Looking for practical guidance, real-world solutions and best practices for managing the human resources of your organization? You’ve come to the right place! HR HotSpot is hosted by TERRA Staffing Group in partnership with select associations and solution providers. Regardless of your title or tenure, you’ll find valuable information to help you address the complex challenges and unique opportunities of today’s workplace.
Next Up!
Freedom of Speech in the Workplace
This activity is pre-approved for SHRM recertification credits
Stephen BellDorsey & Whitney LLP
When: April 24, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
This session won’t focus exclusively on political speech (yes, we’ll go there) but will cover multiple scenarios where the boundaries between what’s legal, what’s practical and what’s just plain polite could get blurry.
• How far is too far – what can an employer do to limit antagonistic or disruptive speech?
• Can an employer prohibit political speech?
• Can an employer prohibit criticism of the workplace conditions?
• What about “organizing”?
• Can an employer allow one point of view and prohibit others on the same topic?
• What about political parties Democrat v. Republican?
• Is fairness a consideration when allowing speech on certain topics but prohibiting others?
More topics will be covered, so be sure to join us!
This activity is APPROVED for SHRM recertification credits
Aaron GoldsteinDorsey & Whitney
Recently published details from the journalists that broke the #metoo stories in 2017 are exposing new upsetting details about these stories–particularly about how companies and their representatives abused the legal system to discredit victims and cover up crimes. These stories contain important lessons for companies and the HR Professionals that work for them.
In this session, Attorney Aaron Goldstein will discuss key lessons and implications for employment practices including: confronting blind spots, non-disclosure agreements and respectful investigations.
Learn how to go beyond mere compliance and discover how any HR leader can both serve the company’s interests and be a force for good in this very important arena by attending this webinar.
How to Think Like an Attorney: Practical Tips for Assessing Risk & Reward
This activity is APPROVED for SHRM recertification credits
Michelle BombergerEquinox Business Law Group
The practical application of that law, understanding downstream consequences and the ability to weigh risks and rewards is what “thinking like an attorney” is all about and a valuable skill in any leader’s toolkit.
In this session, Michelle Bomberger, CEO and Managing Attorney with Equinox Business Law Group, will break down how to think like an attorney when facing complex issues in business, particularly employment related matters.
You will learn:
• What to do when the law is unclear
• How to weigh risk and reward when faced with multiple options, especially when all of your options are bad.
• How to mitigate unintended consequences
• Questions to ask when you do call the attorney and they tell you “it depends…”
This activity is APPROVED for SHRM recertification credits
Brennan StoelbWashington State’s Employment Security Department
Washington State will offer paid family and medical leave benefits starting in 2020.
Last fall we hosted a webinar helping educate employers about this new mandated benefit and steps all businesses could take to prepare for employees using Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) starting in 2020. At that time, there were a lot of details of the program that were still being defined.
Now, as we wrap up the year and head into 2020, we are pleased to welcome a speaker from Washington State’s Employment Security Department (ESD) to share the most current details of PFML and answer your questions as we prepare for employees to start using this benefit.
Are Non-Competes Enforceable: Understanding Changes to Non-Compete Laws by State
This Activity has been APPROVED for SHRM Re-Certification Credits
Catharine MorissetFisher Phillips
Washington joined a growing small number of states last month to pass legislation that will significantly restrict noncompetition agreements with both employees and independent contractors.
The law sets a number of limits on non-competition agreements, from a minimum required salary level and limitation on length of the non-competition period. The law also prohibits “no moonlighting” policies for lower wage workers and contains hurdles to enforcement of non-competition agreements.
This presentation will place Washington’s law in the context of other West Coast states’ approaches to these issues.
Employers who have any non-competition agreements or policies will want to attend to aid in development of their strategic plan to protect trade secrets.
Navigating the Murky Waters of Mental Health Accommodation
This Activity has been APPROVED for SHRM Re-Certification Credits
Jodi SlavikVigilant
Gun violence, suicide, and bomb threats, while stark in nature, often start with subtle, erratic behavior that is difficult to understand and even more difficult to address. These challenges are amplified at work, where employers have a duty to protect employees, but to also avoid discrimination. This leaves HR in murky waters, determining whether employee behavior is a disability flag, and how to respond when the disability is hidden, nebulous, or unbelievable.
This presentation will jump feet-first into the grey area of mental health accommodation, using real case-studies to address the nuances of notice, interaction, and effective resolution.
Legal Issues and Tips for Implementing Flexible Work Arrangements
This activity has been APPROVED for SHRM Recertification Credits.
Aaron GoldsteinDorsey & Whitney LLP
Flexible work arrangements are becoming more commonplace as the realities of a global workforce and technological capabilities combine to make this a very viable and sometimes necessary arrangement. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should? Before you jump into flexible work arrangements, there are many legal and practical issues to consider.
