal Appearance
   5. Drug and Alcohol Testing
   6. Psychological and Personality Tests
   7. Workplace Violence: Harassment and Bullying
   8. Off-Duty Behavior and Activities

8. Discipline and Discharge - Necessary Documentation

   1. Putting a Discipline Policy in Place Proactively
   2. What to Do When There Is No Policy Addressing an Offense
   3. Evaluating Employee Performance While Mitigating Liability
   4. What Goes in the Discipline/Discharge Letter?
   5. At What Point Should Discharge Be Considered?
   6. Minimizing Liability When Discharging an Employee
   7. Common Mistakes to Avoid During Discharge
   8. Waivers and Releases - Their Use After Termination

9. The National Labor Relations Board - Obligations and Compliance

   1. Current Challenges in NLRB Policies
   2. Petition Process
   3. Complaint and Hearing
   4. Controlling Back Pay
   5. Avoiding a Bargaining Order After Winning an Election
   6. Rules on Secondary Boycotts
   7. Working Around the Problems in Project-Only Agreements
   8. Handling Concerted Activity in Non-Union Environments