Personnel Telephone Seminars

Conducting Successful HR Audits BenefitsIncreasingly, human capital is an organization's most important asset - it's certainly one of its largest expenses. It also exposes organizations to material risks. Yet many of the management techniques and assessment tools used to manage and assess other assets and processes of the organization have not been applied to HR. That is changing. As the implications and risks of misaligned,  more...

Drafting The Flawless Easement ...This live audio conference will help lawyers and industry personnel who deal with easements to better understand the principles applicable to drafting and preparation of easements. The speakers will cover all aspects of easement preparation, from the parties involved to the necessary formalities to ensure a valid and enforceable easement. They will also distinguish between conveyances that are  more...

Commercial Loan Documentation BenefitsAs commercial loan documentation has become more complex and hundreds of pages long, many loan officers and counsel have found it difficult to adequately review the documentation. This live audio conference will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of drafting and reviewing the key provisions of a credit agreement. You will also gain insight into typical collateral documents and  more...

UCC Article 9 Update BenefitsThe revisions to Article 9, which generally became effective in 2001, substantially changed the law. Now, with years of experience, the case law is developing, and practitioners are beginning to identify issues not contemplated by the original drafting committee. As a result, a Joint Review Committee was formed and has recommended changes to Article 9 that are expected to be approved this  more...

Medicare Secondary Payer Act: Protecting Medicare's Interest In Insurance Settlements ...he utmost importance for all attorneys, insurance company personnel and medical billing professionals to fully understand how and when the MSP applies in any given personal injury situation. Failure to meet your MSP obligations may have some very significant financial ramifications such as attorney personal liability as supported by the 3rd Circuit decision in U.S. v. Harris, or an insurer  more...

Using Social Media in Banking BenefitsSocial media has become a hot topic for bank boards and senior managers as hundreds of millions of consumers have congregated to social networks, blogs, and other social media platforms. The widespread use of social media has resulted in structural changes in commerce, politics, and now, banking. Banks are being forced to adapt to changes created by social media. Specifically, banks must  more...

Portal to Portal Act: Determining Hours Worked at the Start and End of the Work Day BenefitsEmployees and their counsel continue to pursue class action claims for off-the-clock work and unpaid overtime wages at a fever pitch. Thousands of wage and hour class actions 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 settlement, are  more...

Portal to Portal Act: Determining Hours Worked at the Start and End of the Work Day BenefitsEmployees and their counsel continue to pursue class action claims for off-the-clock work and unpaid overtime wages at a fever pitch. Thousands of wage and hour class actions 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 settlement, are  more...

Implications of Medical Marijuana in the Workplace BenefitsAn applicant takes a pre-employment drug screen and tests positive for marijuana but tells you that he is a registered user of medical marijuana to treat his medical condition. Can you refuse to hire him? An employee tells you that he needs to take a daily break in order to consume medical marijuana to treat his cancer. Do you have to accommodate this request? How is this request different  more...

Intermittent Leave Under FMLA BenefitsMany employers are confronted with various issues related to intermittent leave under FMLA. This live audio conference will help front line personnel identify and handle intermittent leave issues. The program will address the legal and human resources issues confronted by employers and provide practical steps and procedures for employers to follow. This live audio conference is designed  more...

Service Level Fundamentals: Maximizing Business Value BenefitsService levels provide targeted, effective incentives to cause service providers to achieve their customers' desired business outcomes. However, too often customers discover that those service levels are being achieved with reports showing 'green' while the service itself feels 'red.' In these situations, customers often find that those service levels: measure the wrong aspects of the  more...

Loan Modification Fundamentals BenefitsMortgage loan defaults and foreclosures are at historic levels. New businesses counseling borrowers and dealing with these crises have been created. How we deal with this crisis will have a significant impact on the nation's economy. Borrowers and lenders alike are working to resolve these defaults and foreclosures, attempting to find a balance between allowing consumers to remain in their  more...

Offboarding: Strategies for a Successful Goodbye BenefitsThis live audio conference will review research showing the value of effective offboarding: higher levels of employee commitment, lower recruitment costs, and higher quality candidates. As with all employment actions, it should be lawful, safe, secure, efficient, ethical, fair and respectful. Effective HR leaders must work both sides of the basic accounting equation: assets = liabilities +  more...

Roles of HOAs in Foreclosures and Short Sales BenefitsThis live audio conference will address relevant legal issues and practical considerations related to the current housing market and increased rate of foreclosures and short sales. Discussion will include perspectives and tactics for protecting community associations' liens and collecting delinquent assessments from owners in foreclosure and short sale transactions. Refresh and garner an  more...

Current Issues in Real Estate Appraisals BenefitsThe worst of the financial crisis and recession appears to be over, but where are we in terms of current market conditions for various property types and how does this relate to the valuation process? What is an evaluation versus an appraisal and what impact might they have on the lending community and appraisal industry? What are key issues in appraisals and ways of looking at risk? This  more...

