In addition to providing training sessions for clients, the firm holds quarterly seminars on relevant topics along with a sexual harassment training session.
If you would like to register for a seminar or are interested in any of our other services, please contact Jessenia Narvaez at jessenianarvaez@robertnoonan.com, call 860-349-7010, or complete and return the registration form accessible below.
Connecticut Paid Sick Days: The Law, Your Policy and Enforcement Morning Session: 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Registration: 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
Speaker:Attorney Heidi Lane, Principal Attorney, Office of Program Policy, Connecticut Department of Labor
On January 1st, Connecticut becomes the first state in the nation to require employers with 50 or more employees to provide “service workers” with 40 hours of paid sick time. An employer may use its existing absence policy to comply with the law provided the existing policy provides benefits which are equal to or better than the law’s allowances. Virtually all covered employers will have to either write a new policy or revise existing policies.
In this special program, we will provide you with up-to-the minute guidance on the Sick Day Law, including how to implement the law and comply with its provisions.Attorney Heidi Lane, from the CT-DOL, will discuss the CT-DOL’s current stance on the law, including the Department’s interpretation of the more vague provisions of the law, special problems with application of the law, and the Department’s position on enforcement.Attorney Lane is spearheading the Department’s efforts to prepare for enforcement of the Sick Day Law, create a model notice, and issue guidance on the law.
Regarding the Sick Day Law, we will cover:
CT-DOL’s interpretation of the law and its position on enforcement;
Excluded Industries and Excluded Organizations;
Service Workers: Who is and who is not covered by the law;
Special Problems of Part-Timers, Per Diems and Temporary Employees;
Problems in Accruing Time: the law versus employer policies;
Using Sick Days: new employees, existing employees, and policy considerations;
Problems in carrying over accrued time;
Problems in documenting absences;
Practical Compliance: Posting, Handbooks, Notices, Supervisory Training, Overlap with Other types of leave; and,
Integrating your vacation, PTO, sick day, personal day or AFW policy with the Connecticut law.
Who Should Attend: Employers, Human Resources and Benefits Professionals, and Office Managers
Sexual Harassment Prevention for Managers and Supervisors
Afternoon Session: 1:00 to 3:30 P.M. Registration: 12:30 to 1:00 P.M.
This program is designed meeting Connecticut’s requirements for sexual harassment training. In addition, this course will prepare Supervisors and Managers of any size company to understand their role in preventing or correcting the problem of sexual harassment and discrimination.
Topics covered include: • Common Workplace Patterns that Land Employers in Court • Legal Defenses that Fail: “Boys will be Boys” and “We were just kidding” • Quid Pro Quo & Hostile Environment - Getting Beyond the Terms • Your Role in Controlling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace • Your Company Policy: What it says and What it means • What Should be Done if an Employee Makes a Claim of Sexual Harassment • The Critical Role of the HR Department
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Employer Workshop: Writing or Revising Your Sick Day Policy to Conform to Connecticut's New Sick Day Law
Morning Session: 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Registration: 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
On January 1st, Connecticut becomes the first state in the nation to require employers with 50 or more employees to provide “service workers” with 40 hours of paid sick time. An employer may use its existing absence policy to comply with the law provided the existing policy provides benefits which are equal to or better than the law’s allowances. Virtually all covered employers will have to either write a new policy or revise existing policies.
In this special workshop, we will instruct employers on writing or revising their policies to comply with the January 1st deadline. Bring your current policy. We will address the common and unusual problems employers face when writing or revising their sick time policies.
Regarding the Sick Day Law, we will cover:
Excluded Industries and Excluded Organizations;
Service Workers: Who is and who is not covered by the law;
Special Problems of Part-Timers, Per Diems and Temporary Employees;
An Overview of how to integrate your vacation, PTO, sick day, personal day or AFW policy with the Connecticut law;
Problems in Accruing Time: the law versus employer policies;
Using Sick Days: new employees, existing employees, and policy considerations;
Using Sick Days: adding family violence, well visits and other requirements;
Problems in carrying over accrued time;
Problems in documenting absences;
Practical Problems with your Sick Day Policy: Posting, Handbooks, Notices, Supervisory Training, Overlap with Other types of leave; and,
Your Questions and Problems in Writing or Revising Your Policy.
