Thursday, October 4, 2018
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
10:45 - 11:15 - SPECIAL UPDTATE
Mark Whitney will provide a 1/2 hour presentation on the new legislation regarding MA Non-compete Agreements that became effective 10/01/18.
Approved for 1.25 SHRM PDC's & HRCI Credits
TOPIC:
"Do these Wage and Hour laws still make Cents to You?"
Review of Federal and State Wage and Hour Laws and Tips on Compliance
Wage and hour laws are increasingly complex and the stakes for noncompliance can be staggering. The challenge for HR professionals is not only to keep on top of these laws but to ensure that the executives, managers, supervisors, employees-- and the employer’s policies and practices -- also comply with these laws and regulations. That gets even more difficult when there are differences between state and federal wage and hour laws and when employers have operations/employees in more than one state. This presentation will review the most common wage and hour mistakes and how to avoid them), issues relating to overtime and recordkeeping, recent developments in federal and state wage laws, and tips on how to handle a Department of Labor Audit.
Our Speaker: Karen Whitley
Karen is a member of the Labor & Employment and Litigation Practice Groups. She focuses her practice on management-side employment litigation and counseling, including discrimination, wage and hour, and restrictive covenant proceedings. Karen values working closely with HR professionals and in-house counsel to develop a practical business approach to thorny employment law issues. Karen advises employers on legal compliance in all phases of the employment relationship, conducts sensitive internal investigations, and provides proactive training to management and staff on cutting edge issues. She provides employment law advice arising in connection with mergers and acquisitions, and helps employers protect their proprietary data through the enforcement of restrictive covenants and other policies.
Karen maintains an active practice before anti-discrimination agencies and trial courts on behalf of private employers in the banking, insurance, recruiting, education, hospitality, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. She has been a trusted advisor to small start-up businesses, mid-size organizations, and multi-national companies to ensure adherence with numerous federal and state laws, including the FLSA, ADA, ACA, FMLA, WARN Act, COBRA and similar state laws.
Prior to joining the firm in 2014, Karen was a partner at Jones Day in Boston for 4 years. Previously, Karen was with Hanify & King in Boston for 16 years. Karen began her legal career as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court of Massachusetts.
SPECIAL UPDATE: 10:45-11:15
The New Massachusetts NonCompete Law Went into Effect on 10/1. Are you in compliance?
The new Mass Noncompete law recently went into effect after more than 10 years of legal wrangling in the state legislature. Though it is debatable whether the new law makes sense from a policy perspective, it is clear that the law requires companies to revisit and update their restrictive covenant agreements. The new law places strict limits on some key noncompete terms, and makes Mass the only state in the US that mandates paid "garden leave" in some situations. There are many more aspects of the new law to consider, and Mark Whitney will drop by to spend 30 minutes at the beginning of the Thursday meeting to help us wade through the key takeaways for employers.
Speaker: Mark Whitney
Mark M. Whitney – Mark is the founder of Whitney Law Group, LLC, a law firm focusing on employment law and civil litigation. WLG is a new and innovative type of law firm that leverages technology to enable its lawyers and paraprofessionals to work together virtually. WLG’s flexible environment provides its staff the ability to work where they want, when they want, without being bothered by office politics, “face time,” billing requirements, and commuting. This environment results in happier and dedicated staff whose sole focus is on exceptional quality work product and exceeding clients’ expectations. Mark has focused on employment law and a variety of complex commercial litigation for the past 25 years. He spent the vast majority of his practice representing employers and insurance companies. While WLG still represents employers, the firm also represents executives and individual plaintiffs. WLG assists individuals who may have been subjected to an adverse employment action and prosecutes claims based on unlawful discrimination and other employment-related claims. WLG counsels executives on a variety of workplace matters, and also provides individuals with an affordable, fixed price approach to restrictive covenant issues. This unique approach is designed to give individuals a fighting chance to challenge overbroad or unfair post-employment non-compete agreements and other restrictions. WLG has offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York City, and is on the web at www.whitneylawgroup.com; email: mwhitney@whitneylawgroup.com; p 781-631-4400.
Our Sponsor:
Ascentria Care Alliance, Language Bank: Language Bank is a nonprofit social enterprise with extensive language and culture knowledge which enhances the language access services we provide. Empowering individuals and communities for over 15 years, Language Bank provides In Person Interpreters and Document Translation while supporting compliance initiatives through effective communication.
LOCATION: Comfort Home Care, 147 Pelham Street, Methuen, MA 01844 - 2ND Floor - IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be sure to park in the side parking lot to the left of the building and not in the front spaces. - Thank you for your cooperation!
More information and online registration:
Do these Wage and Hour laws still make Cents to You? (Details coming soon)
*Join GMVRA’s LinkedIn group to share knowledge with your HR colleagues*
For more information:
Contact: Lisa Lemieux, PHR, SHRM-CP
Phone: 978-204-3207
Email: lemieux.hr@gmail.com
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