HR Legal Roundtable

Agenda

Registration   8:15 am

Breakfast Served   8:30 am  - 9:00 am

Program Begins Promptly  9:00 am 

Guest speakers and topics are:

Mike Coffey - “The Three Most Important HR Practices for Background Checks”

Employer’s use of criminal history and background checks has been under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Mike will discuss the importance of having a plan for the use of criminal history, getting relevant information from applicants, and complying with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Imperative Information Group

Mike Coffey is president of Imperative, an employment background investigations firm based in Fort Worth, Texas. An experienced HR professional with roots in aerospace, healthcare, and the service industry, Mike maintains certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Robert Wood - “Why Does My Company Need Non-Compete Agreements?”  

Most companies have developed confidential information, trade secrets, and goodwill.  Having employees sign non-compete agreements can be an effective way of protecting these valuable assets.

Lindquist Wood Edwards, LLP

Robert Wood has been a Texas trial lawyer since 1993.  During that time, he has represented small, mid-sized, and Fortune 100 companies in business and employment litigation matters all over Texas and the United States. He has also advised and represented hundreds of individuals in business and employment litigation matters.  Wood is especially interested in litigation involving noncompete agreements and related tort claims such as breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, and misappropriation of trade secrets. Wood has represented many employers in enforcing noncompete agreements against former employees and ensuring that the employers’ common-law rights are protected.  Wood has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2001

Wade Forsman - “Why I Sue Your Company and What I Look For When I Do”  

The Three Things I look for………  Attendees will have the opportunity to view employment litigation from the perspective of a plaintiff’s attorney. 

Wade Forsman, Attorney at Law

The bulk of Wade’s practice -- around 80% -- is in representing individuals in workplace disputes -- discharges, wage and hour disputes, employees with disabilities and serious health conditions, etc.  Before opening his own practice, he worked for firms that represented management -- United Parcel Service, MetLife, Federal Express, etc. -- which gives him a unique perspective in representing individuals.  He is a contributing author of TEXAS EMPLOYMENT LAW, a two-volume treatise from James Publishing. In 2011 he represented an employee who had been discharged shortly after undergoing surgery for renal cancer. One commentator described the case as the first occasion where a Texas court took a serious look at the amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act. This same commentator called the court's opinion "a very pro-employee decision."

Russell Cawyer - “How Do I Prepare for the New FLSA Laws?” - Getting ready for the DOL’s new salary basis rules - What you need to know and do before the rules take effect to preserve employee exempt status?

Kelly Hart

Russell D. Cawyer is a partner at Kelly Hart in the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group. Mr. Cawyer’s practice focuses exclusively on labor and employment-related legal matters, including litigation in federal and state courts; administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce Commission - Civil Rights Division, the National Labor Relations Board (including defending both charges of unfair labor practices and representation election proceedings); and proceedings before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other state fair employment practices agencies.  Mr. Cawyer is a frequent author and speaker on human resource, employee relations and labor and employment law developments. He has been board certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2000

Claudine Jackson - “I Have Cancer: Responding to Catastrophic Employee Issues”  

This discussion will address practical and legal issues on managing cancer in the workplace, including compliance with the Family Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well types of accommodations the ADA may require. The speaker will also discuss the EEOC’s focus on cancer-based discrimination and the nature of other claims and lawsuits arising out of catastrophic employee issues. The discussion will provide tips on the role of HR in communicating with supervisors, what an employer can and can’t share with co-workers or other guidance, and how to address other common employee work concerns with dealing with cancer and other serious diagnoses.

Brackett & Ellis, P.C.

Claudine Jackson has significant trial experience in a broad range of cases, including labor and employment, workplace injuries, medical and professional liability, premises and products liability and commercial litigation. She has successfully represented employers, manufacturers, physicians, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, and other healthcare organizations and professionals in both federal and state district and appellate courts.  Ms. Jackson counsels employers and employees in all aspects of employment law and workplace issues. She handles claims before federal and state employment agencies and routinely counsels public and private schools on personnel and employment matters.  Ms. Jackson is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization – a mark of excellence and distinguishing accomplishment achieved by fewer than 10% of practicing attorneys in Texas.

Rob Ghio - “FMLA Does not Stand for ‘Friday-Monday Leave Act’: How to Stop FMLA Abuse”

This discussion will focus on best practices for handling FMLA requests fairly and legally while ensuring employee accountability.

Law Office of R.S. Ghio

Rob Ghio - The Law Office of R.S. Ghio represents both employers and employees in all matters relating to the workplace. The former chair of a national law firm’s Dallas office Employment Law Practice Group, Rob Ghio has been handling employment law matters since his graduation from Stanford Law School in 1993. He has successfully defended numerous lawsuits, including complex litigation involving several plaintiffs.  In addition to litigation, the Law Office of R.S. Ghio assists employers in complying with the myriad laws and regulations that affect the workplace. He has written employment manuals and countless employer policies. He has represented employers in dealing with state and federal government agencies, including the Texas Workforce Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Department of Homeland Security (formerly the INS).  Rob is a recognized expert in the field of employment law and is frequently called upon to share his expertise through articles, professional presentations, and as a resource for television, radio, and print media.

Rachel Hale - “What is the Latest and Greatest for Employee Handbooks?”

Employee Handbooks:  Essential Policies and Important Updates to Protect your Organization

Employee Handbooks serve a variety of purposes, from communicating standards of expected behavior to providing important documentation in legal proceedings.  In this brief session attendees will have the opportunity to learn what key policies will protect them in legal proceedings, how such policies should be implemented and communicated to employees, and the latest laws that should be considered when updating employee handbooks.

Hagan Law Group, LLC - Of Counsel

Rachel Hale focuses on labor and employment law.  For more than sixteen years she has worked as a Human Resources Professional, working with organizations such as Texas Health Resources and American Airlines.  She is a graduate of Texas A & M School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan School of Law) where she was a member of the school’s Arbitration Team and a Graduate Research Assistant, performing research in all areas of labor and employment law.  Rachel is a certified mediator and received a Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Southern Methodist University.  This experience gives Rachel a practical perspective in the application of laws in the workplace - from hiring to firing and the relationship management that takes place in between.

The presentation is pending approval for 2.50 recertification credit towards SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP through SHRM and 2.50 recertification credit towards PHR, SPHR, and GPHR recertification through HRCI.

Mid-Cities HR Association is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP.

All online reservations are due the Monday before the meeting by 5pm. Online registration will be closed at that time. Attendees not registered online will be considered walk-in registrations and will be charged the rate of $50.