It’s a Wrap: Avoiding the
Year-End Employment Pitfalls
Howard Schragin, Esq. Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
It takes foresight, attention to legal requirements, and a sense of fairness, but HR pros can get the company through the season with ease, and even use the time to prepare for a fresh start in the new year. Howard Schragin, a labor and employment attorney with Epstein Becker & Green P.C., shares tips on how to navigate the holiday season and freshen up the department with a quick and helpful audit.

The HR Pros Checklist:
Do You Have All Your “Ducks in a Row”?
Richard H. Block, partner at Dreier LLP's
Employment Law Group -- Block, Bernstein & Lagasse
HR professionals bear a major role in preventing their companies from being held liable for claims of harassment and discrimination. Even a whisper of complaint requires attention. Here’s a few practical measures to help keep a complaint from snowballing into a costly jury verdict for employers.

The Fashion Police and the Law:
The Pitfalls and Potential Legal Issues of
Today’s Casual Workplace
Judith Ann Moldover, Esq. of Ford & Harrison LLP
Hip-huggers. Flip-flops. Dramatically styled beards and moustaches. Tattoos—lots of them and very colorful. For HR professionals, dealing with an employee who comes to work looking like a fashion faux pas can have legal significance, according to employment law attorney Judith Ann Moldover of Ford & Harrison LLP.

The Three Biggest Myths Threatening Employers
Joel Greenwald, Esq., Managing Partner of Greenwald Doherty LLP
Learn about what could be hurting you, and how to be better prepared to protect your company -- from stopping rogue employees from leaving with proprietary company information to truly learning what is and isn’t wrongful termination.

Effective Negotiating for HR Executives
Lee E. Miller, managing director of NegotiationPlus.com
and co-host of "Your Career Doctors Radio Show" on YourCareerDoctors.com
Negotiating, the art of getting what you want from others, is what we do all the time. Learn how to apply that to your HR career.

Employee Whistleblower Protection
Richard Block, Esq., David R. Lagasse, Esq. and Alexis Pollack, Esq., Dreier LLP’s The Employment Law Group of Block Bernstein & Lagasse.
One speaker asked, “What do you do when a manager says they want to fire an employee because of that individual’s personality or because that person ‘just isn’t a team player’?” The consensus: HR should investigate. Learn how to do just that, and how state whistleblower laws cover the activities of all businesses within their borders.

Annual Employment Law Update
Steven Weiss, Esq. and Andrew J. Lauer, Esq.
Labor and Employment Attorneys,
Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP.
“The first step is for an employer to develop a company-wide policy and to train and educate the workforce and management about how to deal with employees and potential problems and the exact steps they need to take should a problem arise…,” counseled attorney Steven Weiss. How should you educate your employees? Read on for the latest sage advice from these top labor and employment law experts.

You Promoted Them, Now What?
Steven K. Weiss, Labor and Employment Attorney,
Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP.
Just because an employee is great in business doesn’t mean that that person knows how to manage people. Managers and supervisors need to be taught how to avoid liability and manage risk by applying your company’s policies and objectives.

2004 Employment Law Update
Steven K. Weiss, Labor and Employment Attorney,
Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP.
Employment Law. You have to stay on top of it to protect your company against legal attack, minimize risk, and avoid liability. And these days, that’s not easy; courts hand down new decisions all the time and Employment Law changes every day. This comprehensive overview provides the info you need as an HR practitioner to stay on top of it.

The Business Case for Diversity
Pamela L. Leri, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Mellon Financial Corporation
Diversity in the workplace is a hot topic for HR professionals today. There’s no question that people of every background, ethnicity, lifestyle and life situation are more visible than ever, and they are contributing in ways they have not been able to in the past. And for those still not being granted opportunity enough, there is much yet to be done.

Compensation and Reward: Maximizing the Return on Your Investment
Laura Sejen, National Practice Director of Strategic Rewards, Watson Wyatt Worldwide
The difficult climate of the last few years has caused many employers to make what may be permanent, or at least long-term, changes in the ways they compensate employees. The findings in the annual “Survey of Strategic Rewards and Pay Practices” conducted by Watson Wyatt Worldwide identifies some significant trends in compensation and reward practices that will provide you with ideas for attracting and retaining employees.

Diversity and Respect in the Workplace:
Gay Marriage, Body Size and Mental Health
Art Feinglass, president, Access Communications.
America’s workforce may be more diverse than ever. Or, it may just appear to be, as employees who have historically maintained a low profile opt to come out of the shadows. And they are refusing to allow others to impede their ability to flourish in their careers, simply because they are different.

The Rising Cost of Health Care: Where Do
We Go From Here?
Tanya Mayer, Principal, Towers Perrin
In 2003, the average annual employer health care cost per active employee will be over $6,000. At its current pace, health care costs will increase by 50% in three years and double in five. Do you have a plan to survive your 2004 renewals? Now you do...This detailed, 8-step program and timeline will demystify the process and give you an 18-month action plan to follow.

The Economic Recovery: What Can HR Pros Expect for the NYC Job Market?
Marc Goloven, Senior Regional Economist, JP Morgan
What does the New York City job market look like now and how will it affect your firm’s future? The harsh reverberations of 9/11, the technology bust, the tourism pinch and equity market volatility have caught up with the Big Apple. This unhealthy brew has brought NYC’s growth to a halt, contributed to huge budget deficits with which the city is now wrestling, and triggered an upturn in joblessness.

