As many return to their workplaces, the path ahead may not be the same as we remembered. The Virtual 37th Annual Employment Law Update will highlight recent changes to the law and what employers can expect as we forge ahead to a new normal. This seminar will guide employers on a broad array of new employment laws. Our popular K&C Answer Booth will be back in operation to allow attendees to ask any and all employment law questions. Legal, practical, and government agency perspectives will all be presented with an emphasis on practical guidance. Attendees can also earn up to 5 credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and 5 PPCs toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP.

Opening Session 
9:00 – 9:20

Virtual attendees will receive an overview of what to expect during the day and a summary of their workshop choices. We will also have a little fun watching a round-up of embarrassing viral meeting fails and a brief recap of the biggest legal changes facing Virginia employers.

MORNING SESSIONS
9:30 – 10:30 | 10:40 – 11:40

Employment Law 101 – “Strange New World”
John M. Bredehoft
Randy C. Sparks, Jr.

While many federal legal changes were receiving all the publicity, Virginia enacted a number of new state laws that dramatically changed employer risks and obligations. Those changes will be emphasized in an effort to update employers and help them meet their new legal obligations and reduce related risks.

Post COVID Workplace – “Practical and Legal Expectations”
Laura Geringer Gross
Mauricio Velasquez, President and CEO, The Diversity Training Group

Planning for the post COVID workplace will require employers to adjust to a new normal where flexibility, listening and not just hearing, and asking not simply telling, will all be required. This session will focus on practical and legal consequences of the choices employers make in response to the changed workplace and will provide tips on how, in this new normal, to hire and retain the best employees.

Handbooks & Policies – “Survival Game Plan”
William M. Palmer
Sharon K. Reyes

New laws have imposed new posting/policy requirements. This session will cover how to draft and update employee handbooks and employer postings/policies. We will cover which policies are required and which are strongly recommended with an emphasis on laws enacted during the pandemic.

11:45 – 12:45 Lunch Break

Post Lunch Speaker
12:45 – 1:30 Special Presentation – ” The Key to Surviving the Pandemic”

Being resilient is important to organizations surviving the COVID storm. Resiliency and change management go hand-in-hand. Our popular luncheon speaker, Mauricio Velasquez, President and CEO of The Diversity Training Group, will present ways for management to utilize these important tools.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS
1:40 – 2:40 | 2:50 – 3:50

Post Pandemic Workplace Safety – “A New Normal”
Robert J. Barry
Daniel F. Basnight

Significant legal changes have affected workplace safety during the pandemic and some of these changes are here to stay. This workshop will discuss these legal changes ranging from the legalization of marijuana to OSHA workplace safety rules.

New Wage Payment/Overtime Rules – “Times Have Changed”
Robert G. Armstrong, Assistant Director, Virginia Department of Labor & Industry
Neil S. Talegaonkar

This session will discuss Virginia’s new regime of “employee friendly” wage and hour laws. The discussion will also focus on differences between those Virginia laws and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and how employers should deal with pay issues where many of the “employer friendly” exemptions have been effectively killed.

Discipline & Discharge – “Lessons Learned”
Thomas Colclough, Charlotte District Director, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Joshua Jewett, Plaintiff’s Lawyer, Pierce McCoy
Burt H. Whitt

This session will focus on new, enhanced legal risks in cases such as whistle-blowing and retaliation. In addition to hearing from the new EEOC District Director, both employer and employee advocate perspectives will be presented. All attendees’ specific questions are encouraged.

4:00 – 4:30 – Closing Session – “Bouncing Back & Reinventing”
Dr. Danny Avula, Virginia’s “Vaccination Czar,” will present a history of what has transpired to date regarding vaccines. He will also discuss what to expect in the future, multiple variant strains, and booster possibilities.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Robert G. Armstrong
Assistant Director, Virginia Department of Labor & Industry

Danny Avula, MD, MPH
Director, Richmond City Health District

Thomas M. Colclough
Charlotte District Director, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Joshua Jewett, Esq.
Plaintiff’s Lawyer, Pierce McCoy

Mauricio Velásquez
President and CEO, The Diversity Training Group

William O. Walton
Unemployment Insurance Director, Virginia Employment Commission

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

LOCATION: The program will be held virtually on October 27, 2021. You will receive an email with details on how to access the seminar once you register.

FEE: Our $375 registration fee includes seminar materials and a certificate of completion. Sessions will be recorded and available for all registered attendees to view after the seminar date.

DEADLINE: The deadline to register is one week prior to the seminar date.

REGISTER: Please click here to register.

If you have any questions, please contact Julie Nguyen at jqnguyen@kaufcan.com or (757) 624.3232.