Legal Update

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Remote Meeting

      8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Welcome from Amy Sabato
               
             8:45 - 12:00 Program      

Approved for 3.25 SHRM & HRCI Credits

Topic:  Legal Update

Lessons from the Year’s Top Cases & Regulatory and Statutory Update (75 Minutes)   
Speaker:  Sarah Spatafore                                            

  A comprehensive overview of major legislative, regulatory and case law developments during the past year, including developments at Massachusetts and Federal agencies, and significant court decisions under Federal and Massachusetts law.  The program will include a Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical and Leave law update.  The PFML update will provide an overview of steps employers should take NOW to ensure readiness for2021 when the benefit begins, including review and integration of current leave and short-term disability policies with the PFML benefit, updating employee handbooks and policy manuals, review of job descriptions to comply with PFML fitness for duty requirements, and steps to take to be ready for the anti-retaliation provisions. The program will also include an NLRB case update, which has relevance for all employers, including cases addressing employees’ use of offensive language and a union’s right to access an employer’s property.

Toolkit for Meeting Reasonable Accommodation Obligations (40 minutes)
Speaker:   Nan ONeill           

This presentation will both review an employer’s reasonable accommodation obligation under the ADA and MGL c. 151B, and highlight tips for what should be in your reasonable accommodation toolkit for successfully engaging in the reasonable accommodation process and determining whether an accommodation is required and/or reasonable.  There will be suggestions for improving your reasonable accommodation policy, and making sure managers understand their obligations. The program will also include reasonable accommodation requirements in the COVID-19 context, as well as new EEOC guidance addressing reasonable accommodations for opioid use disorder (OUD).

Internal Investigations in the 2020 Context   (40 minutes)
Speaker: Sarah Spatafore                                                                                             

Increasingly, employers are being required to conduct investigations into employee complaints.  Recent national and global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the focus on racial injustice have contributed to a rise in the number and scope of employee complaints.  While employers will continue to receive complaints regarding harassment and hostile work environment, employers need to be prepared to respond quickly and appropriately to a new wave of complaints, such as complaints in which employees will be looking for systemic changes regarding racial injustice, and discrimination and/or retaliation related to employee refusal to work as a result of COVID-19.  This module will take a look at investigative approaches employers should consider in the context of emerging issues employees are raising. 

COVID-19 Update (40 minutes)
Panel:  Kathryn Murphy,  Sarah Spatafore &  Nan ONeill

This panel will discuss recent COVID-19 developments employers must consider when making a variety of business and employment decisions, including return to work protocols, remote work issues, COVID testing, and wage and hour implications.  We will focus on both practical and legal considerations of existing and new regulatory mandates and distill best practices for employers in this ever-changing environment.

Our Speakers: Sarah Spatafore, Kathryn Murphy and Nan O'Neill

Please click the link below for the speakers bios.

Attorney Bios.2020.Legal Update.docx

Our Sponsor: Interesting in Sponsoring? Contact Julie Moore at jmoore@employmentpg.com 

Location:

Webinar

For more information:

Contact: Lisa Lemieux, PHR, SHRM-CP

Phone: 978-204-3207
Email:  lemieux.hr@gmail.com