2008 Agenda 

Thursday, September 11, 2008
7:30 am	8:30 am	Continental Breakfast
7:30 am	8:30 am	Workshop and Conference Registration
8:30 am	11:30 am	(Choose 1 of 2 Workshops)
		Workshop #1:  WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS Implementing a Successful, Liability-Free Workplace Investigation to Avoid the High Costs of Not Getting It Right the First Time (H7729003)
		Workshop #2:  OVERLAPPING LEAVE LAWS Getting Through the Convoluted Maze of Leave and Disability Laws: ADA/FEHA, FMLA/CFRA, Kin Care, PFL Act, Pregnancy Disability, and Workers' Comp (H7729004)
11:00 am	12:45 pm	Conference Registration and Networking Lunch
12:45 pm	1:00 pm	Opening Remarks from the Chairs
1:00 pm	1:45 pm	OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION A View from the Bench: New Employment Law Challenges, Burgeoning Class Actions, and Other Litigation Trends in California
1:45 pm	2:15 pm	KEYNOTE SESSION: STRATEGIC HR Preparing for Future Trends in Human Resource Management: The Vital Role of HR in a Downturn Economy
2:15 pm	3:00 pm	GENERAL SESSION-FMLA UPDATE New Changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act: Update on the Latest Changes and Putting a Stop to FMLA/CFRA Abusers, Spurious Intermittent-Leave Requests, and Other Vital Issues Impacting Employers
3:00 pm	3:15 pm	Break
3:15 pm	4:15 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		REDUCING LIABILITY RISKS Best Practices for Reducing Your Employment Law Liability Risks: Prevention Tactics That Work (H7729006)
		THE LATEST TRENDS IN WELLNESS How Innovative Wellness Initiatives Can Significantly Lower Health Care and Workers' Comp Costs, Reduce Absenteeism, and Increase Productivity (H7729007)
4:15 pm	5:15 pm	EMPLOYMENT LAW MEDIATION Preparing Your Organization for a Successful Mediation: What every HR Professional Should Know
5:15 pm		Day One Concludes
Friday, September 12, 2008
7:30 am	8:30 am	Continental Breakfast and Networking Opportunity
8:30 am	8:40 am	Opening Remarks from the Chairs
8:40 am	9:45 am	GENERAL SESSION-PANEL DISCUSSION: PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Proven Strategies in Performance Management: Innovative Techniques That Will Keep Your Employees Accountable and Dramatically Increase Productivity
9:45 am	10:30 am	(Choose 1 of 2)
		WRONGFUL TERMINATION AND RETALIATION Training Managers to Implement Discipline Tactics That Work: Protecting Your Organization from Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Lawsuits (H7729009)
		PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT LAW Strategies for Managing Unique HR and Compliance Challenges Facing Government Entities (H7729010)
10:30 am	10:45 am	Break
10:45 am	11:30 am	(Choose 1 of 2)
		WAGE AND HOUR COMPLIANCE SNARES Avoiding the New Compliance Snares in Wage and Hour Laws: Why One Classification Misstep in California Means Multiple Violations and Costly Liability (H7729012)
		CASE STUDY: ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE The Critical Role of HR in Organizational Change: Converting Your Company to a "For Profit" Culture and Getting Employees Focused on the Bottom Line (H7729013)
11:30 am	12:30 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		WORKERS' COMPENSATION UPDATE Update on the Implementation of SB 899 California Workers' Comp Reforms and How New Court Decisions Are Impacting Employers (H7729015)
		CASE STUDY: RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION Attracting, Motivating, and Retaining the Best-Performing Employees in the Competitive California Job Market: Implementing Turnover-Reducing and Retention-Increasing Tactics for the Next Generation of Workers (H7729016)
12:30 pm	1:30 pm	Networking Lunch
1:30 pm	2:20 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		EEOC/DFEH DEVELOPMENTS Harassment and Discrimination Law Update: The Latest on Recent Cases, Settlements, and Jury Verdicts and How to Protect Your Organization (H7729018)
		THE CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY PARTNERSHIP PROJECT New Disaster Preparedness Plans for California: Discover Critical Strategies to Protect Your Workplace from Natural and Unnatural Disasters (H7729019)
2:30 pm	3:20 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		FEHA/ADA CHALLENGES Designing a Proactive Reasonable-Accommodation Process That Will Enable You to Safely Navigate FEHA/ADA (H7729021)
		PSYCHOLOGY AND THE WORKPLACE A Little Workplace Psychology Goes a Long Way: Successful Strategies to Increase Motivation and Minimize Negative, Unproductive Behaviors (H7729022)
3:20 pm	3:30 pm	Break
3:30 pm	4:30 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		CARVE-OUTS AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Latest Developments in Carve-Outs and ADR Reforms in California Workers' Comp and Update on the Recent U.S. Supreme Court Case (H7729024)
		COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS New Trends in Employee Compensation and Benefits: What You Can Do to Stay Competitive While Keeping Costs Down (H7729025)
4:30 pm		Conference Concludes
