As 2024 comes to a close, the 2025 compliance strategy planning season begins. With 2025 already presenting a potential onslaught of employment law updates, it's critical for employers to know what changes to expect in the new year.

During this 60-minute webinar, Michelle Devlin, Maureen Lavery, Amy Mendenhall and Hannah Stilley, attorneys from the knowledge management and legal research teams at Littler, will discuss a variety of employment law areas and potential updates coming in 2025. Some topics covered include:

• New legislation and anticipated legal trends for 2025, including AI, noncompete agreements, mandatory employer-sponsored meetings and child labor

• The impact of the 2024 election on state-level regulation of employment and labor standards

• Handbook updates to get you ready for the new year

• Major NLRB decisions impacting both union and nonunion workforces in 2025, including on employer-sponsored meetings about unionization, and precedent and regulatory shifts expected from the NLRB under the new administration

• The Securities and Exchange Commission's focus on whistleblower protections in separation, settlement and other employment agreements

Additionally, Stephanie Zielinski, ComplianceHR marketing director, will walk you through PolicySmart™ and the Reference Center. These compliance essentials help simplify the complexity of employment law and make your organization's compliance strategy proactive instead of reactive.

Time:
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. PT
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET

As employers increasingly require employees to return to the office, remote work accommodation requests have followed. After having sent many of their employees’ home to work during the pandemic, employers now face an onslaught of remote work requests. During the pandemic, employers wondered whether the pandemic would make remote work a permanent “thing” required by the ADA. Several years out, we are beginning to see how the courts are treating remote work requests – and it’s a mixed bag for employers seeking a return to office.

In this complimentary webinar, Littler Shareholder Jeff Nowak and ComPsych’s Matt Morris will analyze the current remote work landscape, help make sense of where the courts are heading on this issue, highlight relevant studies on the issue, and offer practical suggestions on how employers should approach remote work requests after the pandemic. Through the use of case studies (and a tiny bit of humor), we will cover:

• What precisely is the playing field these days when it comes to remote work arrangements? Did the pandemic change the entire remote work analysis?

• How data about modern working arrangements could (and in some instances, should) affect your remote work accommodation analyses

• How this data and other anecdotal evidence can bolster the arguments employers make to strengthen their “return-to-office” position and/or refine their expectations for at-home workers

• Dealing with employees who request remote work because they can’t commute to work

• Where and when does it end: Can an employee work from home indefinitely?

Time:
10:00 - 11:15 a.m. PT
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. MT
12:00 - 1:15 p.m. CT
1:00 - 2:15 p.m. ET

During this webinar you will learn more about the recently held exclusive Latvia-US Drone Symposium in Washington DC, participant feedback from Latvijas Mobilais Telefons SIA, Origin Robotics, and SAF Tehnika JSC.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Aivars Purins, will share more about the Latvia-led Drone Coalition.

To close your, you will hear from George Straubs on how to prepare yourself to do business with U.S. Department of Defense - a version of the presentation he shared during the symposium last month.

The Baltic American Chamber of Commerce warmly invites our members and friends to join us in a joyous Christmas celebration! Together with our colleagues from the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce, we’ll gather at the enchanting Luxembourg House for an evening filled with holiday spirit and camaraderie.

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: The Luxembourg House, 17 Beekman Place, New York, NY 10022

Once the home of Irving Berlin, this charming venue will be alive with Christmas carols, festive music, and traditional fare. Enjoy Glühwein, Luxembourg wines, Crémant, and a delicious meal as we celebrate together.

Tickets: $85 per person

Event is sold out, but email us to join the waiting list at info@bacc.nyc

Dress code: Cocktail attire (a balance between formal and casual)

Come and spread the holiday cheer with us!

Due to popular demand, a second webinar is being offered, ffocused on the employment lifecycle and the risk spectrum created by cultural or leadership issues that go unaddressed.

Morreen and Matt will discuss the current state of employment from an HR and legal perspective, with topics including leadership, culture, challenges created by remote work, noncompetes and many more. They will then open the floor to the audience for a Q&A – so come prepared with your questions.

Time:
9:30 - 10:30 a..m. PT
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. MT
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. ET

Littler Texas (Austin, Dallas and Houston offices) presents a post-election webinar assessing the priorities of the incoming administration and how it will likely impact federal, state and local activities and trends in labor and employment law.

Time:
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PT
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MT
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CT
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET

1st event of a new annual tradition. Leaning on the global audience that Slush attracts, we aim to attract a small sub-set to Tallinn, on 18 November Monday afternoon/evening - conveniently before the main Slush event (20-21 November).

