Managers Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Preparing for the Unexpected Departure of Key Employees: An Introduction to Replacement Planning BenefitsFewer than 40 percent of U.S. organizations, public or private, have functioning replacement plans in case of the disastrous loss of key people to death, disability, sudden resignation or the potential threatened loss in hostage-taking situations. Replacement planning is not the same thing as succession planning or talent management, though many organizational leaders confuse them. This  more...

Telecommuting: The Next Wave of Wage and Hour Litigation BenefitsMany employers offer their employees the opportunity to work from home either on a regular or temporary basis. While the flexibility of a telecommuting arrangement can benefit both the employer and the employee, allowing a nonexempt employee to work at home can lead to a minefield of wage and hour issues that you must carefully navigate to avoid potential liability. As telecommuting has  more...

Satisfying OFCCP's Internet Applicant Rules BenefitsThe OFCCP has further clarified the long awaited definition of an Internet applicant and the revised guidance gives employers additional direction and assistance into this new and growing area of employment issues. Moreover, the OFCCP has initiated a systematic process for monitoring adherence to the Internet Applicant Rule. This teleconference will review the new and expanded OFCCP  more...

Sales and Use Tax Determination Headaches BenefitsSales and use tax professionals are faced with the legal and practical challenges of learning as many as 50 different state sales and use tax laws and regulations. No one could possibly learn all of the different state requirements and yet our jobs demand it! The purpose of this teleconference is to reveal the secrets to working in a multistate environment. You will learn about the four  more...

Corrosion Control for Water System Piping & Storage Tanks BenefitsCorrosion is a process that attacks buried metallic water distribution and transmission piping often resulting in unexplained water loss, service disruptions, and increased maintenance and operating costs. A recent study indicated the annual cost of corrosion of water systems in the United States alone exceeds $22 billion and is expected to grow. The goal of this teleconference is to  more...

Evaluating Your Third Party Administrator: Are You Getting What You're Paying For? BenefitsUsing a third-party administrator is ubiquitous with all types of employee benefit plans. However, proper administration by TPAs should not be taken for granted. As with all facets of employee benefit plans, TPAs need to be monitored and evaluated to ensure proper plan administration and fulfillment of a plan sponsor's fiduciary responsibility. This teleconference explores the key roles of  more...

Understanding LEED for Sustainable Building BenefitsThis teleconference will help you better understand the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, as it was significantly revised in 2009. The comprehensive introductory materials will prepare you for additional training to receive your LEED credential as an accredited professional or LEED AP. In January 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council  more...

Understanding the Apportionment Rules for Service-Based Businesses BenefitsApportionment of income for state tax purposes is 'where the rubber meets the road.' That is to say, the complex and varied rules for determining a taxpayer's state income tax apportionment percentage can provide opportunities - with careful planning - for state tax minimization or create traps - without such planning - that lead to multiple taxation. Service-based businesses face  more...

Do's and Don'ts for Internal Investigations of Employment Issues BenefitsAny prudent employer will want to investigate and, if necessary, remedy reported discrimination or harassment. In some states, a prompt investigation is legally required. This teleconference will provide you with valuable and practical advice on planning and conducting internal investigations, and assessing how to respond once the investigation is completed. Human resource professionals,  more...

Structuring and Drafting Conservation Easements BenefitsCreating a conservation easement can be complicated and the failure to consider the effects of possible pitfalls can be devastating. This teleconference will provide you with the legalities of creating a conservation easement and establish what the priorities are when it comes to structuring and drafting them. You will gain an appreciation for the complexities of crafting a form of  more...

Traffic Management for Construction Work Zones: Unique Challenges and Solutions BenefitsThe hazards encountered at construction zones vary by project and by project phases. To address these hazards, certain program elements must be completed before work begins, while additional elements must be addressed on-site and on an on-going basis. Many contractors who are required to prepare and implement traffic control plans often do not understand how to process the approval and  more...

Claims Management Techniques in Workers' Compensation Cases BenefitsThe aftermath of a workplace accident produces difficult and costly ramifications for management personnel in all business and industries. Many parties are involved in every aspect of a claim, including your insurance carrier or servicing agent and counsel, but each of them has to be dealt with in a very different manner. You will learn how to successfully investigate an accident and use  more...

Implementing a Health Risk Assessment for Your Health Plan: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Legal BenefitsMaybe you've heard about health risk assessments and wonder if they're a good idea for your organization. Or you've been tasked with implementing a health risk assessment as part of your health plan and don't know much about them. You have a lot of questions such as 'How can a health risk assessment help control health care costs?,' 'What makes for an effective health risk assessment?,'  more...

Form 990 and Unrelated Business Income BenefitsThis teleconference will involve a detailed discussion of the 2008 Form 990 and any changes for 2009, including tips and traps. If you are involved with 990s, you know the effort it takes to complete the form accurately. With renewed emphasis on the filing due to congressional attention and IRS audit activity, this teleconference will go through the respective parts of the form in detail,  more...

New Technology and the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act BenefitsThis teleconference will provide you with information regarding the interplay between the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the use of new technology in contacting debtors. The speakers will cover the use of voice mail, caller ID, email, text messages and faxes, and discuss recent case law addressing the application of this technology to the debt  more...

Discover the Secrets of Microsoft(R) Excel Pivot Tables BenefitsAny Excel user who maintains database-like data invariably needs tools to manage and analyze the data beyond mere sorting and filtering. Excel 's pivot table feature gives you a quick and powerful way to create summary cross-totals combined with an enormous flexibility to restructure your results with simple dragging of fields. Whether you need the ability to create a quick look at the  more...

Unique Workers' Compensation Aspects of Independent Contractors and Traveling Employees BenefitsHear experienced attorneys discuss the complex issues that arise when dealing with independent contractors and traveling employees. Take advantage of this opportunity to gain professional knowledge and advanced insight on this important workers' compensation issue. Workers' compensation administrators, human resource managers, benefits professionals, safety and compliance managers,  more...

Building Preservation: Preventive Measures to Combat Deterioration BenefitsDo you have an old or historic building and just don't know where to begin with condition assessment and repairs or renovations? This information-packed teleconference will cover the nuts and bolts of repair and maintenance of historic, landmarked and old building exteriors. We will help you understand why certain buildings are considered historic and how to preserve their valued  more...

ConsensusDOCS Contract Fundamentals BenefitsIn the fall of 2007, the Associated General Contractors of American and the Construction Owners of America folded their AGC contract documents program into a new organization and issued a new series of contracts called the ConsensusDOCS. These forms, some revised and some entirely new, were issued at nearly the same time as the American Institute of Architects' 2007 revision of the AIA  more...

Current Issues in H-1B Visas BenefitsThis teleconference will outline key issues applicable to company's that employ H-1B temporary workers. Detailed guidance on current H-1B trends, new labor conditional application procedures and H-1B visa issuance will be provided. Special attention will be given to changes in H-1B employment with common scenarios outlined. The teleconference will also present strategies for compliance  more...

Keys to Understanding and Writing Purchasing Contracts BenefitsThis teleconference is an introductory course in understanding and documenting the purchasing process in a business environment. It will provide you with an understanding of how to negotiate and document agreements between business entities for goods and services - and the problems that develop when the purchasing contract fails to adequately address critical terms. It will also cover  more...

Document Retention and Destruction Policies for Financial Institutions BenefitsFinancial institutions too often rely on recommended document retention guidelines without understanding the risks of inconsistent or antiquated practices. While Sarbanes-Oxley has clarified the responsibilities of certain financial institutions, Sarbanes-Oxley is only a portion of the document universe. This teleconference will help you navigate the complex universe of document retention  more...

Partnerships and Section 704(c) BenefitsMany tax professionals and investors in partnerships, LLCs and other entities that are treated as partnerships struggle with the concepts and the operating rules that apply to Section 704(c). These rules potentially apply whenever property is contributed to such an entity or are distributed from such an entity. The regulations under Section 704(c) provide a very flexible but very  more...

Estate Planning for the Final Years of Life BenefitsEmpirical evidence and directed studies indicate that the majority of Americans fail to plan for their final years of life. Ironically, this is the time when many people are confronted with their greatest challenges and most stressful experiences. This teleconference will cover why people need to plan, what they need to plan for and how to apply proven strategies for dealing with the final  more...

Best Practices in Nursing Documentation: Writing Effective and Legal Proof Notes BenefitsLong gone are the days that nurses and other health care providers hand-wrote cryptic notes on essay paper-like chart pages that rarely were ever looked at again. Long gone, also, are the days that physicians would only look at labs, reports and other physician's notes, expecting the nurse to call to the physician's attention anything important about the patient so they didn't have to read  more...

Health Care Facility Design and Development BenefitsDeveloping or expanding a health care facility is particularly challenging in the modern economic and regulatory environment. Health care administrators are looking for project delivery models that ensure excellence in planning and delivery. Incorporating thought leadership in design, operational efficiency and sustainability, as well as efficient project delivery are important  more...

Maintain and Gain Downtown Businesses in a Tough Economy: Key Retention and Recruitment Concepts BenefitsIt is possible to pursue new growth and attend to those who have already invested in your community. In fact, we believe that it should be a goal of every economic development or downtown to have a balanced 'maintaining and gaining' approach to economic growth. This teleconference will illuminate a number strategies and tactics to consider as you pursue this goal. Learning Objectives -  more...

The New ADA Design Standards- When, Where, and How? BenefitsThere has been a great deal of speculation about when the Department of Justice will adopt the revised ADA/ABA Guidelines as the new ADA Design Standards and the implications of the proposed changes. This teleconference will provide an update on the status of the new rule, a highlight of the major changes, and the potential implications for your business and clients. Presenters include  more...

CPM in Construction Management: Preventing and Measuring Delays BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss how to use today's project management tools effectively to identify project delays before they are insurmountable. You'll learn how to use the schedules persuasively and reliably to measure and quantify project delays. The discussion will also provide the technical and legal foundation for the techniques presented. You will be brought up-to-date on the very  more...

Qualified Retirement Plans Eligibility and Vesting Tips and Traps for the Unwary BenefitsThis teleconference will familiarize you with the general rules of eligibility and vesting. It will also assist you with specifically interpreting the provisions of your own plans and introduce you to a variety of options in order to make sure you know what you have and have what you want. In addition, although many provisions appear to be straightforward, the practical application of  more...

Insurance Claim Appeals BenefitsMany medical providers today are struggling at the number of claim denials and appeals that have to be performed to attempt to gain reimbursement from health care insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid. This teleconference will help you understand how first to establish when an appeal can be implemented, when to formally continue to disagree with their findings in writing  more...

