Employment and Labor

2024 continues to bring new changes and challenges for California employers as they face a myriad of updated and evolving employment laws and issues. Join Kristen Nesbit of Fisher Phillips for a mid-year update on recent developments in employment litigation, state and federal regulations, and the new employment laws that are driving change for California employers.

ACC Houston August Chapter Meeting CLE Webinar: Politics in the Workplace
Understanding Legal and Practical Implications of Employee Political Activity
August 21, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Zoom
 

With the presidential election right around the corner, workplaces across the country are likely to test the limits of polite discourse of politics in the workplace. These conversations can lead to host of issues, including potential claims of employer discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Additionally, with the rise of employee activism and demands for employers to take stands on hot button social issues of the day, employers should be prepared to proactively address these issues. 1.00 Hours CLE (TX)

This interactive Zoom session will walk through a mock contract issue-spotting, dissecting potential pitfalls and identifying strategies to protect against unfair competition.  Use what your learned when drafting your company's own contract and reviewing existing ones.

ACC Northeast and Pierce Atwood LLP are pleased to offer the next Maine CLE program on employment law via webinar on Tuesday, October 1 from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.   This program will offer a discussion on important strategies in-house counsel should implement for non-compete agreements, employee activism and use of AI.  Join Pierce Atwood attorneys, Suzanne King, Katy Rand, and Katie Porter as they discuss the significant changes and challenges they see in the employment relationship.

The discussion will include:

Noncompete Agreements: Whether the FTC ban on non-compete agreements ever goes into effect, courts and state legislatures are increasingly hostile to agreements that make it harder for employees to work in their chosen profession after separation. Restrictive covenants are not a one-size-fits-all proposition, and crafting an enforceable agreement requires consideration of not only the applicable law, but the industry, position, and effectiveness of more employee-friendly alternatives. This section will cover:

·       An update on the FTC ban

·       Navigating state law differences 

·       Maximizing / ensuring protection of Deceptive Trade Practices statutes

·       Identifying the least restrictive (and therefore most likely to be enforced) covenant to meet the company’s needs

·       Best practices for using restrictive covenant agreements

When Employees Are Activists On or Off Duty: This is the first election year since the U.S. saw a marked increase in social activism on complex issues of race, gender identity, immigration, climate change, the pandemic, and abortion (and the list goes on!). When that passion spills over into the workplace, employers must decide whether employees have a right to self-expression in the workplace and whether employers should do anything about off-duty activism. We will cover:

·       The First Amendment and private workplaces

·       What can (should?) an employer prohibit in the workplace?

·       Responding to off-duty conduct

Use of AI in the Workplace: Ready or not, employers are facing the reality that employees are using AI in workplaces across industries and job types. From using AI to draft emails, relying on AI for hiring and performance evaluations, and using AI to record meetings and generate action items, AI is here to stay, and its use continues to grow. While AI is just the latest in a long line of innovations that have revolutionized the way people work, employers need to understand its legal risks, while also embracing its potential. We will cover: 

·       Quick overview of how employees use AI

·       Best practices for managing employee use of AI

·       What a good AI policy should include

Register below.  Zoom credentials will be sent 24 hours in advance of the webinar.

This program will offer a practical and engaging conversation about this summer’s hottest employment challenges including the Department of Labor’s new “Overtime Rule,” which increases the salary threshold for exemption from overtime pay, the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on non-competes and other restrictive covenants, and the potential impact on agencies that regulate the workplace of the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning Chevron.

The firm speakers will explain the new rules, the status of judicial challenges, and implications for employers. Then, they’ll join the in-house speaker and attendees to discuss how employers are responding to these issues while meeting their strategic and financial goals—and staying competitive—in today’s business environment. The presenters will also share strategies for businesses to stay ahead of these mandates in a post-Chevron world.

AGENDA
3:30pm – 4:00pm Registration and networking
4:00pm – 5:30pm Presentation
5:30pm – 6:30pm Networking and refreshments

LOCATION
Fisher Phillips
200 Public Square, Suite 2000
Cleveland, OH 44113

PARKING
Please park in the 200 Public Square Parking Garage (accessed via Superior Avenue) and bring your ticket to the program for validation.

CREDITS
1.5 CLE (This course has been submitted for approval by the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 1.5 total general CLE hours)

SPEAKERS
Fisher Phillips
Rich Millisor, Partner
Melissa Dials, Partner

In-house Counsel
Tony Ania, General Counsel
Bendix Commerical Vehicle Systems LLC

QUESTIONS
Contact Betsy Keck, ACC NEO.

Many corporations and their labor practices have a global presence, specifically in the European Union (EU). As a result, corporate counsel must consider the major privacy, data security, and direct artificial intelligence (AI)-related regulations in the EU AI Act. Additionally, the recently enacted EU Directive on Pay Transparency Act is expected to have global effects by requiring more transparency on corporations’ pay practices and employee disclosure.

This webinar will discuss the latest labor developments stemming from the EU AI Act and the Pay Transparency Act. Tentative topics include global AI governance policy, compliance best practices, employer’s obligations, labor risk and liability management, pay equity, and multinational companies with employees in one or more EU member states. 

Akil Hirani, Managing Partner of Majmudar & Partners, a leading law firm in India, will provide helpful tips and guidance on important points to keep in mind when it comes to hiring (and terminating) employees in India, enforcing non-competes, protecting IP rights, data privacy, compliance with India governance, anti-corruption rules, and whether e-signs work in India.

If you and your company are currently operating in India or have plans to establish an office/subsidiary/manufacturing facility in India, adding R & D talent and/or are developing IP/products usable in the Indian market, you need to understand the laws, requirements and local nuances of Indian law.

Please register below if you are interested in attending.  The Zoom address will be provided 24 hours in advance of the webinar.

Are you looking for ways to add value to your company’s bottom line? Expand your knowledge of employment law, learn the fundamentals of a little-known separation benefits structure and increase your contribution to the company by introducing an innovative alternative to traditional severance.

Join us for our dynamic CLE class: Streamlining Employee Separations and Transforming Traditional Severance by Implementing a SUB Plan. Led by industry legal and business experts, this CLE program will discuss the background and structure of Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Plans, as well as the associated IRS Revenue and Private Letter Rulings sanctioning the use of this severance alternative.  The panel will present various use cases and review real SUB Plan results, providing you with the information and tools necessary to evaluate the applicability of this cost-efficient structure for your Company. 

Program Outcomes:

• Gain a deep understanding of the background and key elements of a SUB Plan, an IRS-sanctioned and tax advantaged alternative to severance.
• Obtain knowledge of the legal considerations and tax benefits associated with SUB.

• Learn the value proposition and implementation strategy for this flexible and cost-effective severance alternative.

  1.5 hours of CLE credit.

The agenda will be posted soon!

Register now at: https://form.jotform.com/250094564167157