The content will showcase the business attractions of Estonia. While Slush has about 15,000 people who descend onto Helsinki each year, the very-short Ferry between Tallinn and Helsinki is a great opportunity to draw top international guests to Estonia.

Littler's Workplace Policy Institute (WPI) presents a post-election in-depth webinar where the speakers will assess the priorities of the incoming Administration, as well as the likely makeup of the 119th U.S. Congress and how that will impact the Administration's agenda. WPI will also explore the impact of the elections on state and local activities and legislative trends.

Time:
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PT
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. MT
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CT
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET

No registration required.

Join Hodgson Russ attorneys for an in-depth discussion covering critical Special Education topics.

This year's seminar will be held at Salvatore's Italian Gardens, 6461 Transit Road, Depew, NY 14043.

Schedule:

Registration & Breakfast: 8:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks: 8:50 a.m.
Program: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Topics to be Covered:

• 2024 Special Education Year in Review\

• Understanding IDEA and 504: Disciplinary Considerations for Students with Disabilities

• Special Education Jeopardy

Who Should Attend:
Special Education and Pupil Services Administrators, other District Administrators, Superintendents, Board of Education members, Principals, and School Psychologists. Please feel free to extend this invitation to any other school staff who may benefit from the seminar.

Speakers:  Andrew J. Freedman, Lindsay A. Menasco, Ryan L. Everhart, Madeline G. Cook & Asia R. Evans

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the future of U.S. immigration policy is once again in the spotlight. This will be an in-depth webinar where the speakers will explore the potential consequences for employers and the broader immigration landscape.

Discussion highlights:

• Why does a change in administration matter for employers? Discover how shifts in presidential leadership could directly impact hiring practices and workforce planning.

• Harris vs. Trump: Comparing expected immigration policies. Gain insights into the contrasting immigration strategies proposed by each candidate and their likely outcomes.

• Potential limitations to legal immigration. Learn about the anticipated restrictions and how they could affect your ability to bring in talent from abroad.

• Changes leading to excessive backlogs and delayed adjudication. Understand how potential policy changes could exacerbate immigration backlogs, leading to longer processing times for visas and work permits.

• Harris vs. Trump: ICE I-9 audits and ICE raids will be impacted by who is elected president.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve on immigration matters that may reshape the U.S. labor market in 2024 and beyond.

Time:
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. PT
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. MT
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. ET

Certain U.S. states are easing child labor protections to address labor shortages, while other states and the federal government are clamping down on child labor violations. Some children working in the country are undocumented migrants from regions like Central America, raising further concerns of human trafficking and immigration law violations. Outside the United States, children are working in mines, factories, fishing boats, and other businesses that are part of the global supply chains that source materials to U.S. name-brand companies, thus implicating international standards on child labor.

This panel of experienced Littler attorneys will discuss the following:

• The current state of child labor in the United States and beyond

• What state, federal, immigration, and international obligations apply to using child labor, either directly in your operations, via contractors and staffing agencies, or in your supply chains

• Practical measures employers should take to address child labor, given the law, public relations, and moral considerations

No company wants to be associated with illegal child labor, and many are surprised to find that these labor practices exist in their operations. This session is geared toward helping attendees take stock of where in their operations (or in the operations of their supply chain) child labor risks exist, and what they can do to address these risks.

Time:
9:30 - 11:00 a.m. PT
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MT
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT
12:30 - 2:00 p.m. ET

In healthcare organizing, hospitals and unions must grapple with unit composition questions under the NLRB's "heathcare rule," which provides the regulatory standard to determine the scope of appropriate bargaining units in acute care hospitals. Many questions arise – ranging from what is the definition of an acute care hospital, what is an appropriate bargaining unit and which positions fall into what bargaining unit, to whether potential exceptions to the healthcare rule apply. Elections are often won or lost through determining appropriate bargaining unit composition.

In this webinar, we will break down when and if the healthcare rule applies to various facilities and the composition of various units, as well as whether and where “micro unit" risks exist under American Steel Construction. For healthcare facilities big or small, independent hospitals and healthcare systems, these are all important considerations to understand and prepare for before you are faced with a representation petition or voluntary recognition request.

Time:
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. PT
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET

BACC member Hodgson Russ LLP George Eydt, Toronto Office Managing Partner will speak at Franchise Law Day on September 19, 2024 at The Old Mill Toronto.

CFA Franchise Law Day is an annual event designed to help franchisors understand what they need to know to protect their business.

With plenaries, workshops and sessions hosted by Canada’s foremost franchise lawyers, this conference is designed to help busy franchisors keep up to date with the latest franchise-related legislative developments. You’ll explore important lessons learned by leading case laws and the practical measures that can be taken to protect your business and minimize legal risk.

