Advanced Human Resource Law

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Overcoming Hiring and Firing Obstacles
   10:00 - 10:45, Allyson K. Thompson
   1. Costly Mistakes Made When Writing Job Descriptions and Conducting Interviews
   2. Hiring, Onboarding, and Retaining Employees Post-COVID-19: Overcoming Common Challenges
   3. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Hiring: Current Issues and Legal Updates
   4. Non-Compete, Non-Disclosure, and Non-Solicit Agreements: Top Challenges and Hidden Dangers
   5. Disciplining and Terminating Employees - Top Challenges
   6. Layoffs, Furloughs, and RIFs Gone Wrong: Real-World Examples
2. Wage and Hour Law: Advanced Issues and Answers
   10:45 - 11:45, Raymond Hogge
   1. 5 Tips for Reducing “Off-the-Clock” Exposure
   2. Challenges When Handling Wage and Hour Claims Concerning Remote Workers
   3. Joint Employer Status: Current Issues and Legal Updates
   4. Employee Classification - Overcoming Common Landmines
   5. The Top 5 Wage and Hour Blunders to Avoid
   6. Wage and Hour Case Law and Litigation Trends
3. Tackling Executive Employment Arrangements and Compensation Issues With Finesse
   12:00 - 12:30, Raymond Hogge
4. Handbook Policies in the Digital Age: Telecommuting Policies, BYOD Policies, Employee Communications, etc.
   12:30 - 1:00, Agatha Raynor
5. The FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp: Advanced Issues and Answers
   1:30 - 2:30, Jeremy A. Stephenson
   1. The Interplay of the ADA, FMLA, Workers' Comp, and State Leave Law
   2. Leave and Accommodation: Dilemmas Created by the COVID-19 Pandemic
   3. Accommodating Workers With Mental Health Conditions and Substance Misuse Issues
   4. Leave Policies - The Bad and the Ugly
   5. Overcoming Intermittent Leave Challenges
   6. Key Challenges in Preventing, Identifying, and Investigating FMLA Abuse and Fraud
   7. Disciplining and Firing Employees on Leave: Top Stumbling Blocks and Hidden Landmines
6. Overcoming Difficulties With Discrimination and Harassment Claims
   2:30 - 3:00, Agatha Raynor
7. Getting Past Workplace Investigation Roadblocks
   3:15 - 4:00, Allyson K. Thompson
   1. Sophisticated Virtual Investigation Strategies: Secrets You Need to Know
   2. Preventing and Handling EEOC Investigations
   3. The Art of Interviewing Reluctant or Difficult Witnesses
   4. Advanced Drafting Tactics for Investigative Reports
   5. Conducting Investigations of Executives for Workplace Misconduct: Key Hurdles
   6. 7 Workplace Investigation Errors That Will Cost You
8. Ethical Issues in Human Resource Law
   4:00 - 5:00, Jeremy A. Stephenson
   1. Rules of Professional Conduct
   2. Conflicts of Interest
   3. Privileged Communications
   4. Confidentiality
   5. Joint Representation
   6. Attorneys' Fees

Accreditation Details:

Raymond Hogge is a partner with Hogge Law, where he advises employers across Virginia in all aspects of labor and employment law, and represents them in employment-related litigation, mediation, and administrative proceedings. Mr. Hogge earned his B.A. degree from the College of William & Mary and his J.D. degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. He is former chairperson of the Employment Law Section of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys; a former chairperson of the Personnel Section of the International Municipal Lawyers Association; a former chairperson of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association; and a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Virginia Bar Association, the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, the Peninsula Personnel Association, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, and Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association. Mr. Hogge is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law issues. His writings have been published in journals including the International Municipal Lawyers Association's Municipal Lawyer and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys' Journal of Civil Litigation. Mr. Hogge publishes virginialaborlaw.com, a website providing labor and employment law news and information to Virginia employers.

Agatha Raynor is a shareholder with Crivello Carlson S.C. She concentrates her practice in employment law and regularly advises clients on compliance, best practices, and risk management in all areas of employment law, including accommodation of disabilities, addressing harassment complaints, reductions in force, separation agreements, and implementing effective employment policies and practices. Ms. Raynor also defends private and public employers in employment-related litigation before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. In addition, she also conducts corporate training and presents to employees, managers, and industry groups on various employment-related issues, including workplace harassment, discipline, documentation best practices, and new legislation. Ms. Raynor earned her B.A. degree from Marquette University and her J.D. degree from University of Wisconsin Law School.

Jeremy A. Stephenson is of counsel with the law firm of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he provides counseling and litigation services to management clients in employment and related corporate matters. He has successfully defended employers before administrative agencies around the country, and the state and federal courts in North Carolina, against claims of employment discrimination, wrongful termination, breach of contract, wage and hour violations, non-compete agreements, trade secrets, and related business litigation. Mr. Stephenson regularly publishes articles and is invited to speak on topics of employment law, litigation and trial tactics, insurance law, and corporate risk management topics He is a recent past president of the Charlotte Area Society of Human Resource Managers and is currently the Government Affairs director for NCSHRM. Mr. Stephenson has extensive experience providing insurance coverage counseling and litigation services on employment practices liability insurance (EPLI), directors and officers (D&O), general liability (GL), errors & omissions (E&O), and other lines of coverage. He litigates in the state and federal courts of North Carolina in cases pertaining to professional liability, products liability, and other areas of civil and corporate liability. Mr. Stephenson earned his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Allyson K. Thompson joined Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck, LLP as a partner in January 2021. She is a trial lawyer who focuses her practice on all aspects of employment litigation, including Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA); and Title VII claims including race, national origin, age, gender, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, hostile work environment and retaliation, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, whistleblower actions, breach of contract claims and Labor Code §132(a) claims before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board; and class action/PAGA defense. Prior to joining KDV, Ms. Thompson worked at Kring & Chung, representing both employees and employers. She is experienced in hearings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), as well as the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). In addition to litigation, she provides all aspects of employment advice and counsel to employer clients, including preparation and assessment of multi-state employee handbooks; audit and compliance review of existing company policies and procedures; complete on-boarding advice, including employee classification analysis; handling disability issues, and navigating clients through the interactive process. Ms. Thompson is a member of the State Bar of California, Orange County Bar Association, and the Orange County Women Lawyers. She was the outgoing president of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association. Ms. Thompson earned her B.A. degree from the University of Hawaii, Hilo and her J.D. degree from Lincoln Law School, Sacramento.