IRS Guidelines for Good Governance and the Continued Tax Exemption of Section 501(c)(3) Organizations BenefitsGiven continued congressional scrutiny of whether tax exemption is a worthy federal subsidy for any type of tax-exempt organization, proper governance and accountability to the local community are key factors that may distinguish the tax-exempt sector from the taxable sector. The Internal Revenue Service, the press and others have linked the need for good governance to the quest for  more...

Retaining Wall and Slope Design Considerations BenefitsLow cost sites ideal for development are becoming scarce as growth continues to increase in high density population centers. As a result, sites considered less ideal (small sites, sites with limited right-of-way, and/or sites with excessive topographic relief, etc.) are becoming more attractive. As a result, the design and construction of retaining walls and slopes are becoming more  more...

IRC Section 41: Credit for Increasing Research Activities Update ...arch Activities. Our team of former Big Four partners and managers has collectively worked on more than 500 research tax credit studies during our careers. Learn from some of the top technicians in the industry on what can and can't be considered research and development under IRS guidelines. Several topics that will be discussed include understanding the broad range of companies in many  more...

Developing a Sound HR Metrics System BenefitsDoes your organization's HR metrics system fall short of expectations? How can we effectively measure the value that our employees bring to our organizations? How do we measure the effectiveness of our human resources department? Utilizing proper metrics and benchmarking can provide the answers to these questions. Attend this teleconference and learn the importance of demonstrating HR's  more...

EPA's Rules on Compensatory Mitigation for Impact on Wetlands, Streams and Other Waters BenefitsIn 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adopted new rules that dramatically changed its approach to mitigation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates fill in wetlands and other waters of the United States. The new rules adopt a mitigation hierarchy that moves away from the prior preference for on-site, in-kind mitigation in favor of mitigation banks and watershed-based  more...

The New World of EEO: What Is Coming BenefitsEEO claims with the EEOC and in state and federal court are significantly on the rise. While this increase has been impacted by the significant reductions in force around the country, this has also been driven by the fact that the plaintiff's employment bar, the U.S. Attorney's offices and the EEOC have become more aggressive in pursuing claims of discrimination against employers. The  more...

Recent Trends in CPA Technology BenefitsTechnology has totally transformed the way CPA's do business. In this teleconference, we will highlight recent trends in the technologies that play an important role in how we do business today. Whether you practice in public, private, education, government or in any other role, this program will give you some insight as to where technology is at and where it will be tomorrow. This  more...

Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors: What You Need to Know About ABC's BenefitsThis teleconference will give you an overview of the basics to general assignments for the benefit of creditors, a state law alternative for the liquidation of a distressed business that while long available under state laws, has had little use outside of states such as California, Illinois, Florida and Massachusetts. The fiduciary nature and responsibilities of the assignee will be  more...

Infill Development Fundamentals BenefitsOver the past decade, a variety of forces have operated to create a trend toward more infill development and less development of greenfields or agricultural land. But infill development poses a unique set of challenges compared to more traditional development on vacant land. This teleconference will summarize the principal differences between infill development and greenfield development,  more...

Real Estate Due Diligence: Managing Risk and Developing a Winning Strategy in the Face of Challenging Credit Markets BenefitsThis teleconference will look back over 2009 at lessons learned in light of the fall in real estate values, increase vacancies in office and retail buildings, tightening of underwriting standards in the credit markets and increased use of alternative financing sources to provide an overview of the due diligence process to ensure a sound investment decision is made at the outset regarding  more...

Powers of Attorney: Medical Records Release Concerns BenefitsBusy medical practices understand that each day, personal health information is transmitted in various forms between hospitals, doctors, attorneys, insurance companies, patients, and their lawyers and families. With increasing reliance on electronic medical records, health information can be transmitted with minimal effort. However, health information requests become more confusing and  more...

Improve Productivity While Staying Compliant: Implementing Quality Procedures BenefitsMany organizations with customer delivery and quality problems (high reject rates across the supply chain) are unaware of the increased costs of tracking, repairing, scrapping and redelivering key products. When the discussion whether lean, six sigma and/or supply chain techniques are singularly the most effective way of dealing with quality problems, you miss the opportunity of using a  more...

Opportunities for Recycling Construction Waste and Demolition Debris BenefitsNationally and internationally, sustainable building is taking hold. One part of sustainable building is reusing and recycling materials during construction and demolition. More and more projects are requiring the recycling of materials during construction and demolition, and contractors and others will need to know how to potentially meet this requirement. This 90-minute teleconference  more...

Current Work Product Issues in Taxation: Preservation, Waiver and Tax Accrual Work Papers BenefitsCompanies face many obstacles and ever-changing standards to maintaining work product protection of sensitive documents and information prepared by counsel. The documents at issue, such as tax accrual workpapers, litigation analyses and internal investigation materials, are often roadmaps for the companies adversaries. Challenges to work product protection come from many directions,  more...

Conflicts With Additional Insured Coverage BenefitsStandard form contracts and purchase orders often require contract counterparties to add one another as additional insureds to general liability, property and other insurance policies. Relying upon another parties' insurance coverage can offer important benefits to the additional insured, whose own insurance coverage may not be implicated in the event of a claim. At the same time, relying  more...

End of Employment Payroll Issues BenefitsThis will be a comprehensive look into issues that arise when an employee terminates. Topics that will be discussed will go from when an employee needs to receive their final pay to how an employee death's final pay best practices and taxation. This teleconference will cover special situations when an employee terminates such as benefit deductions, state minimum hours requirements and  more...

How to Successfully Identify, Propose, Win and Manage Government Contracts BenefitsSmall and medium-sized businesses often experience difficulty conducting business with the federal government. They also do not know of the many tools and resources at their disposal. This teleconference provides those responsible for or trying to penetrate the federal government market space with valuable insight into the intricacies of the federal government acquisition lifecycle. It  more...

Battle of the Forms: Back to the Basics and Recent Developments ...s complex challenges for everyone involved, from contract managers to sophisticated legal practitioners. This teleconference will provide a detailed look at the basics of the battle of the forms under UCC 2-207, with a focus on the practical application of the rule. We will discuss the steps necessary to gather the facts crucial to the analysis, walk through the analysis from different  more...

The Answer to Reactive Attachment Disorder BenefitsAttachment to a loving caregiver is the foundation for healthy brain development. Trauma, abuse, neglect and loss de-rails normal neural connections. Chaotic inappropriate behaviors result when this occurs. Nancy Thomas is renowned for keeping audiences on the edge of their seat as she brings home the powerful message of hope and healing for children struggling with the challenges of  more...

Techniques to Prepare for Difficult Employee Discussions BenefitsSexually offensive behavior, poor communication and leadership skills, excessive absenteeism, and attitude problems - whether you're encountering commonplace or exceptionally serious employee relations issues, you'll need a down-to-earth strategy to protect yourself and your organization. Verbally addressing problems head-on can be a daunting task because of their confrontational nature,  more...

Mortgage Fraud: An Epidemic BenefitsThe FBI recognized 2008 as the worst year ever for mortgage fraud. 2009 has seen the mortgage fraud epidemic spread even wider and deeper. This teleconference will focus on the most prevalent forms of mortgage fraud. Best practices for detection and prevention are outlined, with industry-specific recommendations for bankers, lawyers and mortgage professionals. We will conclude with a  more...

Creating and Using a Salary Increase Matrix BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss the concept, implementation and best practices associated with a merit matrix. Implementing a merit matrix is one of the easiest and most direct ways to link pay with performance and manage turnover. Sharing of pitfalls that many companies encounter when implementing a matrix and how to avoid them will be addressed. The teleconference will provide insight  more...

Understanding the GAAP Codification Update BenefitsThe official launch of the FASB Codification began on July 1, 2009, on that date the codification became the official single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. GAAP. The codification will be effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The codification will supersede existing FASB, AICPA, EITF and related literature, which means there will no longer  more...

Cost Segregation: Applications for a Valuable Tax Planning Strategy BenefitsCost segregation is a powerful tax planning strategy used by real estate owners and tenants to accelerate significant depreciation deductions associated with buildings and improvements of all types and sizes. Although cost segregation has become quite popular in recent years, many tax advisors and real estate owners are still missing significant opportunities because they are unfamiliar  more...

Avoiding the Pitfalls of GMP Contracting BenefitsAs owners have searched for project delivery systems that reduce the duration from project conception to project completion, one of the most common approaches has included the use of guaranteed maximum price, or GMP, contracts. However, as the use of these contract formats has proliferated, so have disputes that strongly suggest that the parties using them do not fully understand: (a) the  more...

A Primer on International Estate Planning BenefitsIndividuals are increasingly 'international' today - especially wealthy ones. More and more clients work or study abroad, own property in more than one country, find their spouses abroad and qualify as citizens or residents of multiple nations. All of this can subject clients to the competing property, succession and tax laws of multiple jurisdictions. This teleconference will help you  more...

Fundamentals of Writing RFPs BenefitsVendors cannot possibly offer an intelligent, thoughtful proposal solution if your RFP is unclear, unorganized and disjointed. This engaging teleconference will provide proven methods for drafting RFPs that are clear, precise and produce desired results. Learn 10 writing tips that will guide you in creating an effective RFP. Learn how to format your RFP to lead vendors toward answering  more...

Noncompetition Agreements for the HR Professional: Protecting the Company's Business Resources? BenefitsNow more than ever, employers are seeing former employees trying to jump start their career moves - voluntarily or involuntarily - by cashing in on the employer's investment in relationships and information. Quite simply, the most effective way to protect your company's resources against the actions of departing employees is the noncompete agreement. But effectively using noncompetes  more...

IRS Form 1099 Reporting Update BenefitsThis innovative teleconference will provide the required knowledge to prepare the mandatory reporting of various Form 1099s. By following the practices discussed within this teleconference you and your client's business entities will be provided with the knowledge that will avoid costly penalties assessed by the Internal Revenue Service had you previously chosen to ignore the proper  more...

The Construction Bidding Process BenefitsThe federal construction bidding process is complex. This teleconference will review the complicated federal construction bidding process, including sealed bidding procedures and negotiated procurements. The teleconference will also review practical substantive issues which commonly arise in preparing a bid or proposal for federal construction work, such as proprietary specifications,  more...

Using Social Media in Collections BenefitsTechnology has changed how we all communicate and do business. Business owners and collectors have the added challenge of trying to contact debtors who may only have a cell phone and no land line; and that use email, text messages or instant messages to communicate. How can you face this challenge while following the laws, following your ethics and without breaking any debt collection  more...

Employee Expense Reimbursement Best Practices BenefitsMany employers spend significant sums on employee expense reimbursement and need to prepare and enforce robust policies to adequately support and monitor reimbursable expenses. In today's economy, establishment of best practices and ensuring compliance is crucial to minimize the cost and legal risk of inappropriate practices. This teleconference will explore the legal landscape governing  more...

