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Upcoming events

    • 11 Oct 2023
    • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (CDT)
    • Dead Fish Grill 2207 Lake Rd Belton, TX
    Register

    SPEAKER




    PRESENTATION SUMMARY

    Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. In this presentation, Emily Linn and Mindy Wetzel will explain and unpack the nuanced definition of what conduct may constitute sexual harassment, discuss what's at stake for employers who don't properly respond to allegations of harassment, including possible personal liability for managers and HR professionals, and talk through strategies you can implement to prevent workplace harassment. We will also highlight the latest legislative changes to federal and Texas sexual harassment laws, and provide several recent case examples considering sexual harassment to aid in your understanding of what constitutes actionable harassment. Participants will leave the presentation with an understanding of how to prevent, identify, and address sexual harassment in order to maintain a respectful and harassment-free workplace.

    SPEAKER BIO

    Emily Linn assists employers with a variety of labor and employment law issues. She has experience representing clients in both administrative and litigation matters involving disputes brought under various federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Emily’s practice also includes advising clients on various employment matters including discipline, separations and reductions in force, leave and accommodation issues under the ADA and FMLA, religious accommodation under Title VII, contingent worker and independent contractor classifications, federal and state child labor laws and workplace safety concerns. Emily has experience reviewing policies, handbooks, and providing management and employee training. Emily also regularly conducts internal workplace investigations for higher education institutions and private employers related to allegations of employee misconduct, including discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. Prior to joining Littler, Emily was an attorney at a regional law firm in Austin, Texas, where she represented and counseled public entities on routine employment matters and government-specific issues, including immunity and responding to open record requests and subpoenas for client documentation. While in law school, Emily was an authorities editor on the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law and interned in the office of the general counsel of a federally owned electric utility corporation.

    Melinda J. Wetzel is an active litigator in federal and state court. She has argued before the Fifth Circuit of Appeals and won two federal trials, a bench trial in the Western District of Texas and a jury trial in the Southern District of Texas. Mindy regularly defends clients in civil litigation involving claims under:
    • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
    • Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
    • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
    • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
    • Equal Pay Act (EPA)
    • Various other state and federal employment laws
    Mindy also represents clients at various forms of alternative dispute resolution, such as private and agency-based mediations and arbitrations. She assists clients with personnel investigations and pre-litigation resolution, and presents client trainings on a variety of topics, including discrimination and harassment avoidance.
    Previously, Mindy served as an assistant attorney general in the General Litigation Division of the Office of Attorney General, where she defended the state of Texas, its officials, and employees in constitutional and employment litigation matters in state and federal court.

    Prior to moving to Austin in 2019, Mindy practiced law for five years in Illinois. During that time, she litigated claims for contributions and withdrawal liability under ERISA in federal courts across the Midwest, and represented school districts, municipalities, community colleges, and other public entities in Illinois state and federal courts as well as in labor arbitrations and grievance proceedings.



    CANCELLATION POLICY

    If you cannot make the event, please let us know by noon on the Friday prior to the event by sending us an to email centexshrm@gmail.com. We can cancel your registration and issue a credit to your account. Please note, credits will not be issued after the deadline, as we pay the venue based on the number of attendees reserved - including no-shows.


    SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

    Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Visit our "Sponsor" page for details and benefits!

    https://www.centexshrm.com/Sponsorship-Opportunities




    • 8 Nov 2023
    • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (CST)
    • Dead Fish Grill 2207 Lake Rd Belton, TX
    Register

    SPEAKER




    PRESENTATION SUMMARY

    Littler attorneys Melissa Ackie and Kim Kauffman will guide you in a discussion of efficient practices for workplace investigations. Littler will go through the "dos" and "don'ts" while sharing riveting war stories discussing the "what have you done?" They will cover best practices for conducting workplace investigations, including planning for the investigation, the steps in the investigation process, providing the necessary protections against claims for retaliation and whistleblowing, and consideration for safeguarding the attorney-client privilege.

    SPEAKER BIO

    Melissa Ackie is a Senior Associate in Littler Mendelson’s Austin office. She represents employers at all stages of litigation and routinely advises human resources professionals on a broad range of HR and compliance workplace concerns, including leave and accommodation, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. As part of her practice, she also conducts internal workplace investigations for private and public employers, including higher ed institutions. Outside of work, you can find her traveling or spending time with her husband, 4-year old daughter, and pets. Kim Kauffman is an Associate in Littler Mendelson’s Austin office. She defends employers against lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour violations. In addition to her litigation practice, Kim advises clients on a variety of employment law-related issues, including terminations, classification of workers, performance management, and employment agreements. She also has experience conducting internal investigations. In her free time, Kim enjoys exploring Austin with her husband and their dog, reading a good book, and traveling.



