Archived Webcasts and Podcasts

Departing employees continue to walk away with sensitive employer information when they resign or are fired. Often times the employee uses a planned approach to take the information and uses it in a competing venture or new job. What can employers do to prevent this type of theft? This presentation will address the suggested policies and procedures employers should use from day one of the employment relationship through the departure. These range from confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements to non-compete/non-solicitation agreements. The presentation will also address practical solutions employers can use to protect proprietary information.

Though no policy or agreement is foolproof there are definite steps that should be considered to thwart the former employee and avoid having to go to the courthouse.

GUNS AND THE WORKPLACE: WHO SPEAKS FOR THE EMPLOYER?

It’s hard to think of a more controversial, emotional and perhaps polarizing issue than the right in many states of an employee to lawfully carry a weapon for protection when traveling to and from work, and to safely store that weapon in his or her private vehicle while at work. Employers must respect this right, while also recognizing their responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace for not only employees, but also customers, vendors and members of the public. In addition, there is a movement to expand the right of all qualified citizens to carry a concealed weapon in all public areas, including restaurants, commercial facilities, places of entertainment, and even religious institutions and college and university campuses. There are vocal advocates on both sides of these issues, but who speaks for the Employer who may feel caught in the middle?

Presented by Jaffe Dickerson, shareholder at Littler Mendelson. Jaffe is a specialist in labor and employment law for over 30 years. He represents public and private sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law before state and federal administrative agencies and courts. He will discuss:

1. GUNS IN THE PARKING LOT

2. VENDORS, CUSTOMERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

3. DUTY TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR EMPLOYEES; LIABILITY FOR INJURY TO THIRD PARTIES

4. TRAINING FOR MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS AND STAFF

5. DEALING WITH INCIDENTS

6. GUNS IN THE WORKPLACE: EMPLOYER POLICY GUIDELINES AND CONSIDERATIONS

7. WHO SPEAKS FOR THE EMPLOYER? CURRENT (AND POSSIBLE) LEGISLATION

This webcast will introduce the concept of the cognitive interview and show how it can be of benefit to HR professionals and other managers when conducting the more complex disciplinary and grievance investigations. It will be of particular interest in disciplinary and grievance cases with elements of bullying, harassment, discrimination, theft, assaults, drug dealing and serious health and safety violations plus any other serious issues of misconduct.

Cognitive interviewing has been shown to produce up to 40% more accurate evidence from eye witnesses, even when events occurred some time ago. It also reduces the need for costly re-interviewing and can result in a higher quality evidential base from which to make a disciplinary decision thus reducing the likelihood of appeals and even costly litigation

The California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) recognizes the value employers provide to the child support program.

As a payroll or human resource professional it can get confusing keeping up with your roles and responsibilities as an employer.

Today’s webinar will provide you with the education you need regarding the child support process. Our focus is to provide employers with the latest changes, updates, laws and requirements as we work together to improve the lives of children. The law requires parents who owe child support to have it withheld from their pay. We hope you find this information helpful.

Cooperation between employers and the child support program is essential in supporting family self-sufficiency. We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to building a stronger partnership for the future.

Social media is a double-edged sword. It offers a wealth of opportunities for greater connection and communication with your customers and among your employees. It can help you recruit and retain the best employees. It can be a source for new ideas and innovations that are the lifeblood of growth. But social media also poses unprecedented new risks and challenges for your business. It can expose you to legal liability. It can drain productivity. And it even allows a wayward employees to harm your reputation irreparably with the push of a button. If more than half of the country is interacting via this technology, how can you afford not to understand the risks and protect your business?

Whistleblower claims brought under federal safety, health and environmental statutes can be costly and disruptive to your business, and claims may involve actions that an employer did not realize could be considered discriminatory. Find out how best to coordinate between safety and HR activities, to avoid prosecution under these statutes, and how to defend against claims when a complaint is filed.

This presentation will cover how to structure your incentive and disciplinary programs to avoid scrutiny by the government, how to document adverse actions properly, and how to address situations involving "bulletproof" employees in a legally sound manner.

The remedies available to whistleblowers and unique aspects of some laws - such as "temporary reinstatement" provisions that may require actual or economic reinstatement while a case is pending - will also be discussed.

This presentation provides an in-depth look at the issues employers face on a daily basis regarding the Internet, e-mail usage, and social networking tools. These issues include the different mediums of social media that now exist and the related legal problems, for example, in the hiring of employees, communication and crisis planning, employee discipline, social media policies, post-employment scenarios, and other legal issues associated with social media. The legal implications of social media law are both new and constantly evolving, and it is important for your organization to have an understanding of the impact they can have on your business, both for legal reasons and clear employee communications.

This webinar will focus on methodologies for HR professionals to prevent post-termination liability for employers in the form of litigation costs, settlements, verdicts, attorney’s fees and more importantly, the loss of valuable time and productivity. HR professionals have many tools at their disposal to forestall post-termination conflict, including candid and thorough performance evaluations, thoughtful termination processes that identify problematic employees while also maintaining a sense of fairness and compassion, and when conflict is unavoidable, measures and tactics available to HR to reduce exposures and/or increase the probability of success in alternative dispute resolution or litigation. These methods and best practices are one of the employers’ last defenses against costly, time-consuming and destructive employment litigation.

Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media are an inescapable part of modern life. Employers' attempts to control social media in the workplace have recently become a primary target of National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") charges for unfair labor practices. And, the majority of policies reviewed by the NLRB have been found to be overbroad. “Social Media Policies & The NLRB: Practical Guidance for Navigating the Latest Litigation Minefield” identifies the advantages and disadvantages of having a stand-alone social media policy, and walks through recent decisions and provides an analysis of NLRB guidance to discern the permissible limitations of policy language.

Many employers gave up hope on claims for FICA tax refunds related to supplemental unemployment benefits pay ("SUB pay") after CSX Corp. v. United States, which was decided in favor of the IRS. However, a recent appeals ruling on Quality Stores has restored life to those claims. This presentation explains the legal basis for FICA SUB Pay refund claims and how they are impacted by disputed issues in Quality Stores. Determine your potential benefit from FICA SUB Pay refund claims, and understand why it’s important to file a claim NOW (if eligible), as well as how to ensure a successful claim.