Employer Resource Institute Audio Conference

Originally presented on March 20, 2008
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon (Pacific Time)

Order Option       Price   CD Recording Only       $219

As an additional benefit, you will receive a no-risk trial subscription to California Employment Law Answers when you register for this audio conference (or purchase a CD recording). You will receive 3 evaluation issues. If you want to continue to receive the newsletter, simply pay the invoice you will receive in the mail. If you decide the newsletter isn't for you, just write cancel on the invoice and return it. You will owe nothing, and all issues you receive are yours to keep. As with all ERI products, your satisfaction is guaranteed 100%. (Offer good for new subscribers only.)

According to 2005 numbers provided by the Department of Education, approximately 5 percent of U.S. adults—about 11 million people—lack literacy in English. As immigration rates and national diversity continue to rise, these numbers are increasing.

Employers struggling to manage the logistics and challenges of a diverse workforce may be tempted to impose an "English-only" policy to get everyone on the same page. But these policies are highly regulated in California and difficult to enforce. If you get it wrong, you could be slapped with a costly class-action bias lawsuit. Even worse, failing to properly distribute safety information in a language your employees understand could lead to tragic accidents and fatalities.

So what's the best way to maximize your workplace efficiency, productivity, communications, safety, cooperation, and customer service without running afoul of the anti-bias laws?

Join us for a 90-minute audio conference on March 20, when our experts—two experienced employment law attorneys—address the legal framework governing English-only policies and related workplace practices. You will receive sound guidance on how best to manage the tension between the unique needs of non-English-speaking employees and the challenges presented by such obstacles as workplace harassment and operational inefficiency.

You will learn:

• How to identify the challenges confronting your multilingual organization, and how to effectively meet them


• The heightened restrictions on English-only policies imposed by California law


• Steps to narrowly tailor an effective language communication policy that achieves your objectives while minimizing liability under current legal mandates


• How to establish a justifiable business reason for your rule that withstands federal scrutiny


• Tips for effectively disseminating your policy to all employees, along with enforcement strategies and appropriate consequences for policy violation


• Methods to evaluate suitable alternatives to a stand-alone policy that may otherwise meet your business objectives

ABOUT YOUR SPEAKER:

Steve Bernstein, Esq. is a partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher & Phillips, LLP, and the hiring partner for the firm. He maintains a traditional labor practice in which he represents employers throughout the United States in both state and federal courts, as well as before the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other state and federal agencies. In the process, Bernstein has played a primary role in advising clients in response to union organizing campaigns, unfair labor practice charges, corporate campaigns, collective bargaining, and economic work stoppages. He also has acquired a sophisticated level of expertise with regard to advising clients on compliance with the WARN Act, USERRA, the FMLA, and the ADA.

A significant portion of Bernstein's practice is devoted to the implementation of preventive employee relations programs that include supervisory training as well as the development and administration of effective human resources policies and practices. Previously, he worked for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and with the Minority Staff of the U.S. Senate Labor Committee. Upon graduating from law school, Bernstein was named Outstanding Labor and Employment Law School Student by the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Chris Hoffman, Esq. is the founding and managing partner of the San Diego office of Fisher & Phillips, LLP. He has represented hundreds of employers in matters ranging from class action wage and hour disputes, to harassment litigation, union representation attempts, and general employment advice. In addition, Hoffman advises employers in the complicated area of family and medical leaves as well as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and workers' compensation laws.

Hoffman spends a significant amount of time counseling clients regarding day-to-day employment issues and helping them find practical solutions to their legal problems in a proactive manner. This includes extensive supervisor training as well as preparing sound employment policies and procedures.

Approved for Recertification Credit

This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hour toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org.

How Do Audio Conferences Work?

An audio conference is remarkably cost-effective and convenient. You participate from your office using a regular telephone. You have no travel costs and no out-of-office time.

Plus, for one low price you can get as many people in your office to participate as you can fit around a speakerphone.

Because the conference is live, you can ask the speakers questions' either on the phone or via e-mail.

With your registration, you also receive conference materials with additional practical information from California Employer Advisor sent to you via e-mail shortly before the conference.

Why You Can Sign Up To Attend This Event with Confidence

As with all California Employer Advisor products, you're completely protected. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with this audio conference, simply let us know and we will return your entire registration fee.