Register here to attend.

Littler partnered with you to weather the pandemic, navigate return to work and address a fundamentally changed workplace. That kind of heads-down work continues, of course, but now is also the time to lift up our heads and move toward a future of work that presents new challenges and opportunities.

Presenting the 2024 Regional Employer Conference – “Envision Work" – where we will confront the current challenges facing employers and explore ways we can work together to step confidently into a vibrant future.

Registration & Breakfast: 8:00 - 8:45 a.m.

Conference: 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Registration Fee: $495 (Fee includes all conference materials and meals)
A discount of 10% can be requested for two or more registrants per company. Please contact Ashley Bonilla for details.

Audience: The conference is designed specifically for in-house legal counsel and mid- to senior-level executives in compliance, diversity, employee benefits, employee relations, human resources, privacy and workforce solutions.

During this presentation, the speakers will discuss Montana’s Wrongful Discharge From Employment Act (WDEA), how to best protect your company against WDEA claims, and critical considerations for disciplining employees and responding to requests for discharge letters. They will also touch on recent statutory and case law developments that you should be aware of, whether your company has operations in Montana or remote workers in Montana.

Time:
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PT
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MT
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CT
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET

Simona Smirnova is a New York based composer and vocalist originally from Lithuania. A charming performer who plays an authentic Lithuanian folk zither, called kanklės and she is the only kanklės player in the United States! Simona presents this unique instrument across the globe in theaters, jazz clubs, festivals and challenges folk esthetics within the traditional idiom. Always on the road, always charming and smiling, Simona is a true artistic soul that effervescently represents diversity and passion for arts. At DROM, Simona will be presenting her brand new single “Can’t Get Enough” and performing with her band as a quartet. The show will be a mixture of alternative pop jazz, Lithuanian folk and electronic music.

Date/time: August 30th (Friday) @ 7pm

Door: 7:00pm

Opening show: 7:30pm Tissa Rahim

Main show: 8:30pm Simona Smirnova

Littler, together with Global Victoria and AmCham, is hosting U.S market entry events aimed at providing essential information to companies looking to U.S. expansion. These events will feature a panel of experts and companies that have experienced the pitfalls and successes of expanding into a new market.

This session will cover:

• Options for entering the market

• Obtaining U.S. investment

• Hiring local talent in market

• Visa options for founders and key staff

• Tips for protecting your intellectual and proprietary information in the U.S.

• What the election could mean for foreign investment into the U.S.

Littler, together with Trade and Investment Queensland and AmCham, is hosting U.S market entry events aimed at providing essential information to companies looking to U.S. expansion. These events will feature a panel of experts and companies that have experienced the pitfalls and successes of expanding into a new market.

This session will cover:

• Options for entering the market

• Obtaining U.S. investment

• Hiring local talent in market

• Visa options for founders and key staff

• Tips for protecting your intellectual and proprietary information in the U.S.

• What the election could mean for foreign investment into the U.S.

Registration: 5:00 pm

Event: 5:30 to 7:30 pm, with networking to follow

For more information and to enquire about reserving your place at this complimentary event, please email shanks@littler.com.

Speakers: Mark S. Klein and Joseph N. Endres

Currently, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles, Emeryville, San Francisco, and Oregon have implemented predictable scheduling laws. These laws generally require covered employers to: provide at least 14 days' advance notice of schedules; obtain written consent from employees when adding shifts; pay premiums to employees when schedules change; provide at least 10 or 11 hours of rest between shifts; allow employees to have input into their schedules; provide a good-faith estimate of the number of shifts an employee will work during their employment; and notify and allow existing employees to work additional hours before hiring new employees.

These laws primarily apply to retailers, restaurants, and hotels, although some cover utility companies, manufacturers, and healthcare employers. Jurisdictions that have passed these predictive scheduling or “Fair Workweek” laws often have aggressive administrative agencies enforcing them. The agencies have already recorded seven- and eight-figure settlements. Unions are using noncompliance with these laws as a talking point in unionization drives, and the plaintiffs' bar is also getting into the game, scoring several seven-figure settlements. These laws are extremely complex.

During this 90-minute event, Martha Keon, Andy Klaben-Finegold, and Eli Freedberg will provide an overview of each jurisdiction's rules and helpful strategies and techniques for achieving compliance.

Additionally, Stephanie Zielinski, Marketing Director of ComplianceHR, will walk you through PolicySmart™ and the Reference Center. These solutions can help you simplify the complexity of employment law and make your compliance strategy become proactive instead of reactive.

Time:
10:00 - 11:30 a.m. PT
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. CT
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET