HR Edge: Navigating Employment Law Complexities

Navigating the legal aspects with ease

This program is designed to help participants understand how Federal employment laws work in the real world – and how they apply very directly to the day-to-day duties, decisions and interactions of managers and supervisors. Virtually all risk related to employment law violation lies with uneducated or undereducated management. A primary focus is to enlighten participants as to how employment laws are broken every day – inadvertently – by leaders who think they’re making sound business decisions, and who would never intentionally discriminate.  In this session you will:

• Review the basics of primary federal employment laws
• Explore the impact of federal case law and company practices
• Recognize situations that pose a legal risk to the organization
• Learn to minimize risk by responding promptly and appropriately to workplace incidents

Empower your employees to navigate employment regulations in the Commonwealth

This session is designed to help participants understand how State employment laws work in the real world – and how they apply very directly to the day-to-day duties, decisions and interactions of managers and supervisors. Virtually all risks related to employment law violations lie with uneducated or undereducated management. A primary focus is to enlighten participants as to how employment laws are broken every day – inadvertently – by leaders who think they’re making sound business decisions, and who would never intentionally discriminate.  In this session you will:

• Review the basics of primary state employment laws
• Explore the impact of state case law and company practices
• Recognize situations that pose a legal risk to the organization
• Learn leadership’s legal responsibility in Massachusetts for responding promptly and appropriately to workplace discrimination and harassment issues

Create a supportive work environment for employee’s mental health and wellbeing

• Recall the main laws and regulations governing mental health in the workplace, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA)
• Explain the role of management and HR in addressing mental health concerns among employees; including how to respond to requests for accommodations and how to handle sensitive conversations around mental health
• Demonstrate an understanding of common mental health conditions and how they can impact employees’ ability to perform their job duties
• Employ best practices to help foster a healthy and productive workforce even if they do not stem from a legal obligation”

Unraveling work eligibility and recordkeeping requirements

The federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires every employer to maintain a Form I9 for each employee. Individuals must show they are eligible to work in the United States before commencing employment. Ignoring this requirement, incorrectly asking for documentation or not completing a Form I9 for each employee can come with heavy penalties. If you are responsible for gathering and completing the Form I9, this course will provide you with step-by-step tips to ensure proper documentation to maintain for current and former employees. By the end of this knowledge-building session, you’ll be able to:

• Determine if your organization is utilizing the current I9 form and maintaining proper documentation
• Understand the difference between I-9 and E-Verify
• Discover the necessary steps to conduct an I-9 audit
• Recognize insufficient or invalid documentation

Discover strategies for ensuring your interviews are compliant and successful

Many federal and state laws guide what interviewers can and cannot ask of applicants to prevent discrimination during the hiring process. Fair, equitable and legal hiring practices actually start with the employment application and continue through reference checks, drug testing and offers of compensation. By the end of this knowledge-building session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify what information may or may not be collected on an employment application
• Understand the various topics to stay away from in an employment interview and how to carefully ask questions
• Develop a consistent and compliant employment offer process
• Practice cross-training co-workers who may participate in the hiring process