Steering Your Client through a Reduction in Force:
Legal Considerations, HR Issues, and Regulations
Why Attend?
Despite some signs of economic recovery, businesses across the country continue to lay off workers in response to decreased demand for their products and services. Employees also seem more likely to challenge these decisions, as regulatory agencies such as EEOC have experienced an influx of complaints. In this environment, attorneys counseling these companies need to be familiar with the federal regulations and guidelines applicable to reductions in force (RIFs), how reductions in force should be implemented by human resource professionals, and the legal issues related to reductions in force.
This succinct, two-hour program will provide attorneys with information they need to steer their clients through a reduction in force without running afoul of federal regulations, committing a human resources blunder, or botching severance agreements and releases. Some of the topics addressed include:
Planning for and policing a RIF
Identifying and implementing selection criteria
Compliance with the OWBPA in releases
Essentials for severance agreements
Severance pay plans
Disparate impact liability under anti-discrimination laws
The impact of Ricci v. Destefano on employer RIF decisions
Compliance with the WARN Act
The three-person faculty—consisting of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission representative, an-house HR professional/attorney, and a private practitioner well versed in RIFs — provides varied and valuable perspective.
Time is provided at the end of the program to address questions from registrants.
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for attorneys — both in private practice and in-house counsel — plus human resource professionals who provide counsel and guidance to companies anticipating layoffs and reductions in force.
Planning Chair
Thomas G. Servodidio, Duane Morris LLP, Philadelphia
Faculty
Raymond L. Peeler, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Washington, D.C.
Constance P. Lahoda, Vice President, Employment Relations, ARAMARK, Philadelphia
Program Schedule
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009
12:00 p.m. Introduction
I. The In-House HR Perspective on Considerations for Developing and Implementing a RIF– Ms. Lahoda
II. The EEOC Perspective on RIFs and Releases - Mr. Peeler
III. Legal Considerations in Planning and implementing a RIF and in Drafting Effective Severance Agreements and Releases - Mr. Servodidio
IV. Questions and Answers
2:00 p.m. Adjournment
Total 60-minute hours of instruction: Total 60-minute hours of instruction: 2.0. Total 50-minute hours: 2.4
Times
12 noon – 2:00 pm Eastern
11 am – 1:00 pm Central
10 am – 12:00 noon Mountain
9 am – 11:00 am Pacific and Arizona
8 am – 10:00 am Alaska
6 am – 8:00 am Hawaii
