Agenda / Content Covered

DAY ONE

1. Employment Law Update
   9:00 - 10:00, Leslie K. Eason
   1. Tax Reform and Employers
   2. The Affordable Care Act: The Latest Developments
   3. Same-Sex Benefits Update
   4. Immigration Reform: What Businesses Need to Understand
   5. Other State and Federal Updates
2. Imperative Information That Every Employee Handbook Should Contain
   10:15 - 11:15, Leslie K. Eason
   1. Necessary Disclaimers and Employee Classifications
   2. Laws and Policies to Include
   3. Parameters of Employment to Address
   4. Drafting Responsible Social Media Policies
3. Legal Issues in Recruiting and Hiring
   11:15 - 12:15, Beau Howard
   
   1. Creating Legally Effective Job Descriptions
   2. Writing Job Offers and Rejection Letters That Repel Lawsuits
   3. Legal Aspects of Gaining Information Through Criminal Background Checks and Social Media Accounts
   4. Drafting Employment Contracts
4. Workers' Compensation Basics
   1:15 - 2:15, Crystal McElrath
   1. Essential Policies and Protocols to Have in Place
   2. Determining Reasonable Accommodations for Injured Workers
   3. Issues with Workers' Compensation Insurance
5. FMLA and Other Leave Issues
   2:30 - 3:30, Crystal McElrath
   1. Applicable Laws: The FMLA, the ADA and Their Interconnection
   2. Laws Governing Military Leave
   3. Creating Effective Leave Policies
   4. Solving Complex Leave Issues
6. Controlling Unemployment Compensation Costs
   3:30 - 4:30, Anandhi Rajan
   1. General Rules on Who is Entitled to Unemployment Compensation
   2. Key Information to Present Regarding the Initial Claim
   3. When is it Important to Fight an Unemployment Compensation Claim
   4. What You Need to Know About the Hearing Process
   5. Traditional Ways to Manage Unemployment Compensation Costs

DAY TWO

7. Current Issues in Human Resources
   9:00 - 10:00, Thomas J. Mew
   1. Best Practices with Employee Wellness Programs
   2. Developing Workforce Plans That Benefit Businesses
   3. Effective Strategies for Reducing Health Benefit Costs
8. Wage and Benefits Issues
   10:15 - 11:15, Michael M. Hill
   1. Employee Benefits and the Laws That Govern Them
   2. Navigating the Maze of FLSA Requirements
   3. Common Wage and Hour Traps
   4. Part-Timers, Temps, Interns and Employer Obligations
9. Discrimination and Harassment
   11:15 - 12:15, Michelle L. Wein
   1. Key Laws to Know
   2. Properly Managing Complaints
   3. Keeping Records of Incidences
   4. Discrimination and Harassment Prevention
10. Workplace Behavioral Issues: Appropriately Handling Thorny Situations
    1:15 - 2:15, Thomas J. Mew
    1. Psychological Issues
    2. Drug and Alcohol Use
    3. Off-Duty Behaviors and Activities
    4. Workplace Violence: Harassment, Bullying and More
11. Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring
    2:30 - 3:30, Emily S. Borna
    1. Workplace Searches: From Desks to Smartphones
    2. Keeping Tabs on Workplace Communication and Computer Use
    3. Surveillance of Employees and Workplace Investigations
12. Disciplining and Firing Employees
    3:30 - 4:30, Michelle L. Wein
    1. Proactive Discipline Policies and Comprehensive Approaches to Discipline
    2. Determining When Employee Discharge is Appropriate
    3. Using Employee Evaluations to Reduce Liability When Firing Problematic Workers
    4. Discharge Letters, Waivers and Releases

EMILY S. BORNA is a shareholder in the Atlanta, Georgia office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Ms. Borna is a member of the firm's disability leave and health management practice group, and focuses her practice on labor and employment litigation on behalf of management. She has experience advising businesses on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. Ms. Borna routinely presents and appears as a speaker before numerous business organizations, including National Business Institute and the Society of Human Resource Management, concerning labor and employment issues and compliance with workplace laws. She has drafted and reviewed employment policies and counseled corporate clients on sensitive disciplinary issues. Ms. Borna has also represented employers in administrative hearings and handled litigation involving issues of wage/hour, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, disability discrimination, medical leave, age discrimination, race, national origin and/or color discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and state tort issues. She has been identified as one of Georgia's Legal Elite by Georgia Trend Magazine and as a Leading Lawyer in Labor-Management Relations in the Legal 500 United States publication. Ms. Borna is a member in good standing of the Georgia Bar and the American Bar Association, including the Litigation, Labor and Employment Law Section. She is also a member of the Society of Human Resource Management. Ms. Borna earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia and her J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.

