Managing Employment Practices for Employer Protection · Human Resources 37. Prosecution Principles...

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Managing EmploymentPractices for

Employer ProtectionRLI Design Professionals

Design Professionals Learning Event

DPLE 152

April 1, 2015

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RLI Design Professionals is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

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Copyright Materials

This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written permission of

the speakers is prohibited.

© RLI Design Professionals

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This course will discuss the role federal lawsplay in relation to employment practices of

small business. Emerging areas ofrisk exposure will be assessed. This course

will explore simple measures thatcan be taken to lessen and prevent

potential employment practices claims brought against the employer.

Course Description

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Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Increase their awareness of federal laws that apply to small businesses

• Learn how to protect Directors and Officers from personal exposure to liabilities

• Understand emerging employment risk areas, such as internship programs and social media

• Explore the importance of a compliance programand how small changes in office procedures canmitigate claims

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An Interview with

Jaclyn KavendekRLI

Jaclyn.Kavendek@rlicorp.com

“But I didn’t do it!”

CAUTION: An employee’s actions can help or hurt your company’s reputation

and bottom-line.

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Vicarious Liability

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EMPLOYEE+

SCOPE+

BENEFIT=

EMPLOYER LIABILITY

Employee or Independent Contractor?

Employee

• Exercise control over

• Uses company materials

• Lack of meaningful choice

Independent Contractor

• Personal control over:– Materials

– Schedule

– Projects

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Good Faith

Good faith is a customary practicein dealing with contracts and negotiations.

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Good Faith: Breach

1. Valid Employment Contract; AND

2. Terms include duty to “act in good faith;” AND

a. Sometimes terms do not need to be expressed

3. Breach; AND

4. Injury caused from the breach

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Impact of Federal Laws on Small and Medium Businesses

Learning

Objective #1

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Federal Laws & Small Businesses

If a company has15 or more employees,

federal laws apply, and the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) can choose to

investigate and prosecutethe company.

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www.eeoc.gov

Discrimination

According to Webster’s Dictionary, discrimination is the

“practice of unfairly treating a person or group of people differently from other

people or groups of people.”Most common, well-known types of

discrimination are based onrace, sex, or religion.

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Age Discrimination

At least 20 employees;

+

40-years-old or older;

+

With a good faith belief;

+

That age is reason for discrimination

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Example #1

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Female denied promotionHiring Freeze

Male given promotion

Female files with EEOC

Hearing Female awarded $130,000

Example #2

FMLA:

• Unpaid leave

• Job security

• Continued insurance coverage

• Reasonable accommodations:

– Religion

– Disability

– Nursing mother

• Break times & space

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Discrimination Can Be Hiding Here:

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Retaliation

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Complaint

• Formal or

• Informal

Perceived Retaliation

• Action in responseto complaint

Claim

• Honest and

• Reasonable Belief

Retaliation Example

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Show Me The Money

2012

• Total Charges Brought: 99,412

• Monetary Relief:$365.4 million

2013

• Total Charges Brought: 93,727

• Monetary Relief:$372.1 million

90,000

92,000

94,000

96,000

98,000

100,000

2012 2013

Charges Brought By EEOC

362

364

366

368

370

372

374

2012 2013

Monetary Relief

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Protecting theDecision-Makers

Learning

Objective #2

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Decision-Makers’ Liability

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Preventing Breach

Decision-Makers

Document

Conflictsof

Interest

Independent Judgment

Reasonable Oversight

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Emerging Risks:Internships & Social Media

Learning

Objective #3

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Free Labor? . . . Yes, Please!

FREE

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Title ≠ Status

Educational Environment

Transferable Skills

Supervision

Employer Benefit

Duration

Job Entitlement

Parties’ Understanding

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Social Media in the Workplace

Technology moves faster than the law.

“The EEOC laws do not expressly permit or prohibit use of specified technologies.”

The lack of specific regulations makesdecision-making difficult.

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Social Media Policy

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Your Policy

Company Specific Rules

State Laws

Federal Laws

Uses for Social Media in the Workplace

FacebookYouTube

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Is It Worth It?

Pros

• Honest view of candidate– Catches inconsistencies

• Marketing

• Interoffice communication

Cons

• Exposed to improper information on which employment decisions cannot be based– Ex: race, religion, gender,

sexual orientation

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Using Social Media to Your Advantage

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Compliance Programs& CECOs

Learning

Objective #4

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Compliance Program: Prevention

Fraud

Self-Dealing

Misallocation

Conflicts of Interest

Code of Conduct & Ethics

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Effective Compliance Programs

Compliance Program

Tailored

Written

Monitored

Enforced

Reporting Systems

Audited

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Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer “CECO”

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Reporting Systems & Whistleblowing

Anonymous Tip-Line

CECO

Managers & Supervisors

Human Resources

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Prosecution Principles & Sentencing Guidelines

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Final Thoughts

Human Resources Involvement

Be Unambiguous

Compliance Program

Audit

Checks-and-Balances System

DOCUMENT

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This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Program

Laurel Tenuto, Client Risk Management Coordinator Laurel.Tenuto@rlicorp.com

Marie Bernier, Senior Risk Management Consultant Marie.Bernier@rlicorp.com

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