2022 MCHRA Employment Law Conference

We welcome human resource professionals, business owners and corporate counsel with employment responsibilities to this fast-paced legal and legislative update! Attorneys from Jackson Lewis P.C. will cover the latest employment law hot topics. 

Trends in Pay Transparency (Kathy Schatz)

State pay equity laws have moved quickly—and each is different. Most employers have focused on the risks of potentially discriminatory unexplained pay differences, but the attention is now shifting to pay transparency. Simply put, an ad hoc, state-by-state compliance strategy may not be feasible for long. 

Speaker Kathy Schatz :  Katrin Schatz is a principal in the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C.  An experienced litigator, Kathy defends employers in court proceedings and arbitrations in a broad range of employment matters, including class and collective actions. She also routinely represents employers before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, DOL, OFCCP, DOJ and corresponding state agencies. Her counseling practice is devoted to devising proactive solutions for legal compliance and litigation avoidance, including the development of strategic employment policies and procedures. She regularly conducts internal wage-hour, compensation and compliance audits, manages workplace investigations, and assists clients with the myriad of employment issues arising in mergers and acquisitions and cross-border transactions.  Kathy is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

EEOC Enforcement and Litigation Trends (Mike Deponte)

Changes in EEOC leadership and at the White House have left employers wondering what to expect of the agency over the next several years. This session will identify trends in the EEOC’s litigation statistics and what we can glean about the agency’s future enforcement focus. Presenters will also discuss how employers should expect changes in leadership to affect the EEOC’s litigation programs.

Speaker Mike Deponte:  Michael J. DePonte is a principal in the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is the litigation manager for the Dallas office. He is Board Certified in both Labor and Employment Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Of the approximately 90,000 attorneys that are licensed in the State of Texas, only 29 are Board Certified in both of these areas. Michael has extensive litigation and trial background having tried numerous cases in state and federal courts in Texas. Michael’s practice focuses on the litigation of employment claims, wage and hour claims and collective actions, class actions, and civil rights claims under state and federal law. Michael has defended national and regional employers on a broad range of employment-related issues including class actions. He has represented employers before numerous federal and state agencies, and has handled trials and appeals in federal and state courts.

Business Not as Usual:  Navigating the Workplace in the (Post?) Pandemic Era (Talley Parker)

Return to office has become so much more than three simple words.  Employers are facing morale problems, attrition, difficulty hiring, challenges in bringing employees back to the office and legal challenges in between.  This webinar will cover topics including:

·         Bringing employees back to work
·         Employees working in different states
·         New strategies for retaining employees
·         Work from home policies
·         Changes to hiring requirements and more  

Speaker Talley Parker:  Talley R. Parker is a principal in the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Talley counsels employers on every aspect of the employment relationship, including policies and handbooks, investigations, discipline and termination decisions, medical leaves of absence, and workplace safety concerns. He offers guidance regarding non-discrimination laws and addresses claims of discrimination based upon race, age, gender, disability, national origin, religion and other protected characteristics. Talley also serves as a resource for clients involved with claims of sexual or other discriminatory harassment and provides practical guidance to address and resolve such claims.

Beyond the Delta:  ADA/FMLA Year in Review (Julie Farmer)

COVID-19 is not the only thing happening, but it is catching employers flatfooted when it comes to other leave and accommodation issues. We can’t hide behind the masks forever and despite the focus on COVID-19, the rest of the law has continued to evolve. We will discuss the other changes and trends that you may have missed this past year that impact how you manage disability and leave issues

Speaker Julie Farmer:  Julie A. Farmer is an associate in the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counsel.  Julie represents management in a wide variety of employment matters before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. In addition to her litigation practice, Julie also counsels management on preventative strategies and advises clients on policies, handbooks, investigations, employment agreements, and best practices in the area of workplace law. Julie regularly speaks on a number of employment-related topics.

Doing the “Right” Thing:  Company Efforts Around DE&I (Victor Corpuz)

Employers are facing increased pressure to show tangible progress toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.  A myriad of stakeholders, both internal and external, are bearing down on employers to effect change.  In addition, conflicting political messaging and often misunderstood legal obligations add complexity to an already challenging topic.  We’ll tackle the legal landscape, best practices, and potential pitfalls.

Speaker Victor Corpuz:  Victor Navasca Corpuz is a principal in the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Since joining the firm in June 2000, he has handled workers’ compensation retaliation cases, all claims of discrimination under Title VII, FMLA, ADA, and ADEA and their state law equivalents and cases under the FLSA.

What’s Next?  And… Is that Remotely Possible? + A Biden Administration Update (Kristin Bauer)

After more than a year and a half of asking ourselves “what’s next?”, followed by constant adaptations and figuring out whatever the new normal is, we are more than ready to tackle moving forward—whatever that looks like. But whether it is hybrid workplaces, new forms of testing and monitoring, increased eligibility for leave, vaccine mandates or incentivizing employees to work, we know there will be challenges.  This session covers what is next, preparing you to be ready as the workplace continues to evolve in the post-pandemic era and for the lasting effect COVID-19 may have on all of us.

Speaker Kristin Bauer:  Kristin L. Bauer is a principal in the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She represents management exclusively in workplace law and related litigation. In addition to handling an active employment litigation docket, Kristin counsels management on preventive strategies, including termination decisions, investigations, employment agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation issues, wage and hour laws, policies and handbooks, and other issues affecting the workplace. She also provides advice and counsel to employers on the numerous laws touching ill and injured workers, including the ADA, the FMLA, and related state laws, and strategies to manage those risks. Kristin frequently speaks on a number of employment-related topics.