Thursday, February 1, 2018
NEW LOCATION: Comfort Home Care, 147 Pelham St., Methuen, MA 01844 (2nd Floor)
Topic: “Responding to Sexual Harassment Complaints in the Post-Harvey Weinstein World”
In July 2016, Gretchen Carlson filed a complaint against Roger Ailes of Fox News, her then employer. Two months later, the case settled for a whopping $20 Million. Traction was developed, and the #MeToo movement started when claims surfaced against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. In December, Time magazine recognized the so-called “silence beakers,” collectively, as its “Person of the Year.” Time’s editor-in-chief described what has happened as "the fastest-moving social change we've seen in decades." And for good reason – a recent Gallup poll revealed that 69% of Americans characterize sexual harassment as a “major problem” today.
In this new era, what’s HR to do? Plenty. Careful thought and deliberating are key. Updated policies and procedures are important too, as they are the guideposts on how to respond. This program will focus on the following:
- Understanding the legal obligations for employers when faced with sexual harassment complaints
- Balancing the rights of the complaining party and person accused, ensuring a fair and equitable process from the outset of an investigation
- Focusing on policies, and how investigators are to make fact-based determinations of what occurred using the appropriate standard of proof
- Discussing best practices in workplace investigations
- Recognizing the conundrums that arise, as no two complaints are alike.
- Developing an action plan to implement preventative strategies to be well-positioned when allegations of sexual harassment arise.
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OUR SPEAKERS:
Julie A. Moore, Esquire, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is president and founder of Employment Practices Group in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She founded EPG in 1998 to work with organizations on best practices of human resource management, consistent with the law and industry standards. Julie has been practicing law for 25 years in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She consults and advises on employment law and human resources issues; is retained as an independent investigator for alleged harassment and misconduct; drafts policies, procedures and handbooks; and represents employees and employers in workplace matters. Julie is frequently retained to offer expert witness testimony on workplace issues. She conducts in-house seminars for employers and speaks at employment seminars locally offered by the New Hampshire Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and many HR trade organizations. She has spoken on a national platform for the American Bar Association, the Association of Workplace Investigators,the National CLE Conference in Colorado, BLR, and others. Julie has written many publications in legal and trade journals. She earned her B.A. degree from Boston College, summa cum laude, and her J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School, cum laude. Julie is a member of the American, New Hampshire (past chair, Labor & Employment Law Section) and Massachusetts Bar Associations. She is a former board member and conference chair for the Association of Workplace Investigators, board member and program chair for the Greater Merrimack Valley Human Resources Association, and member of the Society for Human Resources Management. She has the two highest HR certifications available: SPHR and SHRM-SCP. In 2013, Julie was nominated by her peers and inducted as a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Attorneys. She is also in her second 3-year term as an appointed member of the Town of Wellesley Human Resources Board, currently serving as Vice Chair, overseeing a staff of five employees.
Marcie Vaughan, Esq. joined Employment Practices Group in 2012. She conducts independent workplace investigations into complaints of misconduct, ranging from discrimination and harassment based on protected categories, to bullying, to allegations of retaliation, fraud, mismanagement and misappropriation. She also advises parties in workplace disputes involving harassment, discrimination, disability accommodation, and retaliation issues, as well as provides guidance on compliance matters, performance management, hiring and firing, workplace violence, leave laws, and diversity. Marcie practices in state and federal court in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as well as before the EEOC, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. She received her B.A. from Bates College, cum laude; M.S. from Suffolk University Sawyer School of Management, magna cum laude; and J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, cum laude.
Our Sponsor:
Najjar Employment Law Group, PC:
NELGPC is a management side labor, employment and benefits boutique law firm founded in 2008 to combine the training and experience of a large Boston law firm with boutique partner-level service and responsiveness that clients expect and deserve. We partner with our clients to develop best practices and policies to comply with the rapidly evolving labor, employment and benefits landscape, which will foster a work environment that incentivizes employees and creates a productive workforce. Whether advising employers about human resource and benefits best practices, developing recruitment and hiring practices to attract and retain top talent including foreign labor, or zealously defending employers in administrative actions before state and federal agencies, including in IRS, DOL, OSHA, NLRB and EEOC audits and investigations, as well as in the state and federal courts, NELGPC works as a member of the employer’s team to achieve desired outcomes.
NELGPC is sponsoring the Lawrence Partnership at this meeting. Debra Najjar is an advisory board member of the Lawrence Partnership and co-chair of the Pathways Committee.
The Lawrence Partnership is a coalition of leaders throughout the City of Lawrence dedicated to working together on a shared vision of growing the Lawrence economy. In October, 2017, the Partnership’s Advisory Council established the Lawrence Partnership Pathways Group. This working group was formed to create a valuable public/private resource to develop a skilled workforce for our regional businesses while helping our high school students get the relevant exposure and experience necessary to be catalyst for their careers. The Pathways Group is striving to create mentorship, internship, and apprenticeship opportunities for local students bringing together committed local businesses, the high schools, and the community to foster economic growth as well as career opportunities for our youth.
Schedule:
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Check-In & Networking
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Welcome New Members & Guests
8:45 AM - 9:00 AM Chapter Business / Legislative Update
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM Sponsor
9:10 AM -10:30 AM Program
LOCATION: Comfort Home Care, 147 Pelham Street, 2nd Floor, Methuen, MA 01844
More information and online registration:
“Responding to Sexual Harassment Complaints in the Post-Harvey Weinstein World”
*Join GMVRA’s LinkedIn group to share knowledge with your HR colleagues*
For more information:
Contact: Carolyn Foster
Phone: 603-489-9535
Email: alwayscarolyn@gmail.com
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