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Employment Law for the General Practitioner – 2008
Presented by the ISBA Labor & Employment Law Section

Bloomington
Friday, May 9, 2008
DoubleTree Hotel
10 Brickyard Drive (map and directions)
Register Now!

Chicago
Friday, May 16, 2008
ISBA Regional Office
20 S. Clark Street
Suite 900 (map and directions)
Register Now!

3.75 MCLE Hours

This program is geared to general practitioners, new employment lawyers, financial planners and certified public accountants who want to learn the basics of employment law and improve their ability to identify employment related issues.  The program speakers will assist participants in identifying employment related issues and advising clients accordingly.  Participants will also apply the concepts through case study and discussion with the distinguished speakers.

Program Coordinators:
Alan M. Kaplan, Esq., Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., Schaumburg
Cathy A. Pilkington, Esq., Chicago

8:55 – 9:00 a.m.  Welcome and Introductions

9:00 – 9:45 a.m.   The Administrative Agencies and Employment Laws They Enforce
This session will provide an overview of the following administrative agencies: United States Department of Labor and Illinois Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Homeland Security, Cook County Human Rights Commission and Chicago Commission on Human Relations.  The employment wage and hour laws to be discussed include the Fair Labor Standards Act, Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, VESSA, Equal Pay Act and others.
Bruce Beal Esq., Claudon, Kost, Barnhart, Beal & Walters Ltd., Canton (Chicago Program)
Colleen McLaughlin, Law Offices of Colleen McLaughlin, Wheaton (Bloomington Program)

9:45 – 10:15 a.m.  Identifying Employment Status: Employees vs. Independent Contractors and At-Will Employees
This discussion will focus on the differing definitions of “employees” under various employment related statues such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Illinois Employment Security Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act, particularly in relation to the Internal Revenue Service definition.  Participants will gain a better understanding of what an “at-will” employee is and what his or her rights are.
Lori D. Ecker, Chicago

10:15 – 10:45 a.m.  Understanding Personnel Documentation
This session will help the general practitioner better understand the Illinois Personnel Records Review Act and its exceptions.  Participants will learn the proper procedure for documenting the personnel file for items such as vacation time, sick time, overtime and evaluations.  The speaker will also highlight considerations for employee handbooks and written employment agreements and outline the rules for Social Security no-match letters.
Ferne P. Wolf, Esq., Sowers & Wolf LLC, St. Louis

10:45 – 10:55 a.m.  Break

10:55 – 11:40 a.m.  The Rules for Good Hiring, Firings and Dismissals
The speaker will explore taboo versus appropriate topics to be used during the interview hiring process.  Learn the eight rules for good dismissals and how to prepare for and document a firing.
Alan M. Kaplan Esq., Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., Schaumburg (Bloomington Program)
Nancy E. Sasamoto, Masuda Funai Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., Schaumburg (Chicago Program)

11:40 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.  Investigating Employee Complaints: What Are the Rules?
This session will explain to the general practitioner what the complaint procedure is, including how to document the complaint, what to do when nothing is being done, whether the employee should transfer or be reassigned, who should be interviewed, what questions should be asked and what actions be taken. The speaker will also address employee requests for anonymity and reasonable accommodations.
Michael R. Lied, Esq., Howard and Howard PC, Peoria 

12:25 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.  Panel Discussion and Case Study