Mechanics Liens in Massachusetts: Protecting Your Lien Rights in Uncertain Times BenefitsMechanics liens are an essential tool for collection of debts in any economy - in today's uncertain times, a thorough understanding of mechanics liens is even more critical. The mechanics lien process is complex and must be executed flawlessly in order for liens to be perfected. In turn, the Massachusetts mechanics lien law is often confusing, even to lawyers who are not expert in its  more...

Economic Nexus Standards in State Taxation BenefitsA state's ability to impose taxes on a multi-state business is limited by 'nexus' standards rooted in the U.S. Constitution. In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed its longstanding rule and held in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota that nexus requires some form of physical presence in the taxing state. In today's economy, however, states are continuing to push nexus limits farther than ever  more...

Common Pitfalls of Certificates of Insurance Benefits'Trust me, we're covered. We have General Liability Insurance.' This statement is also often times followed by an all too common explanation: 'My company employees are listed as additional insured so we are covered.' Certificates of insurance are meant to evidence insurance coverage for landlords and tenants; secured transactions; and other property, casualty and liability exposures  more...

Curing Title Exceptions BenefitsTitles are often subject to outstanding interests and claims, some genuine but others unsubstantial or baseless. What types of defects, liens and encumbrances impair the title to real estate? When, as the result of tangible matters revealed by a search and examination of the title, is the title unmarketable? Learn what to look for when reviewing the title commitment, and what endorsements  more...

Utilizing Graphs and Charts in Microsoft Excel BenefitsAny Excel user who needs quick methods to show numerical information in a visual way needs to know the basics of chart creation; how (and why) to use different chart types; and how to alter the look of a chart with layout, color and content changes. Depicting data in a chart may reveal a trend that was not so obvious in the numerical data, which often can be dry and boring. That elusive  more...

Limited Medical Programs: How Employers Are Using Them to Control Health Care Costs BenefitsAfter years of increasing medical premiums, employers are hitting road blocks in cost saving measures. We are at a point of office visit co-pays approaching $50, prescription drug co-pays of $50 to $100, deductibles exceeding $2,000 for in-network benefits, and more and more premium cost shifting from employer to employee. Employee's are finding it hard to afford the per pay premiums and  more...

Recent Updates to the EPA's Brownfields Program BenefitsThis teleconference will provide you with an update on the current status of the Federal Brownfields Program. You will learn about benefits you can obtain under the Federal Brownfields Program, the status of the program and some of the risks to brownfields development resulting from a recent Supreme Court case and environmental risks associated with vapor intrusion. Learning Objectives -  more...

Zoning Variances: Nonconforming Uses and Structures BenefitsThis teleconference will be useful in determining how to devise and apply nonconforming development and land use regulations, how to review evidence documenting nonconforming development and uses, and how to determine whether a nonconforming development or use has been terminated, abandoned or modified. Learning Objectives - You will be able to report and document a nonconforming use. -  more...

Electronic Contracts: Best Practices and Legal Implications BenefitsThe legal landscape affecting the enforceability and proper use of electronic contracts continues to change. While such contracts are now widely used, certain issues remain unsettled, including unilateral modification of contracts and attribution of electronic signatures to a particular user for enforceability issues. Jason Epstein and Geof Vickers will provide solutions to some of these  more...

Workplace Accident Investigations for the HR Professional BenefitsAttend this teleconference and learn how to conduct a workplace accident investigation as well as how to conduct an effective investigation and protect the company's interests. Many written investigative reports are used against the company because they are too conclusory or did not have sufficient information, and should have included certain language for risk management purposes. Learn  more...

HR Time Lines: The Complex Integration of FMLA, WC, Disability and COBRA BenefitsHow do worker's compensation, FMLA, disability and COBRA laws work - together, independently or concurrently? What can run together? What cannot? When can we cancel the health plan, for what reason and is it a COBRA qualifying event? We will pull all of these together to explain the employer's liability. When can coverage be canceled? What laws protect employee benefits? Many times all  more...

Living With Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) BenefitsAs of March 19, 2009, 29 states have adopted UPMIFA as law and the Uniform Act is presently pending in an additional 16 jurisdictions. By the end of 2009, in most of the United States, attorneys representing nonprofit institutions and those who donate to them and their endowment funds will be governed by new state law which replaces the Uniform Management of Institutional Funds, which had  more...

Access Management Design and Development BenefitsAccess management is a critical element of every private and public roadway or site development project. As a transportation engineer and/or planner, understanding the basics of access design and access development is crucial in delivering a successful project to your client. Driveway access to a site can have positive or negative consequences on the amount of potential business a retail  more...

Dealing With Employees Who Have Been Charged With a Crime BenefitsOne of the most perplexing problems that can confront an employer arises after the employer discovers that one of its employees has been arrested and charged with a crime. Under our legal system, the familiar mantra is that an arrested person is 'innocent until proven guilty'. So, what can an employer do to address situations where an employee has been arrested or has been charge or  more...

Challenges and Rights of the Subordinate Debt BenefitsEven with the ongoing credit crisis, providing forms of subordinate debt can be a lucrative business model. However, the higher pricing and upfront fees come with substantial risk. If a subordinate lender can adequately review those risk factors and can hedge against them, a portfolio of subordinate debt can be a successful one. This teleconference will explore the potential risks of  more...

AIA Contracts: The Owner-General Contractor Agreement BenefitsFor more than a century, The American Institute of Architects has published an integrated set of contract forms for the construction industry. While other industry groups independently have prepared their own competing set of forms and, more recently, some have banded together to create more of a consensus-based set of forms, the AIA forms remain the most widely used and accepted in the  more...

Fraud and Embezzlement in Nonprofits: How It Happens and How to Prevent It! BenefitsIt's unfortunate, but the reality is that thinking your employees are honest isn't true! This fascinating and practical teleconference will walk you through actual fraud scenarios: discuss how the frauds occurred; and show profiles of embezzlers, why they did it, how they did it and what internal controls would have prevented them. Additionally, you will be provided a valuable handout to  more...

Affirmative Action in Employment - What Does It Really Mean? BenefitsThe Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is the government agency charged with enforcement of affirmative action regulations. It is armed with a new leader and an increased budget. During fiscal year 2008, the OFCCP recovered a record $67,510,982 in back pay for salary and benefits on behalf of 24,508 individuals who, in OFCCP's view, were subjected to unlawful employment  more...

Innovative Energy Saving Strategies for Manufacturers BenefitsMany manufacturing facilities that deal with older technologies, 'that's the way it has always been done' mentalities and a tunnel view consider the manufacturing process the only investment which will result in increased revenue. This teleconference will address the potentials to update this older technology. We will discuss new strategies to help manufacturer's see new ways are not  more...

Skip Tracing: Three Types of Skips BenefitsIt's true that anyone can do skip-tracing - but to do it properly, you need to know more than the raw mechanics. At this teleconference you'll learn the practical techniques you can use to finally find who you're looking for. You'll get insider secrets from a renowned skip-tracing expert. Discover the no-nonsense tools you need to perform database searches, get valuable information and  more...

Construction Joint Ventures: Benefits and Pitfalls BenefitsConstruction joint ventures, properly conceived and implemented, enhance the marketing opportunities and organizational assets of the individual joint venturers, thereby enabling the joint venture to obtain and successfully complete larger, more complex projects than those the joint venturers could undertake individually. Construction joint ventures are excellent vehicles for combining  more...

Reading and Understanding Soil Reports BenefitsJust because you have hired a consultant to provide you a soils report does not necessarily mean it will be put to good use. Many of the terms and even the recommendations given in soils reports could use some explanation. This teleconference will help you understand what type of soils report you may need, the technical terms found within the soils report, what is really the important  more...

Strengthening Self-Esteem, Resilience and Body Image in Adolescents BenefitsAdolescence is a time of heightened self-consciousness and anxiety about 'measuring up' in relation to schoolwork, appearance and social life. Today's culture promotes unrealistic and narrow standards of what is acceptable and attractive, increasing stress that can all too often undermine self-esteem and encourage feelings of inadequacy. This teleconference will look at some of the  more...

Statement of Work (SOW) Contract Fundamentals BenefitsA good statement of work is the only thing between you and failure, whether it be a project, a contract, a grant application or a proposal. Success is in the details of the statement of work. Without it, you can't compete or communicate. Those who have managed contracted work know that poorly written statements of work can lead to communication breakdowns, misunderstandings, disputes,  more...

Strategies for Reducing Unemployment Claims Costs BenefitsMany employers, after terminating an employee, focus on defending against a possible discrimination charge or a lawsuit. Unfortunately, they may pay little or no attention to defending against the ex-employee's unemployment compensation claim. Those employers, albeit mistakenly, believe the ex-employee will be awarded unemployment compensation benefits no matter what they do - so why  more...

Medical Records: Responding to Subpoenas and Investigations BenefitsDon't be caught off guard. You could be breaching the confidentiality of patients without even realizing it! From HIPAA requirements to state privacy laws, legal issues abound in the medical records arena. If you're not up to date on medical records law, your company could face serious legal and financial liability risks. Attend this teleconference and gain critical information on  more...

Stark Act Update: Recent Changes and Operational Challenges BenefitsThe Stark Act is a very technical law that prohibits several common financial arrangements between physicians and entities to which they refer, including hospitals. If a physician has a financial arrangement with an entity that bills for or performs 'designated health services,' the financial arrangement will need to meet all components of an applicable exception. If the Stark Act is  more...

Telephone Collections: Do's and Don'ts - Surviving the Jungle BenefitsThe credit and collection industry has grown dramatically over the past 20 years. Creditors are faced with increasing challenges in making loans and extending credit. The collection staff members in these creditor settings face mounting customer difficulties and tighter compliance environments. This teleconference will help you understand the importance of developing an effective recovery  more...

Current Issues in Cloud Computing: Is There Sun Behind Those Clouds? BenefitsCloud computing is an enormous, pervasive and game-changing technology. Tech industry heavyweights such as Microsoft , IBM and Google have each committed billions to developing and marketing it. Smaller players and startups are cropping up daily with new offerings. Yet, for all the hype, few people understand the technology nor the unique issues cloud computing poses - particularly when it  more...

Wage and Hour Update: Overtime Concerns With Mobile Devices BenefitsEmployer expectations for 24/7 access to employees is now the norm for many industries as new technologies allow work to be done virtually anywhere at any time. Serious questions have emerged about how employers should limit, monitor and compensate remote work hours. Recent litigation trends also show that compensation for time worked away from the office during nontraditional hours is  more...

