Mark Whitney speaks at Greater Merrimack Valley SHRM Chapter’s Annual Legal Update

On March 14, 2012, Mark Whitney presented an Annual Employment Law Update seminar to the Greater Merrimack Valley Human Resources Association, a chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).  Copies of the seminar materials may be downloaded by clicking here.

Nearly 50 HR executives attended the session, where Mark discussed the following topics:

Overview of recent developments in the law, including:

• An update of significant and interesting cases from courts that impact MA and NH employers
• Associational discrimination
• Individual liability under the Mass Wage Act / out-of-state employee liability
• Supreme Court class action decisions
• Expansion of retaliation protections (post-employment; non-complainant; oral complaints)
• Loophole opened in CA law against non-competes
• Who owns social media accounts – employer vs. employee?

Legislative, agency and regulatory update

• EEOC enforcement and litigation statistics
• Agency agendas for 2012
• NH WARN Act
• New Mass Gender Identity law
• DOL’s Timesheet App
• Status of various state non-compete legislation efforts
• Status of Mass Uniform Trade Secret Act efforts
• CT paid sick leave

NLRB Update

• Continues pro-Union course
• Proactive social media stance
• Posting requirements

Best practices, tips and trends that impact HR

• Termination of employment – frequently overlooked topics
• Policies governing data and company property – emphasis on the “e-Workplace”
• The danger of “stale” or “standard” contracts