Sexual Harassment Prevention for Managers and Supervisors
Afternoon Session: 1:00 to 3:30 P.M. Registration: 12:30 to 1:00 P.M.
This program is designed meeting Connecticut’s requirements for sexual harassment training. In addition, this course will prepare Supervisors and Managers of any size company to understand their role in preventing or correcting the problem of sexual harassment and discrimination.
Topics covered include: • Common Workplace Patterns that Land Employers in Court • Legal Defenses that Fail: “Boys will be Boys” and “We were just kidding” • Quid Pro Quo & Hostile Environment - Getting Beyond the Terms • Your Role in Controlling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace • Your Company Policy: What it says and What it means • What Should be Done if an Employee Makes a Claim of Sexual Harassment • The Critical Role of the HR Department
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 The 2011 Report on Bills and New Laws Affecting Connecticut Employers
Morning Session: 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Registration: 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
On June 8th, the Connecticut General Assembly will conclude a legislative session which introduced important bills affecting Connecticut employers including one that would make Connecticut the first state to require paid sick days (also permitting use for family violence related reasons), one imposing restrictions on criminal background checks, and a bill that would apply prohibitions on employers meeting with employees. In this special program you will get the up-to-the-minute report on what passed, what did not, and implications of new legislation on your workplace practices and policies. We will also give you the latest developments on Health Care Reform.
Among the topics we’ll cover are:
• SB 913 “An Act Mandating Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave To Employees” • SB 984 “An Act Concerning The Use Of Criminal Records For Temporary Employees Offered Permanent Employment By An Employer” • HB 5462 “An Act Concerning Employers Using Criminal Background Checks Prior To A Conditional Offer Of Employment To The Prospective Employee” • HB 5460. “An Act Concerning Captive Audience Meetings” • HB 6167 “An Act Concerning Increasing Penalties For Repeat Violators Of The Personnel Files Act” • HB 5901 “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination On The Basis Of Gender Identity Or Expression” • HEALTH CARE REFORM REPORT – The required Uniform Summary Report, W-2 Reporting, Wellness Program Grants, and the First Appeals Challenge: Liberty University v. Timothy Geithner.
April 19, 2011
Connecticut Unemployment Compensation: Understanding Your Costs and Winning Cases
Morning Session: 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Registration: 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
Knowing your unemployment compensation costs and winning cases can go directly to your bottom line. In this special two part program you’ll learn about what unemployment compensation costs your company and the steps you can and should take that can be the difference between winning and losing your cases.
Speaker:
Theresa Kowalski, Operations Coordinator of the Merit Rating Unit for the Connecticut Department of Labor, is responsible for the unemployment insurance experience rating system for all Connecticut employers. This responsibility includes determining the employer’s liability for unemployment charges and the calculation of their annual state unemployment insurance tax rates.
In this program, you’ll learn:
• How your unemployment compensation tax rate is determined • Employee terminations that cost and those that don’t • How are you doing? The merit rating charge • The steps you should take in responding to the “Notice of Potential Liability” • The expensive mistake: “Why bother? – They always win” • When to fight & where to fight: the fact finding versus the appeal • Handling the special problems – absenteeism, tardiness, “my supervisor is harassing me” • Witnesses, reports, and preparing and presenting your case
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wage & Hour Law: State and Federal Audits and Compliance Guidance from the Experts
Morning Session: 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Registration: 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
Speaker: • Ronald Marquis, Assistant Director of the Wage and Workplace Standards Division of the Connecticut Department of Labor.
