Featuring Popular Plenary Sessions:

• If You Were the Arbitrator, How Would You Rule?  Guest Arbitrator:   Thomas F. Gibbons
• Collective Bargaining Trends and Issues -- Robert J. Smith, Jr. & Benjamin E. Gehrt

And ... your choice of two breakout sessions from the topics below:

(1)    Collective Bargaining Leverage
This session will discuss strategies to find, create, and use bargaining leverage to your advantage, especially in light of Amendment 1.  As part of identifying leverage, we will discuss hot topics for specific labor unions, and we will also discuss leveraging contract language to respond to mid-term bargaining demands. 

(2)    Employment Investigations, Start to Finish

This breakout session will cover all aspects of a workplace investigation and discuss the importance and benefits of conducting an effective investigation. Topics will include, but not necessarily be limited to:  when you should conduct a workplace investigation; selecting the investigator; administrative warnings; interim measures; union representation issues; conducting interviews; gathering other evidence; evaluating your case and whether discipline (and what discipline) will stick; drafting investigation reports and disciplinary letters.  The session will cover the steps to take from the event that triggers an investigation until the investigation is concluded as well as address disclosure obligations and dealing with the media.

(3)    ABC, 123, Labor and Employment Is Not As Easy As Do Re Mi
Every human resource professional and management employee in the public sector needs to be familiar with state and federal laws impacting the workplace. Decisions that employers make need to be compliant with these laws.  Moreover, decisions may have ripple effects on employer rights and obligations under the laws.  In Illinois, the laws that impact the public sector workplace far outnumber those in the private sector.  This breakout session will identify and discuss federal statutes such as Title VII, the FMLA, and the FLSA, as well as any state equivalents. We will address Illinois specific statutes such as PEDA, PSEBA, FOIA, Employee Sick Leave Act, and more.  We will also generally discuss the IPLRA and matters relating to collective bargaining rights and responsibilities.  Any employee new to management or the HR profession, and/or employees that transitioned from the private sector to the public sector will benefit from this 101 breakout.

(4)    Interest Arbitration Developments and Strategies During the Current Economic Climate
Ted Clark and Bob Smith will review the latest trends in interest arbitration, including a discussion of how arbitrators may view the volatile economy, inflation, and the risk of a recession around the corner. Arbitrator Thomas Gibbons has been invited to join in this discussion.

(5)    1st Amendment, 4th Amendment, 5th Amendment AH AH AH!  Counting Down the Critical
Constitutional Amendments for Public Employers
Ted Clark and Bob Smith will review the latest trends in interest arbitration, including a discussion of how arbitrators may view the volatile economy, inflation, and the risk of a recession around the corner. Arbitrator Thomas Gibbons has been invited to join in this discussion.

(6)    Addressing Legal Issues Involving The Less-Than-Full-Duty Worker
This session will help navigate legal issues with not only injured workers, but also other “light duty” situations, including illness, pregnancy, requests to accommodate remote work, and a panoply of related issues.

 Approval Being Sought for CLE (attorneys), as well as HRCI and SHRM recertification credits

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