    CANCELLATION POLICY

    If you cannot make the event, please let us know by noon on the Friday prior to the event by sending us an to email centexshrm@gmail.com. We can cancel your registration and issue a credit to your account. Please note, credits will not be issued after the deadline, as we pay the venue based on the number of attendees reserved - including no-shows.


    SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

    Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Visit our "Sponsor" page for details and benefits!

    https://www.centexshrm.com/Sponsorship-Opportunities


    • 14 Dec 2023
    • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (CST)
    • Bold Republic 7070 Stonehollow, Temple, TX 76502
    Register

    Please join us as we celebrate another successful year!  We will recognize current board members, introduce our new 2024 Board, AND RECOGNIZE OUR IMPACT AWARD WINNERS!!! Lots of fun, don’t miss out!



Past events

13 Sep 2023 Winning the War for Talent through Removing Barriers to Employment
9 Aug 2023 Understanding the Public Sector HR
12 Jul 2023 Educating HR Professionals on Funding Strategies and New Creative Options
14 Jun 2023 Classification of Employee as Exempt Vs. Non-Exempt Under FLSA
10 May 2023 Ethical Issues in Talent Acquisition
28 Apr 2023 CenTex SHRM Annual Conference
8 Mar 2023 An Intro to Documentation, Directives, and Discipline
8 Feb 2023 What We Should Be Telling Our Managers About The ADA, But May Not Be
11 Jan 2023 HR Compliance Update: Classifying Well For the DOL (and Other Agencies)
8 Dec 2022 CenTex SHRM - Holiday Mixer
9 Nov 2022 Leveraging Total Rewards Strategies to Address Employee Engagement & Navigating Business Challenges
12 Oct 2022 When Workplace Investigations Go Wrong - Labor and Employment Law
14 Sep 2022 Balancing Your Organization's Online Presence with Increasing Security Threats
10 Aug 2022 Career Transition from the Business Partner Lense
13 Jul 2022 Self Care for HR Pros
8 Jun 2022 Top 10 Wage and Hour Mistakes to Avoid
11 May 2022 Transforming Your Team from Dysfunction to Cohesion
21 Apr 2022 CTHRMA Annual Conference
9 Mar 2022 HR Beyond COVID: Preparing the Way for the Post-Pandemic Workforce
9 Feb 2022 Changes in Employment Law under the Biden Administration
12 Jan 2022 The “Next Normal” in HR: The Future Workforce
9 Dec 2021 CTHRMA - Holiday Mixer
11 Nov 2021 Workplace Violence an Employer Safety Consideration, a 21st Century Dilemma
14 Oct 2021 Why Employers Need to Think of AI as an “Employee”
9 Sep 2021 Maintaining Team Cohesion in Turbulent Times
12 Aug 2021 Marijuana, Oral Fluids and the Future of Workplace Drug Testing
8 Jul 2021 Uncovering Unconscious Bias
10 Jun 2021 The Yellow Cake Principle
13 May 2021 What Happened to My Daddy's Job?
8 Apr 2021 Be Bold: Inclusive Behavior Through Courageous Conversations
11 Mar 2021 Confidence Through Chaos
11 Feb 2021 I Make Folks Unfireable!
14 Jan 2021 My Journey Towards Recovery and How My EAP Played a Pivotal Role
12 Mar 2020 CTHRMA March Monthly Luncheon
13 Feb 2020 CTHRMA February Luncheon
9 Jan 2020 CTHRMA January Monthly Luncheon
12 Dec 2019 Holiday Miixer
14 Nov 2019 It's Not Your Father's Apprenticeship
8 Aug 2019 August Monthly Luncheon - Workplace Transformation: Navigating the New Normal
11 Jul 2019 July Monthly Luncheon - Policy and Procedure for Company Fleet Accidents
8 Nov 2018 November Monthly Luncheon
14 Oct 2018 THE HR SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
11 Oct 2018 October Monthly Luncheon
9 Aug 2018 August Monthly Luncheon



    




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