8:30 am Workshop #1:  WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS Implementing a Successful, Liability-Free Workplace Investigation to Avoid the High Costs of Not Getting It Right the First Time (H7729003) Discover best practices for conducting a prompt, thorough, and fair investigation that will stand up to court scrutiny! More and more plaintiffs' attorneys are attacking employers' workplace investigations as a means of getting relief for their clients and casting substantial doubt on the motives of employers and the value of conclusions drawn from the investigations. And all of this plays well with juries in California who have been handing down large verdicts. Conducting a prompt, thorough, and legal investigation is absolutely critical to a strong defense that will stand up to challenges in court. This in-depth, interactive workshop will help you avoid costly mistakes by providing critical strategies for conducting successful and liability-free workplace investigations. Update on recent California cases and the high costs of botching a workplace investigation Defining the most frequent mistakes that employers make and how to avoid them Avoiding falling prey to the "boy who cried wolf" syndrome Implementing successful tactics for interviewing witnesses: How to ensure that you do not miss key issues that are raised by witnesses or waste time going on a fishing expedition Understanding when your comments to witnesses during an investigation could come back to bite you in court The importance of involving the investigator and counsel in analyzing the information gathered, drawing conclusions, and taking disciplinary or other action Protecting the attorney-client privilege in critical communications: How to ensure appropriate confidentiality and allow for workplace discussions outside the investigation Linda L. Usoz, Esq., Of Counsel KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART PRESTON GATES ELLIS LLP Back
8:30 am Workshop #2:  OVERLAPPING LEAVE LAWS Getting Through the Convoluted Maze of Leave and Disability Laws: ADA/FEHA, FMLA/CFRA, Kin Care, PFL Act, Pregnancy Disability, and Workers' Comp (H7729004) The leave and disability law labyrinth continues to cause challenges and frustrations for California HR and benefits professionals. This advanced interactive workshop will focus on how to avoid the legal snares and migraine headaches while making your way through the convoluted maze of federal and state leave, disability, pregnancy, and workers' comp laws. Keeping your managers in compliance with leave and absence policies Managing intermittent leave, difficult scheduling accommodations, and other FMLA, FEHA, and ADA challenges, as well as the new kin care EEOC regulations Getting employees back to work and effectively managing return-to-work, modified-duty, and reassignment issues Dealing with overlapping workers' comp provisions How to keep FMLA/CFRA and workers' comp fraud and malingering to a minimum Case Studies: Analyze the most challenging "real-life" scenarios and discover innovative strategies for managing these conundrums Maria C. Rodriguez, Esq., Partner SEYFARTH SHAW LLP Robert E. Buch, Esq., Partner SEYFARTH SHAW LLP Barbara A. Johnson, Assistant Vice President, Grants, Risk Management & Human Resources CLEAN ENERGY Back
1:00 pm OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION A View from the Bench: New Employment Law Challenges, Burgeoning Class Actions, and Other Litigation Trends in California This year, the California courts have decided a number of significant cases that will have an impact on employers. This enlightening keynote presentation will focus on new trends in labor and employment law litigation and what they mean for your organization. Judge Cecily Bond JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator Former Judge, SACRAMENTO SUPERIOR COURT Back
1:45 pm KEYNOTE SESSION: STRATEGIC HR Preparing for Future Trends in Human Resource Management: The Vital Role of HR in a Downturn Economy Are you prepared for the emerging trends and  future challenges that will confront human resources? The social and economic challenges have never been greater for employers, making it more critical than ever for HR professionals to be armed with the leadership and business competencies that will enable them to succeed. Barbara Johnson, Assistant Vice President, Grants, Risk Management & Human Resources for Clean Energy will address the key trends on the horizon that will alter your workplace and what you can do to prepare to face these burgeoning issues. Barbara A. Johnson, Assistant Vice President, Grants, Risk Management & Human Resources CLEAN ENERGY Back
2:15 pm GENERAL SESSION-FMLA UPDATE New Changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act: Update on the Latest Changes and Putting a Stop to FMLA/CFRA Abusers, Spurious Intermittent-Leave Requests, and Other Vital Issues Impacting Employers This session will provide you with critical updates on new changes in the leave laws, including new proposed regs from the Department of Labor and the recent law signed by President Bush granting military leave to families. Get answers to your most challenging leave and absence quandaries. Revamping your policies and practices to ensure you are in compliance with new changes in leave laws How to put a stop to FMLA/CFRA abuse and bogus intermittent-leave requests Update on the new proposed regulations from the DOL, including changes to notice requirements, medical certifications, the definition of "continuing treatment" for a serious health condition, fitness for duty, and more Mary E. Farrell, Esq., Partner MURPHY AUSTIN ADAMS SCHOENFELD, LLP Back
