Link to WELU Central: WELU Registration Room Link to Materials: 2023 WELU Participant Guide
| Time | Session | Presenter | Session Links | Presentation Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | Welcome and Opening Remarks | Link to Registration | N/A | |
| 8:10 – 9:10 | Panel /Top Litigation Issues – What’s in Store for 2024 As is our WELU tradition, we dive right into the deep end with our opening Panel. In this high-level, unscripted discussion, our panel of top employment attorneys will provide invaluable insights on the most critical issues employers will need to be prepared for in the coming year. This year’s Panel consists of current and former members of Employers Group’s esteemed Legal Committee. With an eye toward 2024, the Panel will address: • Pending California Supreme Court cases (Wage & Hour and more) • Recent developments relating to arbitration • NLRB decisions and protected activity/speech • The future of workplace DEI As always, the Panel will welcome the questions and input from our attendees. | Panelist: T. Warren Jackson (Mediator at Signature Resolution) Panelist: Robert Roginson (Office Managing Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, L.A.) Panelist: Julie Dunne (Partner at DLA Piper) Panelist: Jonathan M. Turner (Partner at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 9:10 – 10:30 | “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – the 2024 Employment Law Update Staying up-to-date on new employment legislation for the upcoming year is critical for employer protection. In this informative program, LightGabler's Ryan Haws will present the 2024 employment law update and attendees will receive a detailed handout providing insights into 55 new laws and regulations, along with practice tips for employers and human resource professionals. | Ryan M. Haws (Attorney at LightGabler) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 10:30 - 10:40 | Break | |||
| 10:40-11:40 | New NLRB Rules and the Impact on Non-Union Employers If you think the National Labor Relations Board only impacts union employers – get ready for a wake-up call! The current NLRB is more favorable towards unions than ever in history and its impact on non-union employers has dramatically expanded. This eye-opening session will include valuable updates and insights. | Erick J. Becker (Senior Partner at Cummins & White, LLP) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 10:40-11:40 | Non-Human Resources: AI at Work Almost one year ago to the day, the chatbot that changed everything was unleashed on the public—and we haven’t stopped talking about AI since. Of course, AI isn’t new, but it still feels mysterious, especially to employers trying to navigate the latest software updates without falling behind their competitors. In this demystifying session, you’ll learn the gist of what AI does behind the scenes, how it’s being used in the workplace, and the risks of common use cases—and how the EEOC and other regulators hope to contain them. | Erica Wilson (Associate at Fisher & Phillips LLP and Vice Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Team) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 10:40-11:40 | Avoid Hiring Pitfalls - Background Screening Compliance in 2024 Join Universal Background Screening for a review of recent changes and regulations employers must be prepared for to hire and screen effectively and compliantly in 2024. This information-packed session will focus on best practices for new hires and ongoing screening within your organization. | Kate Kearns (Senior Account Executive at Universal Background Screening) Brianna Bruington (Senior Account Executive at Universal Background Screening) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 11:40 - 2:30 | Sponsor Room- Castle Publications (Visit anytime between 11:40-2:30) | Jane Elliott | Link to Castle Room | Link to Order Form |
| 11:40 - 11:50 | Break | |||
| 11:50 - 12:10 | Lunch and Learn (pre-recorded, view at your leisure): What’s on Your Mind? Results and Analysis from the WELU Poll on 2024 Workplace Planning Big thank you to all attendees who participated in our 2023 WELU Flash Poll addressing key workplace planning issues for 2024. The results are in! In this pre-recorded brief and informative session, we will see the full results of the input and share analysis and insights that we hope will provide a valuable benchmark for your 2024 planning efforts. | Bill Stephens (CEO at Employers Group/EverythingHR) | Link to Recording | Link to Presentation |
| 12:20 – 1:45 | Judicial and Employment Law Update Our lunchtime keynote will address litigation and judicial decisions that will impact employer practices for 2023. Do not miss this insightful presentation, including Q & A, so you can be adequately prepared for the coming year. | Richard Simmons (Partner at Sheppard Mullin) | Link to Session | N/A |
| 1:50 - 2:00 | Break | |||
| 2:00 - 3:00 | Navigating Employee Leaves and Accommodations in the Modern World Employee leaves of absence and requests for accommodations have increased by double digits each year since 2021. With the complexity of remote work, the continued conflict between companies and employees on returning to the office, and an overall labor shortage, addressing leaves of absence and requests for accommodations have become more frequent and more complex. During this presentation, Ms. Moore will walk through both the fundamentals and the common pitfalls for employers as they navigate the leave and accommodation world. | Danielle Moore (Partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 2:00 - 3:00 | Direct from the Source: Cal/OSHA Updates on New and Proposed Regulations, Enforcement Visits, and Consultation Services Workplace safety has been thrust to the forefront for all employers more than ever over the past few years. Now, with the increased emphasis on protections against workplace violence, all employers with employees in California must begin making their policy, process and training plans in advance of the July 1, 2024 deadlines. While the final regulations are still pending, WELU attendees will get to hear directly from the source, as Cal/OSHA provides background, insights, updates and planning tips for the many critical issues that California employers will have to have front and center in 2024. | Patrick Corcoran (Regional Manager, Cal/OSHA Consultation Service) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 2:00 - 3:00 | Full Review of the 2023 OFCCP Audit Scheduling Letter & Itemized Listing OFCCP has substantially increased their compliance factors in their 2023 OFCCP Audit scheduling letter. Here are 5 key takeaways that are among many more that we will cover: How to prepare OFCCP compliant: 1. Pay Equity review including two years of data snapshots 2. outreach partners and diversity recruiting 3. Implementation of your assessment steps 4. Implementation and processes to address red flags 5. Training for Management team Be prepared! | Suzanne Oliva (Sr. Manager of Compliance Programs at fpSOLUTIONS) | Link to Session | Link to Presentation |
| 3:00 - 3:10 | Break | |||
| 3:10 - 4:15 | Closing General Session - Leading Through Crisis - Workplace Crisis Management, Conflict Resolution, and Navigating Extreme Change 2024 ushers in volumes of sweeping changes, and workplace crisis management helps business leaders hone their communication and teambuilding skills in today's tumultuous business environment. In fact, in a 2022 study by IBM, managing disruption emerged as a top concern for CEOs, highlighting the urgency for effective crisis leadership skills. How HR and operational management teams lead through extended periods of upheaval directly ties to organizational effectiveness, culture change, and the bottom line. Join former CHRO of Nickelodeon, Paul Falcone, as he highlights his newest book, “Leading Through Crisis” (HarperCollins Leadership, 2023) and helps to identify new ways of mastering the ongoing disruption and aftershocks to our teams and organizations. | Paul Falcone (Best-Selling Author and Principal, Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Consulting, LLC) | Link to Session Link to Harper Collins Website | Link to Presentation |
| 4:15 | Wrap Up and SHRM/HRCI Recertification Credits | Survey Link will be provided in the chat at the completion of the conference. | Link to Session | N/A |