Understanding the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Employee Family Leave Laws and Return-to-Work Issues BenefitsThe Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of 'pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.' But what does this mean? The Family Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act may provide protections for employees with certain medical conditions due to pregnancy or who have recently given birth. But how do you know who is covered and what  more...

Weight Loss At the Workplace: Legal Issues For Employers Seeking To Reduce Health Care Costs BenefitsLearn the issues used to identify and address when formulating and implementing a corporate wellness program that is aimed at weight loss reduction. The number of potentially applicable federal and state laws requires careful consideration of the potential issues raised with drafting and managing a corporate wellness program. The multiple relevant laws and regulations only heighten the  more...

Are You Prepared for the Financial Institution Record Match Program? BenefitsThe State of California enacted legislation (California Revenue Tax Code 19266) that will impact virtually every bank, credit union, thrift and brokerage firm doing business in California. This new program will place a new burden on financial institutions in order to help the state collect delinquent taxes. Financial institutions should start consideration of the FIRM Agreement and how  more...

Learning on the Job: Creating Legally-Sound Internship Programs BenefitsCreating a successful internship program is not as simple as identifying and assigning appropriate projects and requiring interns to shadow your employees. An internship can be a wonderful opportunity for the participant to learn about a business, organization, or industry. Organizations that maintain internship programs must be mindful, however, that they must comply with several federal  more...

Prepaid Cards: An Alternative to Traditional Checking Accounts? BenefitsThis live audio conference will provide banking and other financial services companies with essential information to evaluate prepaid card/access products that will best complement their current business models and risk tolerance. The program will explore the advantages and disadvantages of this rapidly evolving financial product line. It will provide organization with solid guidance on  more...

Creating Successful Employee Surveys BenefitsEmployee surveys help organizations identify opportunities to improve their employment brand; identify employment practices problem areas; improve employee relations, morale and teamwork; enhance employee commitment and engagement; and assess the implementation and effectiveness of HR management systems and processes. In today's economy and workplace, this however is just the starting  more...

Key Aspects of Mezzanine Financing BenefitsMezzanine loans will play an increasingly important role in meeting the financing needs of companies in the coming years. With the tightening of leverage multiples for senior debt, a growing number of companies and equity sponsors are turning to mezzanine debt as a solution to their capitalization requirements. This live audio conference will provide you with an in-depth understanding of  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 live audio conference will help you navigate the complex universe of document  more...

Job Order Contracting Fundamentals ... the contractor's perspective, will be addressed, as will personnel and management requirements once a JOC is in place. The JOC delivery order process will be described, with special emphasis on contractor and owner responsibilities. Owners should emerge from this live audio conference with a roadmap to procuring and managing a JOC. Contractors should emerge with an understanding of how to  more...

Hot Topics in Native American Financing 2011 BenefitsHear the latest legal news and developments on the following topics: 1) principal practice guidelines to ensure your financing documents are enforceable and compliant with federal law, including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; 2) the National Indian Gaming Commission 'declination letter' review process - how long does it take, what to include in your submission, and what does receiving a  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 live audio conference will give you a road map to understand the bankruptcy process. This live audio conference is  more...

How to Develop an Effective Mentoring Program BenefitsCreating a structured mentoring program is a powerful way to support the personal growth and career development of employees. Mentoring also enhances the stability and productivity of an organization through employee retention, succession planning, transfer of knowledge, and leadership development. The problem is that many businesses believe that mentoring consists of just 'putting two  more...

Pupil Records: Best Practices Concerning Access, Release, Content and Storage of Educational Documents BenefitsSchool districts frequently receive requests for access to student records from state agencies, federal agencies, parents and members of the public. This live audio conference will provide school officials, parents, school staff and school lawyers with an overview of the laws relating to access, release, content and storage of student records. The live audio conference will define the  more...

Securitized Loan Fundamentals BenefitsReal estate loans that a loan originator intends to securitize are documented with the underwriting requirements of CMBS underwriters, rating agencies and buyers in mind. Consequently, their structure, documentation, closing and administrative requirements are less subject to negotiation than other types of real estate loan products. This live audio conference will help you understand  more...

Construction Payment Bond Fundamentals ...s. This program is critical for management and operations personnel who want to protect their companies against unnecessary losses due to somebody else's financial woes. Learning Objectives: - You will be able to recognize typical projects involving payment bonds. - You will be able to explain defenses available to the surety and bond principal. - You will be able to discuss how to get a copy  more...

When Employee Bloggers Attack: Responding to Negative Employee Comments on the Web BenefitsAs social networking, via online tools such as MySpace , Facebook , and Twitter , have exploded in popularity over the last few years, many employers have had to deal with inappropriate conduct by their employees on the web, including an employee's direct criticism of the company. According to one survey, at least half of all employers have had to discipline employees for inappropriate  more...

