2021

Essential Employment Law: A Practical Course in the Basics

Live Webcast Aug 20, 2021
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Overview

Essential Employment Law is a one-day HR program led by employment law experts Connie Cornell and Katrina Grider, and is designed to provide overviews and updates on issues related to Texas employment law. Content is extensive and exhaustive with topics ranging from employment-at-will to discrimination issues, wage and hour violations, retaliation, FMLA, changes in employment law impacting compliance efforts, and more.

This practical course provides detailed written materials and is ideal for HR professionals and beginning employment lawyers.

INSTRUCTORS

Connie L. Cornell, PHR is a founding partner of Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP, an Austin labor and employment law firm, representing employers and management through advice, training, and litigation defense. Ms. Cornell is Board Certified in Labor and Employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is also certified as a Professional in Human Resources by the national HR Certification Institute.

Katrina Grider is the Associate Director for Curriculum, Training, and Education for the Revolving Funds Division at the EEOC. She directs and oversees the development, content, and delivery of the EEOC’s fee-based training and education programs for public and private sector employers; manages training activities provided by the EEOC Training Institute; and establishes and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders to identify training needs and develop appropriate training and education to meet such needs. She is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning, Aug. 20, 2021
8:20 am

Welcoming Remarks
8:30 am

0.75 hr

Texas is an "At Will" State... So Why Worry?

Hear an overview of the employment relationship and how tort law has been adapted in the workplace. Discuss how to answer the client or the supervisor who thinks employment law begins and ends with "employment-at-will." What about terminating an employee for theft? Is there ever an obligation to give a reference on a former employee? How can a handshake get a manager sued for assault? What is an intentional infliction of emotional distress? Can employee violence really be prevented? Is negligent retention really a cause of action?

Katrina Grider, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Houston, TX
9:15 am

5-Minute Break
9:20 am

1.00 hr

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Hear a discussion about the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement in the workplace and why it matters for companies to manage cultural change. How do you have difficult conversations about race? How do companies address workplace harassment and discrimination?

Katrina Grider, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Houston, TX
10:20 am

5-Minute Break
10:25 am

0.50 hr

Retaliation: Winning the Battle, Losing the War

Why is retaliation the most dangerous cause of action, and what can you do about it?

Katrina Grider, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Houston, TX
11:05 am

5-Minute Break
11:10 am

1.00 hr

Wage and Hour: An Old Law in a Modern World

Learn the basics of wage and hour law and why violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act have exploded. Topics include: Who is exempt and who is not, and what difference does it make? What is working time? How is overtime calculated? What are the most common mistakes, and how do you avoid them?

Katrina Grider, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Houston, TX
12:10 pm

Break for Lunch—Presentation Resumes at 12:40 p.m.
Friday Afternoon, Aug. 20, 2021
LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
12:40 pm

1.00 hr

Hot Topics

Get up to speed on the latest compliance issues impacting employers, including those relating to COVID-19 during a brief update of the most critical court cases, legislation, and federal agency activity.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
Katrina Grider, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Houston, TX
1:40 pm

5-Minute Break
1:45 pm

0.50 hr

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): The Other Major Entitlement Act

The FMLA was the first federal act that required an employer to provide time off for employees. Learn the basics of the law, which has been amended to cover additional types of leave. When do you send the various notices and certifications? Avoid common mistakes in completing the paperwork and understand how FMLA can overlap with ADA issues.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
2:15 pm

5-Minute Break
2:20 pm

1.00 hr

Handbooks / Employment Policies

Avoid common mistakes in policy drafting. Adopt provisions that support the company's good faith compliance efforts and help reduce potential liability in audits and litigation. Understand how recent NLRB decisions affect even non-unionized employer policies.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
3:20 pm

5-Minute Break
3:25 pm

0.75 hr

Defensive Documentation from Hiring to Firing

Recognize the vulnerable points in the employment relationship and learn the best practices in documentation to minimize the problems and maximize the chances of successfully defending the employer’s actions when challenged. Understand the value and risks posed by offer letters, disciplinary documentation, performance evaluations, and termination paperwork.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
4:10 pm

5-Minute Break
4:15 pm

1.00 hr

Investigating Sensitive Employment Complaints

The investigation of an employee's complaint may be critical to an employer's only means of avoiding liability. The investigator may be a witness, and the notes may be evidence. Learn how to investigate and document the process.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
5:15 pm

Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Connie L. Cornell

Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP
Austin, TX

Katrina Grider

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Houston, TX

Planning Committee

Connie L. Cornell—Co-Chair

Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP
Austin, TX

Katrina Grider—Co-Chair

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Houston, TX

Credit Info

Live Webcast

MCLE Credit

Texas – 7.50 hrs
Legal Specialization(s): Civil Appellate Law, Civil Trial Law, Labor and Employment Law

You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.

California – 7.50 hrs

To claim California MCLE credit, California credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Oklahoma – 9.00 hrs

To claim Oklahoma MCLE credit, Oklahoma credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #169) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Oklahoma Bar Association for MCLE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the webcast.

Pennsylvania – 7.50 hrs

To claim Pennsylvania MCLE credit, Pennsylvania credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks after credit is claimed and submitted. Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other States – 7.50 hrs

Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State

If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

To claim Other States MCLE credit, Other States credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records and to provide to other licensing authorities as needed.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other Credit

Human Resources PHR/SPHR/GPHR – 7.50 hrs

This program has been pre-approved for credit toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). Please claim and certify your credit in "Your Briefcase" at the end of the program and after doing so you will be able to download your certificate of attendance with the HRCI activity ID number. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org

Human Resources SHRM-CPSM / SHRM-SCPSM – 7.50 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. Please claim and certify your credit in "Your Briefcase" at the end of the program and after doing so you will be able to download your certificate of attendance with the course ID number. Please contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

TX Accounting CPE – 9.00 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. In compliance with the rules, UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

To claim Texas Accounting CPE credit, the Texas Accounting CPE credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. Self-report your CPE credit directly to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Live Webcast – Aug 20, 2021

Conference Concluded

Buy

Live Webcast

Individual
Last day for $345.00 Regular pricing: Aug 20, 2021

$345.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $310.00 Regular pricing: Aug 20, 2021

$310.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $275.00 Regular pricing: Aug 20, 2021

$275.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Aug 13, 2021

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Aug 20, 2021