Reductions in Force and Layoff Alternatives: Minimizing Employer Liability
Best Practices to Ensure Compliance with WARN, ADEA and FLSA
Recording of a 90-minute CLE teleconference with Q&A
Conducted on Thursday, September 3, 2009
Recorded event now available
This seminar will outline best practices for employers' counsel planning and implementing reductions in force and alternatives to layoffs. The panel will discuss key considerations to minimize liability exposure under a complex variety of federal and state employment laws.
Description
Reductions in force (RIFs) have become a routine part of business in the past year. Employers find RIFs daunting, both in dealing with employee issues and protecting the company from legal liability. A dramatic increase in WARN lawsuits over the past year has only intensified employer fears.
Employers are also showing more interest in alternatives to layoffs—including furloughs, work share programs, incentives for taking time off involuntarily and part-time work schedules. Legal advisors are increasingly called on to weigh in on the wage and hour implications of such arrangements.
Attorneys advising and representing employers must fully understand the potential liability for RIFs gone wrong to advise employers on policies and procedures that will minimize the legal risks of conducting layoffs or implementing other cost-saving alternatives.
Listen as our panel of experienced employment attorneys offers strategies for planning and executing RIFs and layoff alternatives to avoid or minimize employer liability under WARN, ADEA, FLSA and other federal and state employment laws.
Outline
- Alternatives to reductions in force (RIFs)
- Reducing costs of active workforce
- Reducing workforce short of a RIF
- Pros and cons of such approaches
- Planning a RIF
- Impact of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions
- Impact of age discrimination laws and court decisions
- Best practices for RIFs
- WARN Act Issues\Employee release agreements
- Federal WARN Act problem areas
- Employee release agreements
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- What steps should an employer take during the planning and execution of a reduction in force to protect the company against liability for discrimination, WARN and wage and hour violations?
- What wage and hour concerns are implicated by alternatives to layoffs?
- What are some best practices for drafting employee releases that will withstand court scrutiny?
Faculty
Robert W. Ashmore,
Partner
Fisher & Phillips, Atlanta
He represents employers in labor and employment law and has extensive experience handling reductions in force. He is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law topics.
David J. Murphy,
Partner
Morrison & Foerster, Palo Alto, Calif.
He represents management regarding the employment aspects of mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and outsourcing; wrongful termination; discrimination; and "whistleblower" and harassment claims.
Karen G. Schanfield,
Attorney
Fredrikson & Byron, Minneapolis
She represents and advises employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. She is a frequent lecturer and author on employment law topics.
Ordering
Online CLE - Audio Recording
Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).
CLE:
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Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event
Recorded Event
Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).
CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)
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Available ten business days after the live event
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Customer Reviews
The seminar was very well-organized, managed excellently and informative.
Julia Szadkowski
Equifax Canada Inc.
The subject matter presented was very relevant to my practice.
Nineveh Alkhas
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg
Another great job by Strafford!
Jessica Brown
Gibson Dunn
The teleconference addressed a highly relevant topic that recurs in my practice. The subject matter was very timely and informative.
Saleem Moghal
Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker
Good handouts and up to date references.
Andrew Davis
Lieben Whitted Houghton Slowiaczek & Cavanagh
Employment & ERISA Advisory Board
Partner
Littler Mendelson
Partner
Perkins Coie
Partner
Wick Phillips
Shareholder
Littler Mendelson
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig
Partner
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Partner
Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig
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