Paid Family and Medical Leave: What WA Employers Need to Know Now
This Activity has been APPROVED for SHRM Re-Certification Credits.
Sylvia LugoWashington Employment Security Department
Washington will be the 5th state to offer paid family and medical leave benefits starting in 2020, but employers have action to take in 2019. Get a jump on 2019 and learn how your business can prepare to implement this mandatory program in this free presentation by the Washington State Employment Security Department.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: How to Handle Harassment Claims in Your Company
This Activity has been APPROVED for SHRM Re-Certification Credits.
Kristin MeirRyan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC
With sexual harassment claims on the rise, it is important for you to be prepared to address claims in your workplace.
In this presentation, you will learn; practical steps to make sure you know whether your insurance policies cover sexual harassment claims, what policies you need to effectively address these claims, and how to create a plan to address sexual harassment claims.
Kristin will also walk you through the necessary steps of investigating a sexual harassment claim to minimize your risk.
Navigating the Bermuda Triangle: Managing Difficult Employee Leaves
This Webinar Activity has been APPROVED for SHRM Recertification Credits.
Catharine MorissetFisher & Phillips LLP
The increasing number – and complexity – of employee leave laws creates the perfect storm for HR compliance. From the FMLA and the ADA to local workers’ compensation or paid leave laws, employers face countless potential liabilities. Guided by employment law attorney Catharine Morisset, we’ll work through real life examples to build knowledge and skills in order to survive complex leave situations.
This Activity has been APPROVED for SHRM Re-Certification Credits
Jennifer Bouman-SteagallRed Kite Employment Law
If you are like most employers, you have a strong anti-harassment policy with some form of diversity training, both of which are designed to reduce or eliminate claims of harassment and discrimination in your workplace. The strength of an employer’s defense comes from its complaint resolution process and the effectiveness of its internal investigations into the complaints it receives. Being able to recognize a complaint that warrants an investigation is critical, as is the ability to investigate complaints in a timely, effective and meaningful manner.
You don’t have to be Columbo, Inspector Clouseau, or a private investigator to investigate, but there are certain things you need to know to investigate correctly. Join us for this informative discussion and learn how to address and investigate complaints of harassment.
How to Handle Employee Terminations: Best Practices and Lessons from the Trenches
Activity has been Approved for SHRM Recertification Credits.
Aaron GoldsteinDorsey & Whitney
Getting employee terminations right can make the difference between maintaining a healthy work environment for your employees and an expensive lawsuit.
In this month’s webinar, we will help companies identify high-risk terminations and provide practical advice on how to the handle them. Being prepared for such tricky terminations can help companies either avoid litigation or prevail, should an employee file suit.
Can My Employee Do That/Say That? Tips for preventing harassment claims in the workplace
Webinar has been APPROVED for SHRM Recertification Credits
Portia MooreDavis Wright Tremaine LLP
What one employee thinks is nothing more than fun, joking, harmless behavior in the workplace, another employee may find offensive. Employers are at risk of lawsuits claiming harassment unless they take immediate action to address behavior that the reasonable person finds unwelcome and offensive. This webinar will address the fundamentals of a harassment claim, what is and is not appropriate behavior in the workplace, and ways HR professionals should address concerns of harassment that are raised by employees
This activity has been submitted for HRCI and SHRM Re-Certification Credit
Jennifer Bouman-Steagall Red Kite Employment Law
Oregon’s new Equal Pay Act signed into law June 1, 2017, attempts to level this uncertain compensation playing field in a number of key respects by (1) expanding the protections against disparate pay on the basis of more protected classes than just gender, (2) implementing new restrictions regarding salary history inquiries, and (3) expanding the remedies available to employees. In an attempt to provide some balance, the new Act also expressly acknowledges that there may be legitimate, non-discriminatory factors to justify a difference in pay when, on its face, the wage disparity appears unequal or unfair. What does this all mean to employers and when do you need to take action? Join us for this informative program and find out more!
This activity has been submitted for HRCI and SHRM Recertification Credits.
Kara CraigArchbright
Please join us on September 15th, 2017 for an informative webinar on employment law. Archbright Staff Attorney, Kara M. Craig, will provide a broad overview of the latest hot topics in employment law, including recent employment decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, courts around the Western United States, and changes in regulation and legislation.Please join us on September 15th, 2017 for an informative webinar on employment law. Archbright Staff Attorney, Kara M. Craig, will provide a broad overview of the latest hot topics in employment law, including recent employment decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, courts around the Western United States, and changes in regulation and legislation.
No company is immune from an attack, and all companies have either been hacked, are currently being hacked and don’t know it, or are next in line. To prepare for and prevent such attacks, it’s critical to understand the risks posed by certain policies, the importance of creating a cyber response plan, and the need to invest in training for employees.
