Friday, April 8, 2011

Press Release-Chamber Offers Human Resources Law Seminar



Did you know?
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act “prohibits employers from discriminating in ‘hiring, termination or imposing any term or condition of employment or otherwise penalize a person’ based upon the person’s status as a cardholder or a drug test that detects marijuana.
“Nevertheless, employers may discipline employees who used, possessed or were impaired by marijuana while at work or during work hours.” – from The Cavanaugh Law Firm website.
Two Cavanaugh Law Firm attorneys, David A. Selden and Julie Pace, will conduct a four-hour power-packed Human Resources Law Seminar, “An Overview of Arizona Human Resources Manual, on Friday, April 15. The place: London Bridge Resort Convention Center, from 8 a.m. to noon. A continental breakfast will be served from 7:30 – 8 a.m.
Reservations must be made by calling the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce, 855-4115, by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12. The cost is $100 for the first registrant and includes three books. Additional registrants from the same Chamber member organization will pay an additional $35; the cost for additional non-member registrants is $50.
The two representatives from the Phoenix law firm will explore the ever-evolving world of human resources policies in the workplace as it applies in Arizona. The Medical Marijuana Act, for example, was approved by Arizona voters in November, and Arizona is now the 15th state to have this statute on the books.
In business today, it is imperative to stay on top of laws and regulations affecting both sides of the employer-employee equation, in fairness to both, to protect both.
Continuing education credits through the Human Resources Certification Institute may be submitted to the Society for Human Resource Management. Qualified persons would need to go online to submit the information and learn what the time frame is for approval. The course also counts for Continuing Legal Education credits.
Topics to be covered include:
• Overview of Arizona Human Resources Manual and major federal and state employment laws
• Recruiting and hiring, orientation and training, background checks and employment agreements
• Counseling and termination of employees
• Equal Employment Opportunity and Arizona Civil Rights Division charges of discrimination and conducting investigations
• Leaves of absence
• Personnel manual and policies
• Wage and hour laws and issues
• Immigration: Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance
Details:
• Employment issues: Federal and state employment laws, Employment Protection Act, employment at-will, employment discrimination, independent contractors, temporary and leased employees, workforce reductions, child labor
• Hiring: Topics to avoid while interviewing, contents of employment advertising, reporting new hires, Fair Credit Reporting Act, defamation, advantages and disadvantages to employment agreements
• Performance: Evaluating performance, risk areas, legal claims based on termination, recommendations to follow when addressing terminations, terminating for misconduct versus performance, polygraph testing, negligent supervision and retention, settlement agreements and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
• Complaints: Responding to charges of discrimination, investigating reports, writing an investigative report, avoiding retaliation
• Leave: Employee leaves; Americans with Disabilities Act; Family and Medical Leave Act; and Workers Compensation; Arizona Crime Victim Leave Act; drug and alcohol policies and responding to rest results; communicable diseases.
Books included in the seminar include the Arizona Human Resources Manual, Model Policies and Forms for Arizona Employers, and Employment Verification – an Employers Guide to Immigration, Form I-9, and E-Verify Compliance.
The seminar was organized by Nancy Darrow of the Chamber’s Education Committee.