3:15 pm REDUCING LIABILITY RISKS Best Practices for Reducing Your Employment Law Liability Risks: Prevention Tactics That Work (H7729006) When it comes to avoiding expensive employment litigation and potential liability, the key is prevention-addressing the issue before a conflict spirals out of control. This requires being alert to the red flags and knowing how to respond. Discover how teaming up with your employment law attorney can result in a significant reduction in both costly litigation and unnecessary conflict and turmoil in your workplace. An overwhelming number of workplace conflicts and lawsuits can be avoided through the implementation of critical workplace policies and practices. This session will provide you with practical strategies to know. Recognizing the red flags and nipping workplace problems in the bud: Proven litigation-prevention tactics Communication: Knowing when you need to consult your legal expert Drafting the right policies and implementing the most effective enforcement strategies Bruce Calvin, JD, Vice President of Human Resources and Administration PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION Linda L. Usoz, Esq., Of Counsel KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART PRESTON GATES ELLIS LLP Back
3:15 pm THE LATEST TRENDS IN WELLNESS How Innovative Wellness Initiatives Can Significantly Lower Health Care and Workers' Comp Costs, Reduce Absenteeism, and Increase Productivity (H7729007) Discover how to implement an integrated wellness program that works and will have a significant impact on your bottom line! You will not want to miss this engaging exploration into the world of wellness in the workplace. Dr. Deitch will share with you the latest in workplace wellness trends and what you can do to legally engage more employees to voluntarily choose better health through better living. Discover the most cost-effective strategies to help you attract and retain top talent and keep them performing at their best so your company can cure the disease of skyrocketing health care costs and lost productivity. Discover easy-to-implement solutions that lead to greater performance and profitability Learn proven secrets that inspire and engage employees to want to take action In-house vs. outsourced wellness programs: Which is better for your organization and why? Dr. Jason A. Deitch, D.C., Founder and Chief Wellness Officer DISCOVER WELLNESS CENTER Back
4:15 pm EMPLOYMENT LAW MEDIATION Preparing Your Organization for a Successful Mediation: What every HR Professional Should Know Ninety percent of all employment related litigation eventually passes through some form of mediation, whether mandated by the court or agreed to by the parties. While the majority of those cases settle either because of the cost effectiveness of mediation, the desire for confidentiality (on both sides), or the desire to preserve or attempt to preserve the relationships, many companies are not fully prepared for or are leveraging mediation properly. This session brings together plaintiff’s and defense counsel and is moderated by a judge/mediator (all specializing in employment matters) to discuss issues vital to a successful mediation, including: When and why mediation makes sense—for both parties The true and complete costs of litigation—beyond dollars and into sense Front loading cases: Practical tips on documentation and procedures that will assist in the eventuality of litigation Mediation considerations: Last minute afterthoughts that can derail a mediation Hon. Demetrios P. Agretelis (Ret.) Mediator and Arbitrator, JAMS Former Judge, ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT Henry Lederman, Esq., Partner LITTLER MENDELSON Harvey Sohnen, Esq., Attorney LAW OFFICES OF SOHNEN & KELLY Back
8:40 am GENERAL SESSION-PANEL DISCUSSION: PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Proven Strategies in Performance Management: Innovative Techniques That Will Keep Your Employees Accountable and Dramatically Increase Productivity Successful performance management initiatives enable organizations to increase workforce productivity, improve employee performance, and reduce costs by providing an integrated approach to developing and managing talent. Learn from two leading organizations how they are transforming the way they manage talent through effective performance management processes. This engaging panel discussion will focus on: Designing and implementing a performance management roadmap Aligning your performance-management program with organizational goals Engaging employees to focus on results in the key areas Innovative techniques to keep employees accountable and increase productivity Case study success stories from employers who have successfully implemented performance-management programs that work Michael Magatelli, Principal MAGATELLI LEADERSHIP GROUP Debra Taylor, Vice President Organizational Effectiveness HEALTH NET Yvonne Gardner, Vice President Talent Management & Organizational Effectiveness SUTTER HEALTH Back