Documentation and Proof of Construction Delay ... contractors, subcontractors, design consultants, project managers and their legal team. This teleconference will focus on the key terms, important contract provisions and the most successful approaches to the determination of delay. It will include a discussion of the importance of the critical path, the importance of the contemporaneous documentation and the pitfalls associated with  more...

Implications of the Stimulus Package on HIPAA BenefitsThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes substantial changes to requirements for the protection of health information privacy and security under HIPAA, some of which are already in effect. New requirements for business associates of HIPAA covered entities and requirements to notify individuals in the event of a breach are only two of the many areas affected in the new law,  more...

Complying With OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements BenefitsThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans to get tough on workplace safety enforcement. OSHA has received more than $50 million in additional funding, plans to hire between 130 and 160 new inspectors, has suspended certain voluntary compliance programs in order to free up resources for enforcement efforts, and has introduced a new program, the Severe Violators Inspection  more...

Hot Wage and Hour Issues: Assuring Proper Exempt and Nonexempt Classification of Your Employees BenefitsEmployees and their counsel continue to pursue individual and class action overtime claims based on the alleged misclassification of exempt workers at a fever pitch. Thousands of lawsuits asserting violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act or parallel state laws are filed each year and the costs of defending these matters and the damages claimed and paid, whether through trial or  more...

Design Professionals' Exposure for Design Errors and Omissions BenefitsToday, design professionals are being asked to take on greater risk and liability than ever before. For the individual responsible for identifying and evaluating risk for design professionals on a project-by-project basis, complex issues concerning measure of damages, insurance and other potential sources of risk must be understood and examined on every project. This teleconference will  more...

Affordable Housing: Finance and Development, How to Maximize the Available Resources BenefitsToday's housing market has been severely impacted by the subprime mortgage crisis and a downturn in the general economy. As a result, finding capital and equity to build affordable housing has become more and more difficult as investors sit this one out while the market stabilizes. This teleconference will highlight the issues, problems, causes, recent trends, what can be done and what is  more...

Protect and Collect - The Effective Use of Engagement Letters BenefitsToday's economy finds companies in every industry, including professional service firms, looking at best practices to keep revenues steady and to decrease liability. The collection process has become more burdensome as cash flow tightens across the country. With more and more lawsuits arising against professional service providers and their firms, law firms, accounting firms and even  more...

Float Ownership Issues in Construction Project Management BenefitsFloat is a measure of schedule flexibility. It can be used to avoid creating disputes about delays or misused to exacerbate them. We will discuss the relationships between schedules, float and delays, and examine techniques which may be used to manipulate them and to minimize manipulation. This teleconference will also review the effect of contract provisions and the development of case  more...

Commercial Lease Escalation Issues BenefitsHow can landlords and tenants protect themselves against rent risks and risks relating to property expenditures in an economy which is as unpredictable as ours? This teleconference will address the details of escalation clauses as they apply to rent, common area maintenance costs and even security deposits. It will address a variety of means whereby both landlords and tenants can try to  more...

IRS Form 5471: Information Return for U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations BenefitsAs more U.S. companies view global markets as a necessity to survive and to grow, more U.S. companies own foreign subsidiaries to conduct foreign operations. Whether you are a growing multinational company with subsidiaries all over the globe, or a small, closely-held company that owns a Canadian subsidiary, you will have to file IRS Form 5471 for every foreign corporation that you own.  more...

Employee Wages: Administration of Caps, Freezes, Reductions and Furloughs BenefitsEmployers continue to search for ways to control payroll costs in response to economic uncertainty. Layoffs and force reductions have pared many workforces to the bone, but the pressure to manage costs is relentless. Adjustments to compensation and to working time can be viable alternatives to job cuts, but they are not without legal risk. This teleconference will address the legal and  more...

Understanding UCC Article 9 Foreclosures BenefitsCurrent market conditions pose an alarming rate of defaults on commercial loans not seen in years. With defaults commonplace and secured creditors facing challenges in protecting their interests, foreclosing on assets under UCC Article 9 may be the right option. If appropriate, a public auction, private sale or friendly foreclosure under Article 9 may provide a quick and relatively  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

New Developments in Greywater Irrigation Systems BenefitsDue to drought, climate change, groundwater over-drafting and sheer population increase, pressure is on developers and builders to conserve water in new developments. The focus for such conservation is on the landscape, which currently uses about half of all urban water. This teleconference will teach you what greywater really is, all the environmental and financial benefits of reusing it,  more...

Understanding Your Summary Plan Descriptions BenefitsEmployers who sponsor ERISA covered health and welfare plans are required to communicate the terms of the plan to participants in a summary plan description. The SPD is an important disclosure document that describes, in understandable terms, the rights, benefits and responsibilities of participants and beneficiaries in ERISA covered health and welfare benefit plans. The SPD must include  more...

Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning BenefitsMany estate planners who are asked about family limited partnerships or family limited liability companies do not understand the reasons for forming these entities in the planning process. They also are not clear on what is the current status of statutory and case law concerning the continued use of these entities. This teleconference will help you learn to identify when the use of this  more...

New Developments in Greywater Irrigation Systems BenefitsDue to drought, climate change, groundwater over-drafting and sheer population increase, pressure is on developers and builders to conserve water in new developments. The focus for such conservation is on the landscape, which currently uses about half of all urban water. This teleconference will teach you what greywater really is, all the environmental and financial benefits of reusing it,  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

Basics of Reverse Osmosis for Brackish Groundwater Treatment nMany professionals in membrane desalination design, operation and maintenance are faced with the difficult task of keeping current on the rapidly changing technology. Reverse osmosis membrane products change as the suppliers introduce new models. How and when to best apply these products and what features and benefits they offer must be analyzed before optimum performance can be realized.  more...

Revised Federal Form 1065 BenefitsMore and more businesses are choosing to operate in the form of limited liability companies and being taxed under the partnerships rules as a pass through entity. The preparation of a partnership income tax return is becoming increasingly more challenging as the IRS increases the level of transparency and reporting. The purpose of this teleconference is to highlight important areas for  more...

Juvenile-Onset Bipolar Disorder: Discussion, Diagnosis and Treatment Considerations BenefitsThis teleconference is for those interested in current thinking and diagnostic skills necessary to diagnose and treat bipolar children and their families. The missing pieces will also be discussed which is adequate educational planning. How to work collaboratively with a treating psychiatrist and how to be an advocate for the child and family if the child is not receiving the most  more...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Drug and Alcohol Testing but Were Afraid to Ask BenefitsMost companies that care about safety in the workplace have implemented a drug and alcohol testing program. An added benefit to companies is a reduction in their workers' compensation insurance premiums. What makes an effective program? What kind of safeguards should there be to ensure accuracy? What does a drug test really measure? What is the best sample: urine, hair or oral fluid? Are  more...

A Road Map to Greening Our Residential Buildings: National Green Building Standards Review BenefitsIn this teleconference, you will uncover the hidden opportunities across our largest environmental problem areas in residential buildings. We will uncover how we are missing substantial ways to save energy, water and money, and discuss the new national green building standards that will affect you and your industry. You'll be exposed to new data and connections you've never seen before and  more...

Current Issues in Real Estate Appraisals BenefitsThe financial crisis occurred in mid-2008 and was brought to a crescendo when AIG was taken over and Lehman Brothers failed in September 2008. The reasons behind the failures were many but beneath it all was the collateral position of the real estate and proper risk assessment of the asset. The single most important question is always - What is the value? All federally regulated  more...

Taxation of Gifts, Prizes, Bonuses and Awards BenefitsParticularly in difficult economic times, employers are looking to provide benefits to employees with the least cost, both to them and employees. Gifts and prizes can be a good yet inexpensive way to boost morale, unless employers and employees alike fail to understand the tax consequences and end up with an unintended and unwanted tax bill. This teleconference will explain the tax  more...

Current Issues in Digital Billboards and Sign Regulations BenefitsLocal governments, elected officials, municipal lawyers, zoning and building officials, and professional planners face increasing litigation threats due to the proliferation of digital signs. One national expert has predicted a wave of litigation at localities across the country that is trying to maintain attractive communities and prevent visual blight. What is the role of the Federal  more...

Getting Advice from the IRS: Letter Rulings, Pre-Filing Agreements, TAMS and GLAMs BenefitsMany times clients must have certainty as to the federal tax consequences of a proposed transaction - and while tax opinions are helpful, they do not provide the certainty of qualified advice from the IRS. This teleconference is designed to discuss how, when and why to seek qualified written advice from the IRS, normally in the form of a private letter ruling request, a review of the  more...

Recognizing and Addressing COBRA BenefitsCOBRA - It has CHANGED AGAIN! But it wasn't actually the COBRA law that changed - you must track other laws to be sure you are in compliance. You have heard about the stimulus package but what has it done to our COBRA? The stimulus package now states that employees involuntarily losing their job between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, will have special COBRA privileges including  more...

Construction Contract Bid Errors BenefitsThe pressures on contractors to obtain work have never been greater. The competition for contracts, often coupled with precarious financial health, leaves very little margin for error - yet bid mistakes are on the increase with adverse consequences for owners, contractors and subcontractors. This teleconference analyzes the legal consequences of bid errors and how to avoid them. Those who  more...

Document Retention and Destruction: What Human Resource Professionals Must Know BenefitsCorrectly handling the documentation of employees is one of the most difficult and tedious tasks that human resources professionals need to perform for their organizations. Knowing the proper procedures to follow to document employees in the workplace is a key skill needed by most human resources professionals. This teleconference will provide you with information on the key concepts and  more...

Microsoft Outlook 2007 Tips and Tricks BenefitsOutlook is a powerful, feature-filled personal information manager but many users are overwhelmed by the features and options available and never take full advantage of the potential it offers for managing email, calendar and contacts. They don't discover the time-saving shortcuts Outlook provides or utilize the many options included in Outlook. This teleconference offers a quick course in  more...

Understanding the Basics of Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Terminology BenefitsThe current economic environment makes bankruptcy a particularly timely and relevant topic. Whether you are forced to deal with bankruptcy issues as a debtor, secured or unsecured creditor, lessor or lessee, or investor looking for distressed-asset opportunities, this teleconference will give you a road map to understand the bankruptcy process. Attorneys, paralegals, presidents, vice  more...

Enterprise Resource Planning - Getting the Payback From Your ERP System BenefitsYou will get an overview of the planning hierarchy in world class businesses and how the planning process utilizes the ERP system. You will better understand the need for robust metrics and an accountability infrastructure, and will become more aware of the power the ERP discipline has in getting the most return for the effort invested. It will become apparent that there is a lot of  more...