Optimizing Your Human Capital: A Study in True Effectiveness
David B. de Wetter, Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Are you prepared to sit down with the C.E.O., C.F.O., and C.O.O. of your firm to discuss your plans for human resources in real, bottom line terms? Some of the insights provided by this new research contradict prevailing views about which human capital practices drive--or even destroy--financial performance of a company.

New Trends in Employment Law: Where Are Your Vulnerabilities in 2003?
Steven K. Weiss, Esq., Brown Raysman labor & employment law firm
As the Supreme Court cuts back slightly in the breadth of discrimination litigation, other issues that are easier to litigate have begun to take center stage. See what topics are hot in employment litigation today, and what you need to do to ensure your company's not vulnerable.

Key Trends in HR: Compensation and Benefit Programs
Loree Griffith & Pete Lupo, Principals, Mercer Human Resource Consulting
As the weak economy takes its toll on the job market, how are companies dealing with compensation and benefit programs for their employees? With a range of responses that affect the role of HR professionals, including some that may surprise you.

Pre-Employment Screening & the Law
Traycee Ellen Klein, partner, Epstein Becker & Green.
What are legitimate questions you can ask of prospective employees -- and what questions and screening processes are strictly off-limits? Can you order criminal background checks? Drug testing? Polygraph tests? Traycee Ellen Klein discussed the do’s and don’ts of pre-employment screening.

2000 Pages of HIPAA Regulations:
Are You Prepared?
David B. Spanier and David M. Greenberg of Greenberg Taurig LLP.
Is your company prepared for the fast-approaching new deadlines for compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996? David B. Spanier and David M. Greenberg shed light on some of the basics employers -- and employees -- will need to know about protecting privacy rights with regard to Personal Health Information, and making sure that information doesn’t affect employment decisions.

The Economic Recovery: What Can We Expect For
The New York City Job Market?
Marc M. Goloven, Senior Regional Economist, JP Morgan.
Although there are still several areas where the New York City economy is lagging, there are several positive developments that suggest the city is on its way to economic recovery. Is the economy really rebounding from recession and the harsh effects of September 11th on business? And how will this affect you and your business? Marc M. Goloven offered a bright new outlook.

Keeping Up With The Americans With
Disabilities Act.
Bruce Turkel and Steven M. Post, Phillips Nizer.
Disability discrimination has become a claim of choice among disgruntled or terminated employees. But with a good understanding of the Americans With Disabilities Act, and some practical strategies, companies can often avoid being taken to court -- or losing once they get there. Bruce Turkel and Steven Post offer helpful guidelines.

Benefits 2002: Strategy and Clarity in the Face of Rising Costs.
Tanya Mayer, Principal, Towers Perrin.
In tough economic times, rising health care costs are placing added pressure on many employers. Tanya Mayer offers tips for better managin your health care program to minimize the impact of double-digit trend rates.

Next Step Diversity - Going Above and Beyond the Glass Ceiling.
Art Feinglass, President of Access Communications.
Just because more women and minorities are being welcomed onto the corporate ladder doesn’t mean it’s an easy climb. Art Feinglass discusses ways to make sure that everyone feels equal and included in the new, more diverse workforce.

How to Effectively Manage and Investigate Claims of Discrimination.
Art Feinglass, President of Access Communications.
The way in which you and company supervisors handle complaints about discrimination can make the difference between your company being held liable under discrimination laws, or being exonerated. Learn about the important procedures for keeping your company out of court when a discrimination case arises.

Demystifying Health Care Premiums and the Advantages of Self-Funded Health Plans.
Susan Gallagher, Brokerage Concepts, Inc.
Contrary to popular belief, self-funded health care plans may actually be less expensive than fully funded plans. A look at the advantages of self-funding and other tips for choosing a health care package.

What Is Corporate Casual and Who Decides?
Fred Villegas, President, Executive Style.
Certainly, "corporate casual" is here to stay - but how casual, and how corporate? In a tighter economy, it has become more important to dress for success. A look at updating corporate casual for today's businesses.

Respect in the Workplace: Sexual Harassment and Beyond.
Art Feinglass, President, Access Communications, and Maryann Newman, President, Strategic Organizational Solutions.
Racial humor, sexist e-mails, office romance. The harm? Not just hurt feelings, but corporate liability, too. A review of guidelines for establishing rules against harassment and protecting your company in the event of harassment suits.

An Employee is Suing Your Company and Your HR Department Is Involved - Get Ready!
Bruce J. Turkle, Associate, Litigation Department, Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP.
In this litigious environment, your company is likely to get sued - and the HR department is likely to be involved. Learn how to avert potential cases and how to protect your company's interests in the event of a lawsuit.

Measurement and the Business Case for ROI: Developing a Human Resources Score Card.
Dr. Jack J. Phillips, author, consultant, and founder of Franklin Covey's Jack Phillips Center for Research.
As HR budgets increase, measuring Return on Investment (ROI) is more important than ever before. Are you demonstrating the benefits of your HR department's programs in relation to their costs? Learn why, and how, you should.

Fundamentals of HRIS and Database Design for HR Professionals.
Raymond A. Schaub, President of Information Consultants Unit (ICU).
To get the greatest results -- and the least amount of frustration -- from your database software, it helps to understand the fundamentals of database design. There are important basic principles that can help you understand what to do when glitches occur, and how to prevent them in the future.

Creating a Learning Culture: How to Make Your Training Dollars Count.
Lori Hieger, Director of Development, 2logical.
A look at how to make training part of your corporate culture, and increase employee performance in the process.