31st Annual Labor, Employment, Benefits, and Immigration Law Forum
Event Location
November 29, 2018
MotorCity Casino Hotel Detroit
2901 Grand River Ave. Detroit, MI 48201
Click here to download copies of the presentations.
Please join us on Thursday, November 29, 2018, for our 31st Annual Labor, Employment, Benefits, and Immigration Law Forum.
The price for this year's seminar is $190.
The program has bee pre-approved for 4 (HR (General)) recertification credits by the HR Certification Institute as well as 4 PDCs for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.
Registration is now closed - walk-ins are welcome!
2018 SEMINAR AGENDA
7:15 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction, recap of new developments and trends
8:30 am – 9:30 a.m. WORKSHOP SESSION I
Retention and Transition Strategies (Jim Rosenfeld & Mike Griffie) The multi-generational workplace challenges employers in attracting and retaining new talent and planning for the transition of senior talent. This workshop will address those two issues, including how to plan for transitions without running afoul of age discrimination laws.
The Employee Benefits Game (Lynn McGuire & Mark Jane)Bet you didn’t know employee benefits could be this much fun! In this session, attendees try to answer quiz questions correctly to compete for prizes. In the process, you’ll learn about recent developments in the employee benefits arena, and we’ll give you useful tips to help you with your employee benefit plan administration.
Hot Topics in Business Immigration Law: A discussion of Recent Developments (Reggie Pacis, Amany Kasham, & He Xian) This session will focus on current administrative policies affecting U.S. immigration, travel to the U.S., and the challenges they present to employers including: the travel ban, employment-based adjustment interviews, the future of NAFTA and the TN classification, impact on the issuance of requests for evidence issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, timing, and immigration planning strategic considerations. In addition, there will be discussion on the following topics: possible future regulatory and policy agenda by the current Administration; and the probability of enactment of possible legislation in the House and Senate to change current immigration laws
My Colleague is Paid How Much? Understanding Wage and Equal Pay Issues (Rebecca Davies) Wage and hour issues continue to be a source of frequent employee claims. Equal pay issues are at the intersection of discrimination and wage issues. This workshop will provide an update as to wage and hour regulations, current and pending pay equity laws, recent litigation and practical advice as to what employers should be doing to avoid claims under the Equal Pay Act.
9:30 A.M. – 9:45 A.M. Break
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. WORKSHOP SESSION II
Arbitration vs. Litigation (Dan Tukel) It is legally permissible to require employees to arbitrate claims including statutory discrimination claims. What are the pros and cons for employers of arbitration vs litigation? How should mandatory arbitration provisions be implemented? Should there be “carve outs” for certain types of claims, such as sexual harassment? This workshop will address these and other related issues.
How the National Labor Relations Act Applies To Your Non-Union Employees (Craig Schwartz) Even if your workforce is non-union, employees are entitled to certain “collective” rights, and policies such as those which apply to non-disparagement and social media can be subject to rules promulgated by the National Labor Relations Board. This workshop will discuss how every employer – even with non-union employees – is affected by the NLRA, and how to avoid running afoul of its requirements.
Taming the FMLA (Regan Dahle & Hannah Treppa) The FMLA remains one of the most challenging laws for employers to understand and implement. This workshop will address the affirmative obligations employers have under the FMLA, how to address and curb FMLA abuses, and how the ADA and FMLA overlap on employee leave issues.
Employer Immigration Compliance and Worksite Enforcement (Clara Mager, Linda Armstrong, & Bushra Malik) With enforcement actions at record levels is your company ready for a government audit? Could your company be the subject of an ICE raid? Are your I-9’s ready for inspection? Are your H-1B public access files up to date? The session will provide employers with the most up to date information regarding practical guidance on how all employers must be prepared in the event of an audit or raid.
10:45 am – 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. WORKSHOP SESSION III
Dealing with the Mentally and Emotionally Challenged Employee (John Hancock) Employees with mental or emotional issues and workplace violence are an unfortunate reality. This workshop will address legal and practical concerns in preventing and addressing workplace violence and in dealing with employees who have mental issues.
Workplace Investigations (Carey DeWitt & Diane Soubly) When and how to conduct an investigation is a concern that is not limited only to harassment issues. This workshop will address not only when, but also how to conduct an effective investigation, and its impact on discipline issues.
Protecting Your Trade Secrets and Effective Non-Compete Agreements (Brett Rendeiro, Bernie Fuhs & Paul Mersino) Trade secrets are among a company’s most valuable assets, and preventing competitors from hiring away your talent is critical in protecting your human assets. This workshop will help identify what information is protectable as trade secrets and how best to protect it, and will address whether or not to mandate non-compete agreements for your employees and, if so, how to craft and enforce effective non-compete agreements.
Service/Emotional Support Animals and other ADA Accommodation Issues (Scott Patterson & Brett Miller) Your employee indicates she needs to bring her emotional support lizard to work with her and brings a confirming note from a psychiatrist. This workshop will address the difference between service and emotional support animals, when and how you must accommodate such requests and other unique and challenging ADA accommodation issues.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Lunchtime Keynote Speaker - Barbara McQuade
Investigations in the Age of #MeToo Special Keynote Speaker: Barbara McQuade, Former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, University of Michigan Law Professor, and MSNBC Legal Analyst
Please direct inquiries to Nairi Bagdasarian at bagdasarian@butzel.com.