Reverse Mortgages: A Lender's Perspective BenefitsThe reverse mortgage market is expanding exponentially as the population ages and new players are coming into the market. Don't get left behind. Learn what a reverse mortgage is, what's involved in offering such a product, which reverse mortgage products are currently offered in the market, state and federal requirements, and potential pitfalls. Join Reed Smith attorney Arthur Axelson for  more...

Private Foundation Requirements and Restrictions BenefitsMany families and corporations establish private foundations to carry on their personal philanthropy. While private foundations offer significant opportunities for family and corporate philanthropists, there are special federal tax rules that apply. Failure to fully understand these rules can subject the foundations and those involved with them to substantial excise taxes. This  more...

Sales and Use Taxation of Internet Sales: The Evolving Case Law BenefitsAs federal funds available for state governments are reduced, many states are taking aggressive positions in an attempt to impose sales and use tax obligations on interstate transactions. Internet sellers face a murky and sometimes ill-defined landscape with respect to sales and use taxes that are impacted by both state law and federal constitutional principles. This teleconference will  more...

Federal Tax Classification of Series LLCs BenefitsThe series LLC may be the solution to many issues that confront federal tax practitioners on a daily basis. For example, the series LLC is very useful in situations where long and expensive regulatory processes are involved with a new state law entity. The series LLC also can be used in asset backed securitizations in place of business trusts in those states that treat single member LLCs  more...

Case Study: What Makes Dixon Schwabl One of the "Best Small Companies to Work for in America" BenefitsLearn how to motivate, empower and excite employees to build a great place to work. Dixon Schwabl, Inc., CEO Lauren Dixon will share her experiences developing a company culture built on flexibility, freedom and respect for employees, inspiring an innovative approach to everyday workplace practices. No matter the size, geography or industry - any company can be a great place to work. Ms.  more...

Use of Terms and Conditions in Purchasing Contracts BenefitsAs companies seek to reduce transaction costs by doing business with standardized business forms, the old 10-point, double-column terms and conditions provisions have taken on new importance for purchasing professionals. This teleconference is going to expose that what is hidden in that microscopic text are not only acronyms that can be legally determinative if a controversy develops, but  more...

Utilizing Spendthrift Trusts in Estate Plans BenefitsA spendthrift trust is an invaluable tool in protecting assets for the beneficiary. This teleconference will introduce you to the use and purpose of spendthrift trusts. Additionally, this program will provide specific guidance of drafting an effective spendthrift trust and highlight drafting pitfalls. Attorneys, estate planners, accountants, presidents, vice presidents, CFOs, controllers,  more...

Ground Failures and Other Groundwater-Related Property Damage BenefitsOne ground failure can destroy your professional reputation or decimate your life savings. A ground failure doesn't have to make the national news to be a catastrophic loss to a property owner. Ground failure mechanisms come in many forms - landslides, sinkholes, soil expansion, bedrock heave, soil collapse, erosion - all of which typically include water as a major contributing factor.  more...

Slope Stabilization: Best Practices and Challenges BenefitsThis teleconference will address the types of slope stabilization failures and techniques used to avoid failures by the application of best practices. There are well-established engineering principles for the design and maintenance of stable slopes. This teleconference summarizes practices to overcome challenges to enhance slope stability. Many engineers are faced with challenges to  more...

Best Practices in Commission Pay Plans BenefitsThere are few management tools that work as well in recruiting, directing, motivating and retaining sales people as a strong commission plan. This is critical because sales people are often highly paid, remote from headquarters and entrusted with customer relationships (very valuable assets). A properly designed commission plan clearly and personally communicates the strategy of the  more...

Internal Controls BenefitsWhether you're part of the Fortune 500 or a small private company, understanding how to develop and implement effective internal controls is critical to your business. In addition to helping you comply with the law, a good system of internal control can dramatically improve your bottom line. In this 90-minute teleconference, you'll learn about basic internal control concepts that will help  more...

Contractor Selection BenefitsIn today's difficult financial times when construction is considered, it is vital to have the best construction team members available. While design professionals, lenders and other professionals are important for a successful project, in these 'watch the bottom line' times, the contractor you place in charge of the work is the most important person on the project. This teleconference will  more...

Low Quality Asphalt: How to Avoid Problems Down the Road BenefitsLow quality asphalt is a facility owner's or manager's nightmare. How to turn it into a high quality asset can be a difficult question. That's what this teleconference is about. Reconstruction of asphalt pavements, whether a roadway, commercial parking lot or large distribution center, can be time consuming and very expensive. Costs associated with loss of use can easily exceed costs of  more...

Avoiding Costly Mistakes In Harassment Policies and Investigations BenefitsSexual and other forms of harassment remain a significant problem for employers. Courts and legislatures continue to create new obligations for employers and continue to increase the potential for liability for employers. Many employers continue to have policies and procedures for harassment that are outdated or that actually create potential liability. This teleconference will help you  more...

Low-Impact Development Maintenance and Upkeep Techniques BenefitsThroughout the country new storm water regulations are requiring the control of runoff peak flow rates, runoff volume and water quality. To meet these requirements, engineers and planners are implementing low impact development concepts into their site development plans. This results in the use of many complex storm water BMPs such as bioinfiltration systems, infiltration basins,  more...

LEED Tax Incentives and Credits for Green Buildings BenefitsLEED is a certification program for green buildings. Key elements of the program are water conservation, energy conservation and a reduction in waste going to landfill. Federal, state and local jurisdictions are looking for ways to incentivize improved performance in these key areas. The President is working with Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to protect our nation from the  more...

The Fundamentals of Estate Planning for Pets BenefitsPets are an important part of the lives of many individuals. People own pets for a variety of reasons - they love animals, they enjoy the companionship and they enjoy receiving unconditional love. On many occasions, pets have supplanted children in people's lives. Planning for these companions requires a comprehensive look at the various opportunities and techniques which are available to  more...

Today's Legal Medical Record - A Hybrid Record BenefitsThe goal of this teleconference is to give you some information and a suggested format for developing your definition and policy of the legal health record for your institution. We'll remind ourselves what the real purpose of the medical record is and investigate how we meet those purposes with a hybrid record. We'll look at what the components of the legal medical record include versus  more...

Implied Obligations in Construction Contracts BenefitsWhen parties enter into construction or design contracts, there may be numerous implied obligations that arise under law or in equity. These implied obligations should be carefully considered by owners, design professionals and contractors. These implied obligations apply to most construction and design contracts unless a specific contractual provision is provided in the contract that  more...

The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act: Application to Condominiums and Single Family Homes BenefitsIn today's environment, many purchasers of condominium units and homesites are trying to back out of their purchases. Learn how to keep your hard-earned condominium unit sales and single-family home sales from slipping away. Many condominium developers and home builders who are subject to the federal Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act do not understand how to comply, or perhaps  more...

Direct Cost Accounting and Indirect Cost Allocation for Not-For-Profit Organizations BenefitsThis teleconference will help you deepen your understanding of direct cost accounting and indirect allocation rules, risks and best practices to achieve compliance with accounting requirements and maximize cost reimbursement. Accountants, attorneys, executive directors, officers, controllers, CFOs, tax managers and enrolled agents  more...

Electronic Invoicing and Payments: Paperless A/P Best Practices BenefitsIt may seem impossible to escape the paper heavy processes in your AP department and achieve the coveted paperless status but pulling off this caper is not a feat reserved for only paper mavericks. Instead, we can show you there is a way to achieve a paper-free environment and realize your ROI. In this teleconference, e-invoicing architect Henry Ijams will discuss your options for a  more...

Opt-Out Incentives and Other Cost Cutting Measures for Health Plans BenefitsThe recent debate regarding health care reform has highlighted for the public what employers have known for years - health care is expensive. Employers have for years looked for creative ways to alleviate double digit annual increases in the cost of health coverage provided to its employees. Employers have toggled deductibles and co-payments, and they have implemented wellness programs and  more...

Efficiency Estimations and Payback Periods for New Equipment BenefitsEnergy savings is possible for nearly every electric motor application but there are obstacles to buying and installing a higher efficiency motor. Practical considerations of the real world such as initial purchase, accounting system roadblocks, and installation and operating cost, must be part of the decision process. This teleconference will explain basic principles of electric motor  more...

Determining Meaningful Use for Electronic Health Records BenefitsThe 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package allotted nearly $20 billion in direct funding and incentives for health care providers to implement health information technology provided they demonstrate 'meaningful use' of a 'certified' electronic health record. This teleconference is intended to provide you with a timely update on the federal government's requirements  more...

Payroll Tax Pitfalls: Preventing IRS Penalties and Personal Liability for Late Payments BenefitsAmong many other legal obligations, employers face the ongoing requirement to timely withhold and remit payroll taxes to the federal government. People responsible for fulfilling a company's payroll tax obligations often do not realize the substantial penalties that can be imposed by the IRS against the company when payroll taxes are not timely deposited or paid at all. Additionally, in  more...

Employee Safety and Health Systems: Cutting Injuries Using the Team Approach ...poor as management will allow it to be. And although most managers care for the health and well being of their workers, they usually do not understand the proper way to manage the safety system. This teleconference will describe how to effectively manage the employee safety and health system. With proper installation and implementation of the system described in this teleconference, you will  more...

The UCC Article 9 Update BenefitsThe revisions to Article 9, which generally became effective in 2001, substantially changed the law. Now, with a few years of experience, the case law is beginning to emerge and develop, and practitioners are beginning to identify issues not contemplated by the drafting committee. The changes to the Article 9 filing system were significant and the prevalence of filing cases suggests that  more...

8 Issues When Doing Business or Contracting With Native American Tribes BenefitsThere are more than 500 federally-recognized American Indian tribes in the United States, each established under a constitution unique to the tribe. Each tribe, through its constitution and subsequent legislation, has developed its own laws and regulations addressing issues of contracting, jurisdiction and waivers, if any, of sovereign immunity. Individuals and entities seeking to do  more...

Construction Recordkeeping and Documentation Requirements for Government Contracts BenefitsWhile a systematic records retention policy is a hallmark of every successful business, it is also a mandatory condition of contracting with the federal government. Federal laws and regulations require federal contractors, including construction contractors, to maintain certain records related to the contract for a specific number of years. Consequently, federal contractors are well  more...

Jeopardizing Exempt Status: Top 10 Mistakes Employers Make and How to Avoid Them BenefitsOnce exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees do not necessarily remain exempt for the duration of their employment. Actions taken (or not taken) by employers can and do jeopardize the exemptions claimed, leading unknowing employers down the path to potentially ruinous liability for unpaid minimum wages and overtime. This teleconference is designed to help you identify issues  more...

Water Supply and Groundwater Well Design BenefitsThe demand for reliable clean water continues to grow across the country and one of the most common sources is ground water. The most important component in a ground water based supply system is the wells used to extract water from underground aquifers. Maintaining the long term performance of wells requires an understanding of the factors that effect well performance. Problems with well  more...

