Vorys at Work: 2020 Conference

A Weeklong Virtual Program Providing Insights and Updates for HR Professionals
10:00 A.M. ET

COVID-19 Litigation Update – Who’s Getting Sued Over What?

Speakers
Cary_Nelson_BW
Nelson Cary
Craig_Akilah_BW
Akilah Craig
Description

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During this session, we will provide an overview of COVID-19 related employment litigation.  We will also provide insights and early lessons employers can learn from lawsuits filed thus far during the COVID-19 pandemic.

12:00 P.M. ET

Investigations & Corrective Action

Speakers
Cramer_Liz_BW
Liz Cramer
Description

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Workplace investigations are a vital tool in maintaining safe and lawful work environments.  Investigation often involve sensitive topics and multiple parties.  Investigations, and corrective action with or without an investigation, can impact employees’ and the public’s perception of employers.  They can also lead to legal disputes.  This presentation will outline the processes and considerations employers should follow to ensure fair, consistent, and defensible investigations and corrective action.

2:00 P.M. ET

Impact of Coronavirus on Employee Benefits - What Should You Have Done, What Do You Need to Do, and What You Can Learn?

Speakers
Dunsizer_J_BW
Jennifer Dunsizer
Howard_Elizabeth_BW
Elizabeth Howard
Description
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This presentation will discuss the paid leave mandates, benefits implications of furloughs, the employee retention tax credit, optional and mandatory changes affecting defined contribution retirement plans, and deadline extensions affecting all ERISA plans.  We will also discuss some challenges employers found during the pandemic and creative solutions employers have found to address those challenges.  The presentation will provide a high level reference to the expanded electronic disclosure rules, optional and mandatory changes affecting medical benefits and expanded alternatives for mid-year election changes, which will each be covered in more depth during other presentations.
10:00 A.M. ET

RIFs in a COVID World and Beyond

Speakers
Harris_Bob_BW.
Bob Harris
Hoffman_Jocelyn
Jocelyn Hoffman
Description
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Unfortunately, the global pandemic has brought workforce reductions to the forefront for many employers.  In this session, we will review options, strategies, and issues for furloughs and reductions in force.  Along the way, we will discuss how COVID impacts the process.
12:00 P.M. ET

COVID-19 and Immigration Impact

Speakers
Peterson_Sachiyo_Isoda_BW
Sachiyo Peterson
Cook_Dave
Dave Cook
Description
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In this presentation, we will cover various immigration topics impacted by COVID-19, including the presidential proclamation suspending the entry of certain nonimmigrants, embassy and consulate closures, and temporary I-9 guidelines currently in place.  We will provide updated information on these topics, as well as potential options to work around the barriers.
2:00 P.M. ET

Health & Welfare Plan Tune Up

Speakers
Abbott_Jacquie_BW
Jacquie Abbott
Mendel_Linda_BW
Linda Mendel
Description
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This session will focus on items that may need attention as you prepare for the next plan year.  We will cover tasks such as updating and distributing SPDs, plan amendments and contract renewals.  We will also share cautionary tales from recent health and welfare plan litigation.
4:00 P.M. ET

Telecommuting in the Age of COVID

Speakers
Knueve_Mark_BW
Mark Knueve
Description
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In the age of COVID-19, many employers are requiring certain sectors of their work forces to work from home.  While requiring certain employees to work remotely is in the best interests of the public health, it can also create legal questions and risks.
10:00 A.M. ET

How Do I Tell Thee, Let Me Count the Ways: What an Employer Needs to Know About Recent Developments with Participant Disclosures

Speakers
Baron_Peggy
Peggy Baron
Poth_Christine_BW
Chris Poth
Parrish_Dawn
Dawne Parrish
Description

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The Department of Labor has focused its efforts lately on disclosure, issuing final regulations on both expanding the electronic disclosure of notice and documents for retirement plans and expanding the content requirements for some quarterly participant benefit statements.  During this presentation, Christine Poth, Dawne Parrish and Peggy Baron will discuss the recently issued final regulations on electronic disclosures and the lifetime income disclosure rules.   The presentation will also address “best practice” processes to respond to common employer disclosure challenges.

12:00 P.M. ET

FMLA Abuse:  How to Recognize It and Strategies to Combat It

Speakers
Hoffman_Jocelyn_BW-1
Jocelyn Hoffman
Shoenfelt_Michael_BW
Michael Shoenfelt
Description
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We will cover how HR professionals can identify signs that employees are abusing FMLA leave.  In addition, the presentation will outline potential solutions those professionals can use to combat FMLA leave abuse.
2:00 P.M. ET

Providing Accommodation in Today’s Workplace

Speakers
Kinzer_Al_BW
Al Kinzer
Scheiderer_Greg_BW
Greg Scheiderer
Description
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This presentation will address best practices and current trends relating to the accommodation of employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Emphasis will be placed on issues that may become more prevalent in the post-pandemic age, including accommodation of mental disabilities, addiction, and the use of telework and leave as accommodation.
4:00 P.M. ET

Creating and Implementing a Pay Equity Audit Strategy

Speakers
Ford_Jackie_BW
Jackie Ford
Stevens_Janay_BW
Janay Stevens
Cary_Nelson_BW-1
Nelcon Cary
Description
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As workspaces become keenly aware of systemic and inherent biases, the need for introspection into pay equity data has become all the more apparent. This session is designed to help you develop an approach to conducting a pay equity audit, and to analyze where there might be opportunities to improve.
10:00 A.M. ET

Is COVID Covered: A Discussion of COVID-19 as a Presumptive Occupational Disease Under Workers’ Compensation

Speakers
Carman_Corrine
Corrine Carman
Description

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This session will discuss COVID-19 in the workplace. We will talk about the variety of ways in which states have addressed the pandemic and whether COVID-19 is a presumptive workers’ compensation claim under current state laws. We will cover whether the mandates are occupation-specific, have time limitations, and are offset by other forms of compensation.

2:00 P.M. ET

Cannabis Conundrums:  Can Employers “Just Say No” When It Comes to a Positive Drug Test?

Speakers
billington_chaz_BW
Chaz Billington
Griffaton_Mike_BW
Mike Griffaton
Description
To view the on-demand module, click here.

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia currently allow recreational and/or medical marijuana, and that number is likely to increase as November election may see legalization efforts prevail in several other states.  Hemp production has been legalized nationwide, and CBD oil products are everywhere.  Yet marijuana use and possession remain illegal under federal law.  This dichotomy between what state law permits and what federal law prohibits means employers must weigh workplace policies against a growing number of potential plaintiffs.  We’ll navigate through the haze of marijuana legalization and the myriad issues employers face when it comes to drug testing marijuana-using applicants and employees.
4:00 P.M. ET

Tom's Top 10 of 2020

Speakers
Crookes_Thomas_BW
Tom Crookes
Description
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This session will provide an overview of the top ten labor and employment law issues that have faced employers in 2020 and will impact employers in 2021. Issues will be discussed with ideas presented for addressing concerns and limiting risk.