This special program will feature one of Connecticut’s foremost authorities on wage law compliance. We will review the differences between Connecticut and federal wage law, the wage and record keeping obligations of employers, and the audit process, including reviewing what the DOL looks for, common errors, and special problems. We will cover:
• Recent enforcement efforts by the DOL • Exempt and non-exempt: Where employers go wrong • Permissible Methods for Computing Overtime • Time cards, time clocks and record keeping • Exempt employees: cutting pay, cutting hours, and docking pay • Special problems: Tipped employees, minors and interns • The Wage Audit: Areas of Investigation, Methods of Enforcement • Q & A’s: Ask the DOL Expert
Friday September 17, 2010 Health Care Reform in 2010 What’s Here Now and What’s Coming
Morning Session: 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Registration: 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
Health Care Reform has accelerated in the past few months with new regulations and developments under both federal and state health care law. The Department of Health and Human Services has launched www.Health.gov; several sets of regulations implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been issued; Governor Rell has appointed a chairperson for Connecticut’s Health Care Reform Committee; the ACA’s adult-child dependent provision will soon change Connecticut’s adult-child dependent law; and, now Connecticut provides for 30-months of state continuation coverage. In addition, new provisions of health care reform are taking effect for both grandfathered and non-grandfathered plans.
This special program is designed to bring the attendees up-to-date on the most recent health reform developments that have taken effect or will be taking effect in the near future.
In this program, you’ll learn about: • Federal and Connecticut Status Report – which regulations have been issued and what they say; • Current timeline of reforms and regulations – what is taking effect on January 1, 2011 and what steps employers must take now; • Losing “Grandfathered” status – the regulations and implications for plans;
• www.Health.gov – what it has and what’s coming; • The adult-child dependent issue and the guidance issued by the Connecticut Insurance Department – what it means for plans, forms, handbooks and other documents; • Connecticut’s new 30-month state continuation requirement; and, • The implications of a recent Connecticut ruling on the Connecticut-FMLA for employers with 75 or more employers.
***Credits available for Insurance Professionals: 3 LR&E (Application Submitted / Approval Pending)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Health Care Reform Special Topic:
Dependents to Age 26 – Sorting out the Connecticut Law and New Federal Law
Morning Session: 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Registration: 8:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
Special Speaker: Ms. Kathleen M. Walsh – Connecticut Insurance Department
Group Health Plans will be required to cover employee’s dependents up to age 26, but this requirement conflicts with the law governing Connecticut insured plans with respect to marriage, student status, residency status and other elements.
In this special 90 minute executive briefing with the Connecticut Insurance Department, we will sort out the differences and provide clear direction on how the laws apply and when. Among the topics we’ll cover will be:
• The federal requirement and differences between the grandfathered plan and the new plan; • Connecticut Requirements – what plans must allow; • The differences in the laws – marriage, residency, student status, and kids who have kids; • When coverage ends – Connecticut’s “bonus month” and the federal law; • Federal taxes, state taxes and the young adult dependent; and, • Notices –enrollment notices and notices to terminate coverage.
We will also provide a special update on the Connecticut law extending state continuation coverage for up to 30 months. We will address how this new law works in conjunction with federal COBRA coverage.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Health Care Reform: Its Impact on the Employer, the Agent and the Individual Morning Session: 8:30 to 11:30 A.M. Registration: 8:00 to 8:30 A.M.
After a year of debate, Congress has passed the most significant health care reform legislation since the creation of the Medicare program in the 1960’s. Quite simply, this effort will dramatically affect all aspects of health care, including the delivery of care, the structure of benefit plans and employer-sponsored insurance, the creation of new options for the uninsured, and new taxes and penalties for individuals, businesses, and certain industries.
The new health care reform means employers and insurance professionals must rethink their positions and roles in providing employee coverage. For employees and their spouses, reform will bring new obligations to have medical coverage.
This special 3-hour program will focus on the new health care reform law from the perspective of the employer, the insurance professional, and the employee and employee’s dependents. Among the topics we will cover:
• An Overview of Enactment – What takes effect and when • The Individual Mandate and Penalties for Non-Compliance • Pre-existing conditions, minimum coverage and non-conforming plans • The new health insurance “exchange” – How it affects the employer and the agent • Reporting requirements for Employers and Taxpayers • Paying for coverage: Who gets help, how and how much • What reform means to Connecticut Insurance Law and mandated group health benefits
Who Should Attend: HR Administrators, Insurance Professionals and Office Managers Insurance Professionals: 3 LR&E (Application Submitted / Approval Pending)
Disclaimer: Your submission to us does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no attorney-client privilege is attached by this communication.