9:45 am WRONGFUL TERMINATION AND RETALIATION Training Managers to Implement Discipline Tactics That Work: Protecting Your Organization from Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Lawsuits (H7729009) This session will delineate the critical safeguards you can put in place to avoid the legal pitfalls of disciplining and terminating employees and prevent retaliation claims. Discover how to reduce the risks of ending up in court and significantly increase your chances of prevailing if you do end up in litigation. Get both the legal and HR perspectives on these very important issues. Topics to be discussed include: Ensuring that your manager and supervisors follow clearly defined policies and procedures when dealing with problem employees Making sure that your hiring documentation is in order Dealing with chronically disruptive employees: Strategies for handling the day-to-day drama while reducing liability risks The risks of not terminating poor-performing and disruptive employees Decreasing your exposure when handling high-risk terminations Understanding the key role of performance evaluations, improvement plans, and other documentation of poor performance Why retaliation claims continue to rise and what you can do to prevent one Charles L. Thompson, IV, Esq., Partner KAUFF, MCCLAIN & MCGUIRE LLP Lisa Dutro, Director of Human Resources PENINSULA FLOORS, INC. Back
9:45 am PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT LAW Strategies for Managing Unique HR and Compliance Challenges Facing Government Entities (H7729010) Government employers face unique and complex employment law challenges requiring them to navigate a minefield of laws and regulations relating to discipline and termination, wage and hour challenges, leave and absence issues, unions and collective bargaining, and constitutional protections-just to name a few! Learn vital compliance strategies for managing public sector labor and employment law issues and protecting your organization from costly fines and expensive lawsuits. Topics to be discussed include: Ensuring you are complying with the legal requirements when conducting terminations Update on recent cases addressing due process rights of your public sector employees Handling attendance problems in the public sector workplace without violating the FMLA/CFRA, ADA/FEHA, and workers' comp laws Recent developments in unionization in public sector organizations and new trends in collective bargaining Protecting your organization from increasing wage and hour claims: Avoiding the most common mistakes public sector employers make Update on recent cases addressing sovereign immunity and individual liability of public sector managers and supervisors Knowing when your employees can sue you and understanding the best defenses to individual liability Diane O'Malley, Esq., Partner HANSON BRIDGETT MARCUS VLAHOS & RUDY Back
10:45 am WAGE AND HOUR COMPLIANCE SNARES Avoiding the New Compliance Snares in Wage and Hour Laws: Why One Classification Misstep in California Means Multiple Violations and Costly Liability (H7729012) Burgeoning wage and hour lawsuits in California are keeping employers on edge, but many are continuing to make costly errors. And the California courts have handed down a number of significant wage and hour decisions this year. This session will provide you with the latest word from the courts and what you can do to ensure your organization is in compliance. Why employers continue to make costly classification mistakes in spite of the increasing lawsuits Lessons learned from recent California cases: Analyzing recent cases and determining what you can do to avoid falling prey to a wage and hour lawsuit Get clarification on the latest decisions involving meal and rest periods, bonuses, deductions, and business-expense reimbursements Understanding the standards for determining who is exempt, including the DLSE's revised "learned professional" exemptions How to conduct an effective wage and hour audit Update on new wage and hour legislation and how it will impact employers Teri L. Block, Esq., Partner VANDERMYDEN BLOCK Back