Determining the Best Service Delivery Options for Public Works and Utility Projects: In-House or Contract? BenefitsIn this teleconference, you will learn principles and techniques for determining when a project or activity is best delivered by in-house staff, through a contract with a neighboring government or a private contractor, or a combined approach with some tasks performed in-house and others by a contractor. The teleconference will present a practical, nuts-and-bolts approach with examples to  more...

FAS 117-1: Endowments of Not-for-Profit Organizations BenefitsIn response to the enactment of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act in most of the United States, the Financial Accounting Standards Board last year promulgated FASB Staff Position No. FAS 117-1. FSP FAS 117-1 provides guidance for nonprofits as to the proper classification of endowment funds when UPMIFA has been enacted and expands the required disclosure about  more...

Options Under Section 504 BenefitsPublic and private educational facilities that receive federal assistance must comply with the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973, concerning the rights of disabled employees and students. An educational facility's failure to comply with this law and its related regulations can result in a school being assessed with significant liability, including potential loss of federal funds.  more...

Conducting Background Checks BenefitsAn ever increasing number of employers are recognizing the benefits that can be derived from conducting background checks on both current and prospective employees. While background checks can be an effective tool for weeding out questionable employees, legal limitations on how such checks can be performed (and how the resulting data discovered can be used) must be understood or otherwise  more...

Revenue Recognition Standards and Policies BenefitsThe teleconference is intended to accomplish two things: 1. To review current accounting guidance for revenue recognition with an emphasis on, in my experience, two contentious revenue recognition issues - multiple element arrangements and accounting for sales incentives; and 2. An introduction to two new standards on revenue recognition that will affect the accounting for multiple element  more...

Basic Principles of Construction Insurance BenefitsThis popular teleconference offers an overview of basic insurance coverage used for construction projects. The presenters are experienced construction and insurance coverage attorneys who will discuss how to secure appropriate insurance coverage at a project's inception and what to do when claims arise during construction or after project completion. Builder's risk, CGL and other common  more...

International Purchasing: Current Trends and Supply Chain Security BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss improved supply chain security and vendor performance, as well as reduce risk of liability for third-party violations of U.S. law and other misconduct. The speaker will discuss how to facilitate dealings with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and speed customs clearance of incoming shipments. The teleconference will provide you with an increased awareness  more...

Foreclosing on Real and Personal Property Collateral: What You Need to Know BenefitsLoan defaults are rising and secured creditors are once again having to think about enforcing their rights through foreclosure of real and personal property collateral. This can be a complicated process that requires a good deal of planning in order to reach a successful outcome. This teleconference will help the people responsible for loan workout and enforcement evaluate their positions  more...

When HOA's and the IRS Compete for Lien Property: Lien Priorities, Perfections and Foreclosure Rights BenefitsIn lien law, timing is everything - or is it? If an HOA's statutory lien is perfected by recording its CC R's, then an HOA lien should have priority over a subsequently recorded IRS income tax lien; but does it? When the IRS records an income tax lien, lien priority determinations under state law may be complicated by governed federal laws. This teleconference will discuss HOA lien  more...

Setting the Stage for Rehiring: Logistic and Liability Issues BenefitsWith the ongoing economic crisis, employers across the country have undertaken unprecedented workforce reductions. However, eventually the economic pendulum will swing the other way and employers will be faced with the task of re-staffing their depleted workforce. Smart employers plan and prepare for that day so they can quickly identify and rehire the key talent necessary to meet their  more...

Preparing for Medicaid Audits BenefitsThe current and future state of Medicaid audits - are you and your clients adequately prepared? The Medicaid program is a state's most significant health care expense and, in many instances, one of its largest budgetary items. It is the health insurer of last resort for children and the economically disadvantaged. The recent economic downturn has caused shortfalls to many states' overall  more...

Doing Business with Distressed Vendors and Customers: Strategies to Employ in Workouts, Litigation and Bankruptcy BenefitsThe strains of the current economic crisis are being felt in every industry and at every point in the supply chain. More and more often, vendors are encountering distressed buyers and buyers are dealing with distressed suppliers. Attend this teleconference and you will learn to recognize the early warning signs of financial distress, and be armed with strategies that can be employed in  more...

Medicare Secondary Payer Act - Protecting Medicare's Interest in Insurance Settlements BenefitsPursuant to 42 USC Section 1395y(b)(2), commonly known as the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, Medicare may not make payment for medical benefits where 'payment has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under a workmen's compensation law or plan of the United States or a state or under an automobile or liability insurance policy or plan (including a self-insured plan) or under no  more...

Emerging Trends in Infrastructure Finance - The Stimulus and Beyond BenefitsOur nation's competitiveness has long relied on an efficient, effective and affordable infrastructure network. Over time, both private and public sector investors have played roles in developing our infrastructure. Unfortunately, as the era of government-led and government-financed infrastructure comes to an end because of diminishing resources, alternatives must be explored. Governments  more...

Changes to Cafeteria Plans: What You Need to Know to Prepare BenefitsThe IRS recently issued new rules which replaced parts of the old regulations. These new rules are exciting but require you to review and act on your old documents. The information provided will assist you in decisions for the upcoming plan year and how to prepare for the changes. Human resources and benefits managers, attorneys, controllers, CFOs finance directors, payroll managers,  more...

Deductions From Pay BenefitsEmployers often have difficulties navigating through the complex requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Misclassifying employees' status can be costly to an employee. It is estimated that at least 70 percent of employers are not in compliance with the FLSA. As Department of Labor audits increase, it is critical for employers to understand the FLSA and to recognize the permissible  more...

Nanotech Materials for Sustainable Buildings BenefitsA nanotech revolution is underway in building materials and technologies. In fact, you won't achieve truly green, sustainable buildings without some of the products emerging from this revolution. Many nanotech products are already here and you can use them with confidence. This 90-minute, nontechnical teleconference will give an overview of how nanotech is changing the full spectrum of  more...

Understanding the Basics of Lean Accounting BenefitsAs mid level manufacturing firms migrate to advanced manufacturing processes, they have become uncertain about the ability of traditional cost accounting tools to provide meaningful and accurate measurements. This teleconference outlines a hands-on view of the process needed to evaluate, establish and maintain lean accounting in a mid-level manufacturing environment. While lean accounting  more...

Advanced Microsoft Excel Formulas and Functions: Master Your Usage of Excel's More Powerful Formulas and Functions BenefitsEven if you are fairly comfortable with building formulas and functions in Excel , you might still be missing out by having overlooked some powerful functions or just not be aware of special capabilities, like array formulas. There's no question that Excel's 300+ functions give you tremendous capabilities to tackle a myriad of statistical, mathematical and financial challenges, not to  more...

Managing Employee Absenteeism and Tardiness BenefitsManaging absenteeism and tardiness can be a sticky issue - it is rarely a black and white issue. There are mandatory leave laws that have to be incorporated into your leave policies and some of those can create restrictions on how to administer your leave policies. There are also some restrictions on disciplining employees when they appear to abuse policies. This teleconference will help  more...

Integrated Project Delivery Principles and Building Information Modeling BenefitsMany in the facilities community, including designers, builders and owners, need a hand understanding IPD and BIM. What does it all mean? Who benefits and how? Some that have heard about IPD and BIM may be wondering how to either ask for it in their projects or implement these principles in their firms. There are some basic concepts in IPD and BIM that can be used in every project large or  more...

Using Investment Policy Statements as an Investment Tool: It's an Art, Not a Science BenefitsThis teleconference will bring together a panel with differing perspectives on the use and creation of investment policy statements, including outside legal counsel to address perceived problems arising from nonconforming activities; inside legal counsel to discuss techniques for ensuring that the instrument clearly and fully reflects the investor's expectations and the firm's  more...

Form-Based Coding: An Alternative to Conventional Zoning BenefitsThis teleconference will provide a basic understanding of form-based codes: how they are different, how they can be applied and how they can help implement more sustainable communities. Lessons learned and steps toward beginning the process will provide you with a clear path toward a successful form-based code. Legal and practical considerations associated with adopting form-based zoning  more...

Documenting and Organizing LEED Projects: Lessons Learned for Better LEED Submissions BenefitsLEED certification is becoming a more common requirement for designs in this environmentally sensitive and energy-conscious world. Design teams are being asked to integrate steps for LEED certification into already established design processes. Even though a designer might understand the principles of sustainable design and are familiar with LEED certification, until they have managed a  more...

Billing and Collecting for the Health Care Industry BenefitsDon't miss this billing and collecting teleconference presented by Neltner Billing Consulting Services, Inc. During the teleconference, we will present an overview of coding, billing and auditing for evaluation and management services. We will discuss common billing errors and practical methods for ensuring compliance. We will also share specific techniques for claims processing, payment  more...

Mental Illness and the ADA BenefitsManaging employees with claimed mental conditions creates unique challenges for employers attempting to comply with the ADA. What mental impairments does the ADA protect? How does the employer know of these often invisible disabilities and of the employee's need to accommodate the condition? How does an employer accommodate conditions that cause employees to violate work rules or request  more...

Legal Traps of Internet Activities for Nonprofits BenefitsThe Internet is essential to the functioning of virtually every nonprofit organization, yet it is fraught with a host of legal pitfalls. This teleconference will focus on the legal traps of Internet activity: the tax impact of web-based advertising and related activities, the potential issues involved in fundraising through the Internet and the risks of utilizing emerging social media to  more...

Loan Modifications: Available Programs, Issues and Fundamentals BenefitsIn this economic downturn with the mortgage loan default rate at unprecedented highs, lenders, investors and servicers are in a quandary as to how best to deal with their loan portfolios. Facing workouts or foreclosures, the mortgage industry must weigh its options to determine how to maximize its return. With likely foreclosure moratoriums, decreasing home values and governmental  more...

Unclaimed Property Compliance: Are you Ready for the Upcoming Reporting Deadline? BenefitsIs your company ready to file your unclaimed property report by the November 1 deadline? Who within your company is responsible for ensuring compliance with the various state unclaimed property laws? Is your company currently undergoing an unclaimed property audit? If you are struggling to find the answer to any one of these important compliance questions, this teleconference is for you!  more...

Developing a Community Nonemergency Response System BenefitsCitizens are demanding fast, easy access to government services in an efficient manner that optimizes their investment. Municipal executives are consistently seeking government solutions to improve service without increasing budgets. Elected officials know the quality of services can mean the difference between re-election and defeat. This teleconference will provide municipal leaders the  more...