LESLIE K. EASON is the co-managing partner of the Atlanta office of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP. She has a national litigation practice focusing on employment law, torts and products liability, and commercial disputes. Ms. Eason’s employment practice centers on assisting corporate entities with all aspects of employment-related business operations, including the creation and implementation of policies and procedures; training for staff and supervisors; administrative investigations; mediation; litigation; trial; and appeal. A particular focus of Ms. Eason’s practice is the representation of clients against wage and hour claims, discrimination claims, and disability claims. She is a member of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society (Advisory Board member), Gordon & Rees' African-American Affinity Group (co-chair), Gordon & Rees' Diversity Committee, Gordon & Rees' Women’s Initiative (Atlanta office chair), Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (co-chair of Labor & Employment Section) and Law360 Employment Editorial Board, Leadership Georgia (Class of 2014). Ms. Eason earned her B.S. degree from Vanderbilt University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from University of Georgia School of Law.

MICHAEL M. HILL is an attorney with Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP. As a member of the firm's labor & employment law national practice section, Mr. Hill represents both public and private employers in litigation and pre-suit negotiations involving claims of alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; wage and hour disputes; family and medical leave issues; and employment contract disputes, including contracts involving non-disclosure, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements. He also represents companies in audits by the U.S. Department of Labor and advises employers on complying with laws regarding overtime compensation, classifying employees as exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA, employee vs. independent contractor classifications, accommodating individuals with disabilities, providing accommodations for religious observances and practices, accommodating pregnant employees, and conducting internal investigations into claims of harassment. In addition, he has spoken publicly and in webinars on best practices regarding EEO policies, overtime policies, and general employee handbook provisions. Mr. Hill is member of the State Bar of Georgia. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from University of Memphis. He earned his M.A. degree from The New School and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from University of Georgia School of Law.

BEAU HOWARD is a partner with Freed Howard LLC. Mr. Howard represents businesses in a myriad of labor and employment matters. He also focuses on privacy law, internet forensics, and business litigation. Mr. Howard is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the State Bar of Georgia. He is a frequent public speaker on labor and employment law matters. Mr. Howard was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in both 2017 and 2018. He was listed in Georgia Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite in Labor and Employment in 2015 and 2016. Mr. Howard earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. He earned his J.D. degree from The George Washington University Law School.

CRYSTAL MCELRATH is a senior attorney with Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, where she focuses her practice in the areas of employment law and workers' compensation defense. She frequently publishes papers and presents to employers, insurers and third-party administrators on the practical aspects of dealing with injured or disabled workers, leave laws and discrimination claims. Ms. McElrath earned her B.A. degree from the University of Virginia. She earned her J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law and her Master of Theological Studies from Emory University. Ms. McElrath also obtained a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. While in law school, she served as a summer clerk for the Honorable Stanley Birch, Jr. on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the Honorable William Duffey on the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

THOMAS J. MEW is an attorney with Buckley Beal LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Mew’s practice covers a broad range of employment law matters, including both individual and class action wage and hour, discrimination and harassment litigation, as well as in arbitration and mediation. He also is an advisor on employment contracts, releases, and restrictive covenant issues. Mr. Mew is the co-author of Georgia Motion Practice, a guide to civil motion practice in Georgia’s trial and appellate courts. He also is a contributing author to Employee Benefits Law (3d. Ed.) (Bloomberg BNA 2012). Mr. Mew earned his J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.

ANANDHI RAJAN is a partner in the Atlanta, Georgia office of Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP. Ms. Rajan has been a litigator for almost 25 years and has litigated cases involving products liability, premises liability, mass torts liability, property disputes, automobile liability, and employment practices liability. Most recently, her practice has focused on counseling employers regarding federal and state employment laws and on ways to manage risk in the workplace. Ms. Rajan is chair of Sponsorship/Scholarship for the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association (NRRDA). She is also a member of the Employment Law Subcommittee of NRRDA, and has spoken on employment law topics at NRRDA's national conference in 2017 and 2018. In addition, Ms. Rajan is a member of the Board of The Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys (LIWOCA) and has served on its annual conference planning committee for several years. She is also a member of the Employment Law Steering Committee of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and the Employment and Labor Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Ms. Rajan is a certified mediator who mediates cases with BAY ADR in Atlanta. She received her B.S. degree from Emory University and her J.D. degree from Georgia State University.

MICHELLE L. WEIN is an attorney with Cohan Law Group, L.L.C., where she focuses her practice in employment and business litigation. Ms. Wein's employment litigation practice includes wage and hour disputes, wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, non-compete agreements, non-solicitation agreements, and non-disclosure agreements. Having represented both employees and employers, Ms. Wein has unique insight with respect to the legal strategies at play on both sides of the table. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Atlanta Bar Association. Ms. Wein earned her B.S. degree from Florida State University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Florida State University College of Law.