10:45 am CASE STUDY: ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE The Critical Role of HR in Organizational Change: Converting Your Company to a "For Profit" Culture and Getting Employees Focused on the Bottom Line (H7729013) Heald College is a postsecondary, regionally accredited institution that has existed for more than 150 years with 11 campuses, 9 of which are in California. Last August, the college sold its assets and converted to a for-profit entity. Leah Cope, VP of Human Resources, and Mindy Mellini, Director of HR, have been instrumental in successfully converting Heald to a "for profit" culture. They have devised and implemented strategic and challenging programs to assist in that regard while ensuring seamless education and services are provided to their "customers," the students. Key steps to take to prepare your workforce for organizational change Working with counsel to clarify the legal implications and ensure you stay in compliance Ensuring you have adequate resources to support HR's administration of the organizational change Setting new expectations: Working through changes in company culture Reaping the benefits of getting buy-in from your employees: Ensuring they know what's in it for them if they get on board with being for-profit Using metrics to measure business goals and motivate employees to make it happen How to make sure that you do not sacrifice customer service Leah Cope, Vice President, Human Resources HEALD COLLEGE Mindy Mellini, Director of Human Resources HEALD COLLEGE Back
11:30 am WORKERS' COMPENSATION UPDATE Update on the Implementation of SB 899 California Workers' Comp Reforms and How New Court Decisions Are Impacting Employers (H7729015) For the past two years the courts have been interpreting the workers' comp reform legislation and defining the retroactive effect of SB 899 on prereform cases. And this year workers' comp attorneys are anticipating continuing, heated litigation and further court interpretations of the reforms in a number of key areas. This session will provide you with a complete update on significant workers' comp court decisions and pending litigation and how they are likely to impact employers. Find out the vital information you need to stay in compliance and reduce your exposure. Topics to be addressed include: How to correctly calculate permanent-disability ratings and apportionment between old and new schedule injuries How apportionment will apply in cases where all of the injuries are rated under the new schedule How diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) is appropriately used The latest cases on 132a and serious and willful misconduct Procedural issues that can have a devastating impact on your case and how to avoid them Who pays for experts in cases involving testimony used to refute the rating schedule, and when does the testimony come in? Barry Lesch, Esq., Partner LAUGHLIN, FABLO, LEVY & MORESI, LLP Back
11:30 am CASE STUDY: RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION Attracting, Motivating, and Retaining the Best-Performing Employees in the Competitive California Job Market: Implementing Turnover-Reducing and Retention-Increasing Tactics for the Next Generation of Workers (H7729016) In today's hypercompetitive economy, attracting and retaining the best employees is one of HR's biggest challenges. How do you attract the next generation of employees and keep them from jumping to the competition? We will explore the myths, trends, and legal concerns surrounding this issue and what it will take to become the employer of choice. Topics to be discussed: Who makes up these generations of employees and what motivates them? Developing plans and programs for multiple generations How to address the intergenerational conflict between employees and managers What you need to know to be able to compete effectively for your employees' talent and their loyalty Audrianne Adams Lee, SPHR, President/CEO HR NETWORK, INC. Shannon M. Jenkins, Esq., Partner TREDWAY, LUMSDAINE & DOYLE Back
1:30 pm EEOC/DFEH DEVELOPMENTS Harassment and Discrimination Law Update: The Latest on Recent Cases, Settlements, and Jury Verdicts and How to Protect Your Organization (H7729018) This enlightening session will focus on significant new developments in harassment and discrimination law and what you can do to avoid costly litigation including: The latest from the California and federal courts and the EEOC/DFEH on harassment and discrimination cases: Sex, race, religion, pregnancy, disability, national origin, and the new EEOC care-giver regulations Recent trends in EEOC/DFEH discrimination and harassment charges and how to avoid the headlines Proactive measures to minimize liability and avoid potential punitive damages Preventing retaliation lawsuits relating to discrimination Maria C. Rodriguez, Esq., Partner SEYFARTH SHAW LLP Mark P. Grajski, Esq., Partner SEYFARTH SHAW LLP Back
1:30 pm THE CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY PARTNERSHIP PROJECT New Disaster Preparedness Plans for California: Discover Critical Strategies to Protect Your Workplace from Natural and Unnatural Disasters (H7729019) Governor Schwarzenegger established the Emergency Partnership Advisory Workgroup (EPAW) through Executive Order S-04-06, recognizing that public-private partnerships are essential for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. Since the inaugural meeting of the Workgroup on April 12, 2007, a Charter has been adopted that sets forth the statewide goals and objectives. This session will focus on: The status of statewide health, medical, and insurance preparedness efforts Lessons learned from the California wildfires and other recent catastrophic events Catastrophe-preparedness models for businesses and public sector employers Kathleen Webb, CPCU Deputy Director, Interagency Services Division - Department of General Services STATE AND CONSUMER SERVICES AGENCY Elisabeth (Betsey) H. Lyman, M.P.H., Deputy Director, Public Health Emergency Preparedness CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Back