Working Capital Management: Effective Policies and Techniques BenefitsLiquidity is top of mind for executives and they are looking at all sources of incremental free cash flow within their organizations. One area that is on everyone's list of sources is working capital, but most companies fail to reap the full opportunity that is available to them. What are leading companies doing to effectively drive cash flow from working capital? This teleconference will  more...

Commercial Ground Leases: A Conceptual Framework BenefitsEven well-seasoned real estate attorneys may not have enough direct experience with ground leases to negotiate them effectively. Indeed, lessons learned in negotiating ordinary leases often mislead lawyers handling ground leases into taking negotiating positions that are fundamentally incompatible with the economic basis for ground lease transactions and the requirements of leasehold  more...

Performance Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Constructed Bridges BenefitsThe deterioration of constructed bridges is one of the most critical problems facing the infrastructure of the United States. According to a recent survey (ASCE 2005), an overall grade of D has been given to our infrastructure systems. Typical sources of bridge deterioration include increased live load, environmental attack and physical damage such as collision of heavy trucks. This  more...

Developing a Pay-for-Performance Plan BenefitsPay-for-performance plans are like motherhood and apple pie - everyone agrees with the concept, but not everyone can achieve the desired results. This teleconference will present the concept of pay-for-performance and its relationship to the compensation strategy. You will learn about the various performance-based plans that can be developed within base salary and variable pay components,  more...

Pricing and Cost Analysis in Purchasing BenefitsOne of the most important and complex decisions a business or organization has to make is how much to pay for its items or services. The buying professional should be able to easily detect prices that are too high. Thus pricing decisions must be given careful consideration when buying industrial products and services. The price of a product or service should be expected to cover cost of  more...

Current Issues in CEQA BenefitsWhile others chose to fight over the reality of climate change, those of us who work on new development or projects in California only have time to fight to keep up with the enormous changes in California law and jurisprudence concerning climate change. This teleconference will provide an update on the proposed changes to the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines for mitigation  more...

Commercial Foreclosure Due Diligence Checklist: What to Do Before, During and After Foreclosure BenefitsWhen a commercial mortgage loan becomes troubled, even before it goes into default, the parties must quickly confront a number of issues. For the lender, it is imperative that it conduct a due diligence review of its file, the loan and the collateral as soon as possible. Should the default not be cured or the parties not be able to restructure the loan, the lender faces the options of  more...

Preparing an Accurate Form 1041 BenefitsWith more individuals using trusts in estate planning, knowing how to prepare an accurate Form 1041 is becoming more important than ever. Properly computing taxable income and correctly allocating taxable income between the entity and its beneficiaries can avoid not only challenges by the IRS but also disgruntled beneficiaries. This teleconference will help you understand the main rules on  more...

Online Collection Techniques: Do's and Don'ts BenefitsTechnology has changed how we communicate and do business. Debt collectors have the added challenge of trying to contact debtors who may only correspond via email or online portals. Some debtors no longer have a land line phone and only use cell phones, texting, email and instant messages to communicate. How can debt collectors face this challenge while following debt collection laws that  more...

Wellness Programs: Legal Developments, Requirements and Risks BenefitsAs Congress looks at making significant changes to health insurance, wellness programs are playing a central role in the debate. Congress wants to encourage wellness programs and healthy lifestyles to help control the cost of health insurance and much of their interest is based on success stories from the private sector. But privacy advocates and some federal regulators take the position  more...

Subleasing Issues In A Down and Recovering Market BenefitsBrokers and property owners agree: The subprime mortgage meltdown has finally reached the office market, bringing with it a flood of subleases as the economy continues its downward trend, and even as it recovers. It is time to dust off the practices and procedures lessons first learned in 1991 and 1992 when the savings and loan industry collapsed, and then again in 2000 and 2001 when the  more...

Common Annexation Issues in Development BenefitsAnnexation is a process for the adjustment of government boundaries. Annexation can have a significant impact on the owners of the real property to be annexed, on the annexing government agency and on those who own property in the immediate area. This teleconference will discuss the pros and cons of annexation and how it is used to control development. You will gain useful information  more...

Employer's HIPAA Privacy and Security Responsibilities Benefits strong New Mandates Under HIPAA and State Laws Create Obligations for Employers /strong Personal and company confidential data, exceedingly valuable assets, are under siege. Organizations across the country and locally have experienced significant data breaches resulting in unauthorized access to a vast amount of personal and company confidential information. At the same time,  more...

Construction Payment Remedies: Using the Right Tools BenefitsThe recession has made nonpayment and late payment critical concerns to many in the construction industry. The unique nature of the industry and the special remedies available to those in it make payment disputes matters of much interest to all involved in the construction process. The recession has only made resolution of these disputes more challenging. This teleconference will cover  more...

Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities Under ERISA BenefitsMaintaining an employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 requires that people managing the plan or investing plan assets become fiduciaries. You need to know when they might become an ERISA plan fiduciary. You must understand your legal obligations to plan participants and beneficiaries. This teleconference will provide you with an overview of the  more...

Prevailing Wage Law--An Understanding of The Davis-Bacon Act BenefitsWage and hour laws have become the principal source for the new wave of employment class actions, which often result in hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in many cases millions of dollars, of recoverable damages and attorneys' fees awarded to the successful litigants and their attorneys - in addition to the substantial amount of legal fees and administrative costs incurred by  more...

Legal Issues Surrounding the Utilization and Maintenance of Computerized Medical Records BenefitsWith the federal government's prioritization of health information technology and evidence that electronic health record systems can reduce medical errors and lead to more efficient delivery of care, many hospitals and providers are beginning to implement EHRs in their facilities and practices. Despite federal regulations that permit certain donations of EHR technology, the implementation  more...

GSA Price Reduction Clauses (PRC) in Contracts BenefitsGSA Federal Supply Schedule contracting is a convenient way for companies to sell their products to the federal government. However, doing business under GSA FSS contracts presents a number of compliance issues, with one of the most important being the price reduction clause. This clause is included in all of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule schedules and essentially it guarantees that GSA  more...

Commodity Risks: How to Identify and Implement a Corporate Hedging Program BenefitsMany firms are unprepared to manage the risks associated with changes in commodity prices and their effect on the bottom line. Such firms often wonder if there is a way to manage the risk differently - could they identify the risk in advance, anticipate the impact and mitigate the changes such that their bottom line is preserved? Yes. This teleconference will help you identify the risks of  more...

Properly Handling Employee Complaints of Discrimination BenefitsThe existence of effectively enforced rules, the fair and thorough investigation of complaints and misconduct, and an understanding of the legal process relating to claims are critical to enabling a company to limit potential charges and lawsuits asserting discrimination. This teleconference will afford practical guidance in analyzing and responding to charges effectively and lawfully.  more...

Immigration Compliance for the HR Professional: Employment Authorization Issues and Beyond BenefitsAll United States employers must comply with employment authorization and verification laws, regardless of the size or composition of their workforce. This teleconference will supply you with the information you need to ensure your company is in compliance with employment authorization rules and regulations. Detailed guidance on employment verification procedures, Social Security number  more...

Health Care Reform: Implications for Employers, Insurers, and Individuals BenefitsHealth care reform could have a more significant impact on the United States economy and on our personal lives than any federal legislation in the past 100 years. Beyond the partisan politics and media hype are the practical concerns of employers, HR professionals, attorneys, third-party administrators, and other consultants and professionals who work with group health plans and related  more...

Collection Issues for Condominium and Homeowners' Association: Legal Tips, Concepts and Current Trends in Assessment Collection BenefitsThis teleconference will address relevant legal issues and practical considerations related to the collection of assessments for condominium and homeowner associations. Given current economic trends, the suppressed housing market and rising rates of foreclosures and bankruptcies, homeowners' associations are now inundated with delinquencies and legal issues in degrees not previously  more...

Final Regulations on Shareholder and S Corporation Debt BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss the impact of the recently-finalized treasury regulations on open-account debt extended to S corporations by their shareholders. The extension of debt by shareholders to S corporations can be an effective way of producing tax basis that supports the ability of shareholders to deduct losses. The regulations now limit that ability with respect to open-account  more...

Fundamentals of SBA Lending: Documenting, Closing and Funding the SBA Loan BenefitsSBA lending affords banks and other lending institutions with the opportunity to finance commercial loans to small businesses and, at the same time, secure a 50 to 90 percent loan guarantee from the federal government. While the program can be quite profitable, it's not without its risks. Compliance with SBA regulations is mandatory to ensure success and profitability. With seismic changes  more...

A Privacy Law Primer: What Every Attorney, Compliance and Security Officer Should Know BenefitsPrivacy and information security legislation, standards and case law are having an ever-larger impact on your relationships with your customers, clients and employees, as well as on your company's management of personal information. Issue-spotting in this area requires some familiarity with the complex state, federal and international regulatory patchwork and nongovernmental standards that  more...

From TV to Twitter: Working With the Media During a Crisis BenefitsIn today's media-intensive world, how leaders communicate during a crisis can be just as important - sometimes even more important - than how they manage the problem itself. Whether it's a natural disaster, accident, sensational crime or political controversy, the public and the media demand answers and information now, whether through traditional or new social media channels. Managing and  more...

Practical Transportation Design and Solutions: Concepts and Implementation BenefitsDue to the increasing age of our nation's transportation infrastructure, in conjunction with the increasing demand for travel, the need for ongoing road preservation, safety and mobility projects has continually increased. However, the long term availability of funds for such improvements continues to diminish. Typical planning and design approaches may prioritize projects at the planning  more...

Shop Drawings and Other Construction Submittals - Legal and Architectural Perspectives BenefitsThere is perhaps no aspect of construction which is more misunderstood, and which is more fraught with the potential for confusion, than the shop drawing submittal process. When the process breaks down, the result can be deficient work, economic loss and even disastrous collapse. This teleconference will help you understand your responsibility and risks in the shop drawings submittal  more...

Medical Identity Theft: Why You Must Prevent and How to Minimize Its Occurrence BenefitsMore and more patient information is being captured electronically, both within the provider setting and remotely from the patients themselves. Additionally, an increasing number of myriad touches of this data occur on a daily basis by various known and unknown entities, not all of whom are authorized or have a specific need to know. In this environment, ample opportunity exists for  more...

Collective Bargaining and Construction Labor Contracts BenefitsThe construction industry is rife with contractors who sign collective bargaining agreements and later find out that the agreements do not accurately represent the verbal understandings they had reached with the union. Many of these contractors soon learn they are bound to the collective bargaining agreements for longer periods of time than expected and that the agreements cover all  more...

Workers' Compensation Handbook Best Practices BenefitsMinimizing workers' compensation abuse and controlling the costs of legitimate claims is a daunting task. In this difficult economy, it is essential that all employers take every step they can to reduce their workers' compensation exposure and costs. This 90-minute teleconference is geared to provide you with the best handbook practices - policies, procedures and techniques - for staying  more...

