BREAKOUT SESSIONS AND CONFERENCE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED!

The ELC Conference committee has decided NOT to raise the registration fee for our 2021 virtual conference and will keep the $99 early-bird rate.

Conference for March 25 & 26, 2021 and will deliver that event virtually. We know the day will come when COVID-19 takes a back seat, and we can once again gather together in person for networking and learning, but we will wait just a bit longer.

Our conference will be held virtually in 2021 and will be spread over a two-day period – March 25 and 26, 2021.   Attendance at the Conference will enrich your professional knowledge and Conference materials become an excellent resource throughout the year.

Join us to hear the latest employment-related developments, learn to identify and address risky employment practices and obtain tools, and receive useful tips and strategies to reduce your organization's exposure to employment-related litigation. Our two-day event addresses the issues faced by human resources management and professionals with a particular emphasis on California state law considerations.

Join us as our virtual Conference will feature six breakout sessions of employment-related topics, and two general sessions. 

We are pleased to announce that Dr. James Doti, President Emeritus Chapman University has agreed to continue our tradition and provide an economic forecast at our 2021 Conference. We know his message will be especially interesting. Join me to welcome him to our team.  

EVENT AGENDA:

Thursday, March 25, 2021
Conference Program runs from 8:00am-12:00pm-PDT

Paul Fleck & Ann Smith
8:00am-8:50am PDT

Session One: COVID-19 Vaccine & the Workplace:  What Employers Need to Know

Employers eager to get back to normal may mandate or incentivize employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations to maintain a safe workplace.  Employers must be aware of the potential implications of mandatory and/or voluntary vaccination programs under the ADA, FEHA, Cal/OSHA, and workers’ compensation laws. 

This session will provide current guidance on legal issues related to the COVID-19 vaccine, including a review of the legal framework implicated by mandatory and voluntary employer vaccination programs and the EEOC’s latest pronouncements on this important issue.

Amber Solano & David Lester
9:00am-9:50am PDT

Session Two: Lessons Learned From Current COVID-19 Employment Litigation

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a wave of litigation across a wide range of industries.  The early cases involved claims of discrimination, including failure to provide reasonable accommodation and mandated leaves.  Not surprisingly, wage and hour claims have continued unabated during the pandemic.

In this session we will provide an overview of recent COVID-19 litigation activity and strategies to reduce claims and liability going forward.

Brigham Cheney & Carol Gefis
10:00am-10:50am

Session Three: Wage and Hour Litigation and Compliance in 2021

Employers continue to struggle with wage and hour compliance, especially in the face of challenges posed by the pandemic.

During this session, we will review wage and hour issues that continue to plague employers and explore the claims that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, including issues specific to remote work environments and employee misclassification.

11:00am General Session Features:
Dr. James Doti – Climate of Change: Economic Forecast
Dr. James Doti, one of California’s leading economic experts, will provide an update of important economic, medical and political changes and their impact on California employers.

Friday, March 26, 2021
Conference Program runs from 8:00am-12:00pm-PDT

William Betley
8:10am-8:50am

Session Four: The Slippery Slope of Leave Administration

An employer’s ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances is the cornerstone to the successful management of leaves. With the expansion of the CFRA and the situations arising in connection with COVID-19, employers face new leave administration challenges. Through a series of case studies, we will address many of the common missteps employers make in handling leaves of absence, review new challenges imposed by COVID-19, and discuss best practices to minimize claims.

Susan Steward & Jonathan Judge
9:00am-9:50am

Session Five: Tailoring Communication Techniques During COVID-19

Recruitment, performance management, and workplace investigations are three important areas in which employer communications have become significantly more important during the last year.

We will review the challenges of communicating with candidates and employees in a remote environment and provide strategies for developing impactful communications during recruitment, performance management, and workplace investigations. 

Jonathan Vick
10:00am-10:50am

Session Six:  The  Increased Focus on Workplace Safety

At no time in recent history has workplace safety been so paramount in the minds of employers and employees.  Employers must operate in a new legal framework, including Cal/OSHA’s “Emergency Temporary Standards” and AB 685.  

We will review the latest issues in workplace safety and discuss new recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including compliant COVID-19 Prevention Plans and  COVID-19 related communications to employees and government agencies.   

11:00am General Session Features:
Michael Rogers, MSNBC's "The Practical Futurist" will provide a look at the changed workplace and changes to come.  Mr. Rogers is an expert on technology and future trends and writes The Practical Futurist column for MSNBC.com.

Registration: Early-bird rate extended to event days: $99