2:30 pm FEHA/ADA CHALLENGES Designing a Proactive Reasonable-Accommodation Process That Will Enable You to Safely Navigate FEHA/ADA (H7729021) In the wake of California's AB2222 (California's version of the ADA), it is more important than ever to make disabled employees part of the reasonable-accommodation process. Now, failure to engage the disabled employee in the interactive process to determine possible accommodation can lead to a separate cause of action. Employers can "win the battle" by being right about possible accommodation but "lose the war" because they fail to allow the employee to have input into that determination. And, of course, because this is a California antidiscrimination statute, any win by the employee triggers attorney-fees exposure. Discover how to avoid costly ADA/FEHA violations. Topics to be discussed include: Examining recent court decisions interpreting the ADA and FEHA Clarifying employer rights and responsibilities in the accommodation process Avoiding costly ADA/FEHA violations when recruiting and hiring employees Ensuring your leave and absence policies are in compliance "Regarded as disabled" claims: What you need to know to avoid one Peter C. Flanderka, Esq., Partner LAUGHLIN, FABLO, LEVY & MORESI, LLP Back
2:30 pm PSYCHOLOGY AND THE WORKPLACE A Little Workplace Psychology Goes a Long Way: Successful Strategies to Increase Motivation and Minimize Negative, Unproductive Behaviors (H7729022) Negative workplace behaviors can be extremely toxic and often have a damaging impact on productivity and morale. Understanding the behavior of employees and managers and the dynamics of relationships in the workplace gives HR professionals and leadership an edge on setting the climate for a positive, forward-moving, workplace culture. Utilizing real-life scenarios, this session will provide practical solutions to extinguish problem behaviors and improve the working environment in all organizations. This interactive presentation will focus on the following topics: Creating and sustaining a positive workplace culture Establishing an "operating agreement" that keeps negative behavior to a minimum Empowering employees to resolve their own conflicts Recognizing red flags and addressing negative behaviors early on Keeping employees motivated and enthusiastic about their organization Lynn Belzer, MSW, Principal Consultant, Organizational Development Specialist LYNN BELZER CONSULTING Back
3:30 pm CARVE-OUTS AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Latest Developments in Carve-Outs and ADR Reforms in California Workers' Comp and Update on the Recent U.S. Supreme Court Case (H7729024) The recent California Workers' Comp Reforms allow for unionized employers to "carve out" their own workers' comp system outside the WCAB. While still providing appropriate medical benefits, indemnity, and return-to-work responsibilities, the system allows both the employee and employer to actively participate in the resolution of a claim. Discover the impact that both carve-outs and ADR have had on workers' compensation systems, particularly injury rates, medical treatment and evaluation, indemnity benefits, and costs associated with litigation. Recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on the efficacy of ADR Clarification on how carve-outs work and how they fit in with the current workers' comp system in California How employers can change the way they are managing their workers' comp claims Understanding the cost benefits of carve-outs and how they are evaluated Case studies of carve-outs Robert E. Buch, Esq., Partner SEYFARTH SHAW LLP Back
3:30 pm COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS New Trends in Employee Compensation and Benefits: What You Can Do to Stay Competitive While Keeping Costs Down (H7729025) Compensation and benefits expenses represent the largest line item on every company's balance sheet. This presentation will provide you with tactical tips to implement in your company to maximize your company's ROI through a strategic approach to compensation and benefits. With numerous California proposals on the legislative docket and presidential candidates from both parties proposing everything from socialized medicine to greater consumerism, employee benefit strategies will likely change more in 2009 than any other year. Learn more about these topics: The latest trends in total compensation, including base/variable-pay-plans and merit-budget predictions for 2009 Planning to adapt to whichever approach benefits take in 2009 depending upon who becomes our next President The core essentials every company needs to have in place to pay people fairly Further development and understanding of consumer-driven health plans (HSAs & HRAs) Rebecca Regan, M.A., CCP, Human Resources Consultant REGAN HR, INC. Tammy Jo Kenber, SPHR, CPP, Director, Human Resources COMTEK COMPUTER SYSTEMS Back