Curbing FMLA Abuse: How to Manage Manipulative Employees BenefitsEmployers are often the victims of FMLA abuse. The regulations are employee friendly and many employees have figured out how to play the FMLA game to avoid working and being held accountable for their absences. These issues can wreak havoc on productivity in the workplace. This teleconference will help you understand what you can do to use the FMLA regulations to curb FMLA abuse. This  more...

How to Legally Handle Travel Pay BenefitsMany companies do not understand how to compensate an employee properly for time spent traveling to destinations other than a regular work site. Many companies send employees to conferences and other work sites using commercial travel and personal vehicles. This teleconference will enable you to understand how and when to compensate an employee for travel time away from a work site. You'll  more...

Handling Your Post-Judgment Files BenefitsObtaining a judgment may seem easier than keeping it, effectively enforcing it and collecting your money. The effective use of judgments and developing a strategy toward effective enforcement can be confusing. In this teleconference, you will learn how to assure that your judgment is effective and can be enforced in and out of the jurisdiction where the judgment was entered. You will learn  more...

Current Issues in Cell Tower Leases BenefitsThe wireless industry has built more than 220,000 cell sites in the United States in the past 20 years. But many more cell sites are needed as the wireless industry expands coverage and extends the capabilities of cell phones and wireless devices into data, email, computer and video applications. New cell sites and significant modifications to existing cell sites will also be needed to  more...

Form 5500 Reporting Update BenefitsEmployers who offer an employee benefit plan must file an annual report regarding the plan's financial condition, investments and operations, unless specifically exempt by law. Filing the Form 5500 will satisfy this. This teleconference will help you understand when you need to file a Form 5500 and what you need to file, and will focus on some recent changes that may impact your filings.  more...

Measuring Inefficiency on a Construction Project BenefitsEfficiency is often the key to profitability. Conversely, inefficiency boosts costs, busts budgets and kills profits. Given the consequences, understanding and managing the efficiency of construction is important to everyone on the project - from the contractors, subcontractors and suppliers that experience inefficiency to the owners and design consultants whose actions can lead to  more...

Restructuring the Commercial Loan BenefitsA commercial loan restructuring requires a working knowledge of a number of commercial law aspects, e.g., bankruptcy, transactional and litigation issues. This teleconference will help provide you with an understanding of these issues from inception through the end of the commercial loan restructuring process. Listen to our panel of experienced counsel provide seasoned advice so that you  more...

Completing and Submitting the EEO-1 Report By September 30 BenefitsIn this interactive teleconference, you will learn the EEO-1 reporting requirements as well as practical, easy to use approaches to completing and submitting the EEO-1 report by the filing deadline. This engaging teleconference will also explain the EEOC's and OFCCP's systemic discrimination enforcement initiatives. From understanding the EEOC's and OFCCP's new focus on these issues to  more...

Conducting Effective Safety Audits BenefitsAudits are a key component of an effective safety program. Just as periodic physicals can help you check how healthy you are, periodic safety audits can help evaluate the health of your safety program. This teleconference will outline the four steps you should consider in order to conduct effective safety audits. Manufacturing engineers, presidents, vice presidents, plant managers,  more...

Financial Planning After Retirement: Coordinating the Retirement Plan with the Estate Plan BenefitsA wrong determination of whether a trust qualifies as a designated beneficiary of retirement benefits can cost the owner decades of tax deferral as well as 50 percent excise tax penalties. Learn how to provide the best asset protection and estate planning benefits for large retirement plans so that the valuable 'stretch out' does not become a 'blow out.' Most trusts are inadequately  more...

The Dilemma of Dealing With Bad Plans and Specs: Key Legal Concepts and Tips for Pro-actively Managing Design Errors, Omissions BenefitsPlans and specifications are, without question, critical to the success of any construction project. When the plans and specifications are clear and without significant errors or omissions, the project is much more likely to be on time and within budget. But what happens when plans are riddled with errors, conflicts or omissions? This teleconference will provide you with valuable tips for  more...

Independent Contractor Reporting BenefitsIndependent contractor status has distinct advantages for companies and workers, and continues to grow in popularity. However, as independent contractor relationships have become more common, the risks have become more apparent as well. This teleconference will help you understand how independent contractor status is determined for tax, EEO state law and other purposes, including in PEO  more...

The Interrelationship Between Social Security Disability, Medicare and Workers' Compensation Settlements BenefitsThis teleconference covers the two most important federal aspects of workers' compensation practice: Social Security disability offsets and the Medicare secondary payer statute. Anyone who represents claimants, employers or insurers in workers' compensation claims must understand the interrelationship between Social Security disability, Medicare and workers' compensation settlements. You  more...

Fair Housing Act: 2009 Hot Topics ...who has assisted property owners, lenders, developers and managers in FHA, ADA and Rehabilitation Act compliance and litigation all across the country; a registered architect, attorney and former ADA/Rehabilitation Act coordinator for the city of Miami Beach, Florida, who works with property owners, builders, design professionals, developers and managers on FHA, ADA and Rehabilitation Act  more...

Developing, Managing and Analyzing a Budget: Understand and Implement an Effective Budget for Better Management and Financial De BenefitsThis teleconference will show how proper planning and budgeting are the keys to success, and operating without a plan or budget is an invitation to fail. This concept holds for businesses - no matter how large or small - nonprofits and governments. Budgeting is a dynamic process, not a static one. By knowing the types of budgets and processes that have worked for others, one can create an  more...

Clean Air Act Update BenefitsU.S. businesses are facing unprecedented uncertainty as to future requirements under the Clean Air Act and an array of new programs addressing stationary and mobile emission sources. The Obama Administration and Congress are poised to usher in a new era of greenhouse gas and energy regulation. At the same time, the Obama EPA is confronting a bewildering array of court-ordered regulatory  more...

Multifamily Project Finance and Development BenefitsAlthough generally performing better than single family, the multifamily credit markets continue to be in turmoil, and raising necessary debt and equity for acquisition, refinancing and development continues to be a challenge, even for well-capitalized owner/developers with good track records and performing or well conceived new projects. The looming 'refinance crisis' for multifamily  more...

Gift Acceptance Policies for Public Charities and Tax-Exempt Organizations BenefitsFundraising is hard enough without running into the legal, accounting and practical pitfalls inherent in some types of gifts! A comprehensive gift acceptance policy can help an organization avoid these pitfalls, enhance its donor relationships and run a more successful development program. This teleconference will address the issues that should be covered in a basic gift acceptance policy  more...

Employee Engagement in Troubled Times BenefitsEngaging and retaining valued employees is particularly critical amid periods of economic uncertainty if organizations are to maintain product and service quality, and lay a foundation for future growth. Yet while challenging economic environments make employee motivation more critical, they also make employee engagement more difficult to achieve. Belt tightening often results in  more...

Tax Treatment of Charitable Fundraising BenefitsFundraising for charitable organizations has become a complex business. Charities no longer hold out a tin cup and ask for donations. They engage in sophisticated activities to generate revenue for their mission and the activities have tax consequences. This teleconference will review the federal tax consequences of fundraising activities and provide specific guidance on how to avoid tax  more...

Tax Practice and Procedure Blunders That Can and Should Be Avoided BenefitsThis teleconference will describe common mistakes made by tax practice and procedures practitioners which can and should be avoided. Discussion on inadvertent privilege waiver, failure to control the flow of information at an audit, missing critical deadlines, failure to provide appropriate and adequate refund claims when necessary, and other key procedural mistakes will be addressed.  more...

Taxation Issues Related to Debt Restructuring, Modifications and Bankruptcies BenefitsThe current market climate has created opportunities for investors or debtors themselves to acquire outstanding debt at remarkable discounts. Unfortunately, it also has left many companies struggling and in need to modify their outstanding debt. Many large, well know companies have dissolved or declared bankruptcy. Debt modifications, repurchases and bankruptcy can have a profound tax  more...

Federal Flood Plain Regulation BenefitsSafety and environmental issues are the most significant issues in flood plain development today. Practitioners continue to struggle with jurisdictional issues under the Clean Water Act regarding wetlands regulation, with new EPA and USACE guidance following the Rapanos decision offering limited relief. In the post-Hurricane Katrina era, FEMA is proposing sweeping changes to flood plain  more...

Fundamentals of Form W-2 Processing BenefitsThe main priority for the payroll department is getting the pay checks to associates acutely and timely to employees. But a critical function for the payroll department is to pull all the payroll information together and produce a Form W-2 for all employees. This produces a great challenge to payroll departments to ensure that all elements of the W-2 are complete and accurate along with  more...

Construction Documentation: Preparing Effective Job Records BenefitsAlthough the term 'papering the file' is often associated with increased documentation efforts in preparation for litigation after a job has gone bad, it shouldn't be. Effective communication and accurate recordation of those communications can keep the parties - and the project - on course and out of litigation. And should an irreconcilable dispute nevertheless arise, thorough project  more...

Current ERISA Fiduciary Issues for Financial Institutions BenefitsFinancial institutions have long been faced with difficult and complicated issues under ERISA's fiduciary rules. The current economic downturn has given rise to a new round of legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding ERISA's fiduciary rules and has more generally affected the manner in which ERISA may affect financial institutions. In addition, the regulatory environment continues  more...

Not in My Backyard (NIMBY): Overcoming Development Resistance BenefitsNIMBY resistance to land use proposals can add millions to the cost of the development project and add months to the permitting process. This teleconference will provide practical, actionable tools to anticipate and avoid community resistance to controversial land use projects and to actively build community enthusiasm for the proposal. We'll begin with an in-depth look at managing hostile  more...

Landlord and Tenant Law: Commercial Tenant Bankruptcy Considerations BenefitsIn today's uncertain economic climate, commercial tenants may find themselves with diminishing cash flows and limited resources to satisfy their obligations to their landlords, leaving both grappling with tough decisions, including whether to renegotiate the existing lease, terminate the lease or exercise other remedies upon default. This teleconference will explore the rights, remedies  more...

Workers' Compensation Metrics: Assessing and Reporting on the Success of Your Program BenefitsIn today's economy, it is especially critical to be able to assess the success of your workers' compensation program and provide meaningful reports to the C-Suite. In this teleconference, you will learn about the key metrics that can be used, where the data for these metrics may be found, sources of benchmarking information and how to most effectively present your success story to  more...

Obtaining a Portion of the Stimulus Grant Funding BenefitsThis past year the federal government has provided a significant economic stimulus program that has been primarily implemented through grant funding. The Recovery Act (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama on February 16, 2009) is the economic stimulus package of $787 billion. Because of the national scope of the economic situation, stimulus money has  more...