Employment Law USA

Day One
09:00 - Registration and coffee
09:30 - An overview of the US legal framework: bringing it into focus
· Understanding the legal framework: Federal and State laws
· Comparisons with the UK employment law framework

10:15 - State law issues: traps for the unwary
· Presumptions of at-will employment
· At-will exceptions
· Common law claims

11:15 - Coffee
11:30 - Federal discrimination laws
· Age (ADEA)
· Disability (ADA)
· Race discrimination (Title VII)
· Sex and Gender (Title VII)
· Other protected categories and variations on State laws

12:45 - Questions & Answers
13:00 - Lunch
14:00 - Dismissal pitfalls: following Federal and State law
· Retaliation and whistleblowing
· Dangerous documents
· Plant closing laws
· Reduction in forces: redundancy issues, severance pay and release/waivers

15:15 - Coffee
15:30 - Understanding wage and hour laws: the 'Litigation de Jure'
· Minimum wage and overtime laws
· The State Wage Payment statutes
· Misclassification of independent contractors

16:30 - End of day one

Day Two
09:00 - Registration and coffee
09:30 - Leaves of absence: the 'Bermuda triangle' of employment law
· The dangerous intersection of the leaves of absence laws
· Family and Medical Leave Act
· ADA
· Maternity Leave statutes
· Workers' compensation

10:45 - Data protection laws: how to make sure your company is compliant
· US privacy laws: issues organisations need to be aware of
· Electronic disclosure: setting compliant policies in the US
· Confidentiality and covenants not to compete

11:15 - Coffee
11:30 - Break-out session: dealing with real-life scenarios
Aim: To go beyond the legal framework and practical tips outlined on Day 1 and apply these effectively in a controlled real-life scenario. Participants will have the opportunity to practice the theory covered in Day 1 to enhance their understanding and interpretation of US employment law.

Participants will be divided into groups and given a particular scenario to consider. Each group member will be fully involved in the scenario and provide solutions and suggestions with feedback from the facilitators. Participants will have the opportunity to get involved in all aspects: recruiting, putting together a contract of employment, handling a dismissal and responding to a discrimination claim.

13:00 - Lunch
14:00 - The Employee Handbook Review
AIM: To apply the principals learned during the seminar to the review and revision of a typical UK handbook converted to a U.S. handbook. This is a practical, hands on exercise that will assist participants with the drafting and review of their own employers' handbooks.

Note: One handbook will be chosen from all submissions for review in this interactive exercise.

15:30 - Coffee
15:45 - Questions & Answers
16:30 - End of seminar