8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration | Continental Breakfast | Networking
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Keynote - Employment Law Update
Robert Dubault, Partner, Warner Norcross & Judd; Tiffany VanderKolk, Senior Counsel, Warner Norcross & Judd
So much has changed over the past year, from anti-DEI Executive Orders and proposed changes to EEO-1 reporting requirements to new independent contractor and joint employment rules. At the same time, states are advancing their own regulations around AI, pay transparency, and LGBTQ discrimination protections. With shifting federal enforcement priorities and an increasingly complex patchwork of state laws, HR professionals are navigating a rapidly evolving compliance landscape. This session will provide an update on key federal and state developments, highlight emerging trends, and help participants understand what changes may be coming next.
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Plenary 1 - Are My Handbooks Compliant?
TBD
From social media and confidentiality policies to at-will employment disclaimers, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) continues to reshape how employers draft and enforce workplace policies. Frequent shifts in NLRB interpretations, combined with evolving state laws, have left many organizations revisiting handbook language and employment agreements on a regular basis. This session will review common handbook policies, non-compete agreements, and NDAs, with a focus on how they are viewed under current NLRB guidance and applicable state laws. Participants will gain practical insight into policy areas facing increased legal scrutiny and learn strategies for updating policies to better align with today’s regulatory environment.
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Plenary 2 - Hot Topics in Benefit Administration and Litigation
Eric Gregory, Practice Group Co‑Chair ‑ Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Dickinson Wright
Class action lawsuits are arising from retirement plans to health plans and now to voluntary benefits. Mental health care and tobacco surcharge lawsuits are also charging ahead. And then there are the fly-by-night wellness or indemnity tax schemes being proposed to employers. This session will go over the hot topics that HR needs to be aware of when doing benefit planning for employees.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Lunch
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Plenary 3 - Performance, Performance, and More Performance
Terry Bonnette, Partner, Nemeth, Bonnette, Brouwer PC
Performance reviews are a universal fixture of organizational life, yet they rank among the most criticized tools in the HR toolkit. Managers often avoid candid feedback, are reluctant to have difficult conversations, or risk being seen as the villain. Employees, meanwhile, bristle at criticism, even when it is constructive. The result can be inflated or inconsistent reviews that create serious problems down the line, most notably when an organization needs to discipline or terminate an employee whose documented performance tells a different story. Add an untrained manager and a rating scale to the mix, and the potential for systemic liability grows significantly. This session gives participants a clear-eyed look at how performance reviews, when handled poorly, can become an employer's legal vulnerability and what to do about it.
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Plenary 4 - Retaliation in the Workplace: What Every Employer Should Know
Olivia V. Veldhuis, Member, Kerr Russell
Retaliation is the most common EEOC charge and not always easy to identify. Even casual remarks or routine management decisions can lead to claims. Even if the underlying claim is determined unfounded, retaliation claims can still survive. This session will explore the various guidance, provide examples of subtle retaliation, and offer practical steps to recognize, prevent, and respond to claims.
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Plenary 5 - FMLA, Discipline, and Termination: What You Can and Can't Do During Leave
Rebecca C. Seguin Skrabucha, Member, Bodman PLC
FMLA protections do not prevent employers from addressing legitimate performance, attendance, or conduct concerns. However, many organizations hesitate to take action during or around an employee’s leave out of fear of violating the law. This session will examine practical strategies for managing employee leave while remaining compliant with FMLA requirements. Participants will learn how to identify and address potential leave abuse, document issues appropriately, and navigate performance or disciplinary actions without interfering with protected rights.
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks | Networking