Employee Discipline for Conduct Outside of Work BenefitsIn this informative live audio conference, you will learn the legal rights and responsibilities of employers in disciplining employees for conduct outside of work. You will hear about recent legislation and court cases involving some of the hottest topics in employment law, including employee discipline for blogging, web-based 'employer trashing,' workplace dating and extramarital affairs,  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...

Responding to an EEO Charge BenefitsThe most effective way to avoid an EEOC charge is to make sure you have appropriate anti-discrimination policies and procedures in place and that all employees understand those policies. Prevention and awareness are areas employers should focus on when dealing with employee discrimination issues. If the worst case scenario happens, this live audio conference will tell you how to protect  more...

Using Travel Policy to Control Costs BenefitsIn the old days, professionals assumed that travel expenses had little impact on their firm's bottom line. Clearly, those days are long gone. Attendees of this program will gain a high level of understanding about the best practices in travel management, so they can manage the balance between the competing strategic goals of service, savings and safety. Because a well-structured travel  more...

Writing Job Descriptions BenefitsA frequent challenge for many employers in launching compensation initiatives, or completing organizational re-design, is a general difficulty in collecting and delivering accurate and timely job documentation. The focus of this live audio conference is to reinforce the importance of proper job documentation and provide strategies on how to build and maintain a library of accurate job  more...

Screening Unemployed Job Applicants: Pros and Cons to Consider Benefits(Problem) Many employers struggle to balance their need for information about potential applicants, given the high costs of even a single 'bad hire,' with understanding their legal obligations and the risks of using certain available tools to screen job applicants. Unemployed applicants pose unique issues and are more likely to bring a failure to hire discrimination claim. (Solution) This  more...

Municipal Finance Fundamentals BenefitsThe global economy has endured tremendous stress and fluctuation during the past three years. Investors are seeking investments that will provide them with a favorable rate of return and yet afford them a higher degree of security. Increasingly, investors are looking to the United States tax-exempt municipal market to obtain those two objectives. As a result, the volume of the municipal  more...

Giving and Receiving Employment References: Successfully Negotiating the Maze BenefitsMany employers still do not put the necessary amount of thought into requests for references - whether they are on the requesting or responding end. Responding to such requests can be fraught with potential pitfalls and could expose an employer to legal liability from both ends (i.e., from the current/former employee and from the requesting entity). On the other hand, given these issues,  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...

Due Diligence Considerations for Participation Loans BenefitsAn increasing number of commercial loans are syndicated or participated, and an increasing number of lenders sell interests in loans they originate or acquire interests in loans originated by other lenders. This audio conference will explore loan assignment and participation transactions from the perspective of the originating lender and the assignee or participant. You will learn about  more...

Florida Employment Law Update BenefitsThis audio conference will provide you with working knowledge of the most prevalent issues facing Florida employers. The speakers, experts in management labor and employment law, have identified three areas of utmost concern. You will gain insight and the tools necessary to avoid and combat these common workplace problems. This audio conference is designed for human resource managers,  more...

Status Classification: Exempt vs. Nonexempt 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...

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 you do to address situations where an employee has been arrested, or has been charged, or incarcerated  more...

Understanding Massachusetts' Exemptions to Employment at Will BenefitsMany Massachusetts employers feel overwhelmed by the number of laws and regulations that govern the employee-employer relationship. Often, employers feel restricted in properly dealing with employee issues, especially when employees claim they have rights or they are being harassed at work. Massachusetts law, however, recognizes at-will employment, which provides you with significant  more...

The Essentials of Wastewater Grit Removal ...personnel and consulting engineers have a common desire, select a grit removal system to remove as much grit as possible from their operations. A properly designed and operated grit removal system prevents grit build up in unit processes, scouring and plugging in lines, and fouling of diffusers and membranes, all while preserving the intended service life of the downstream equipment. As we all  more...

Foreclosure and Workout of Commercial Mortgage Loans in New York BenefitsWhile legal business is down in some areas, one practice area which is booming is New York's foreclosure and workout of commercial mortgage loans. New York foreclosures are becoming more complex and hard fought. From the massive foreclosure of Stuyvesant Town, to the highly-publicized foreclosure of One Madison Park, to the complex foreclosure of the Manhattan property where a crane fell,  more...

Collateral Valuation in the New Economy BenefitsThe turbulent economy of the past several years has materially impacted asset values, and the complexity of investment vehicles has made asset valuation, at best, problematic. Investors must plot an optimal course with their existing holdings. Additionally, future investments require an entirely different valuation approach than is possible under traditional models. Only the architects of  more...

Using Human Capital Analytics to Maximize the Value of Your Workforce BenefitsMeasuring and maximizing the contribution people make to the bottom line is a critical issue for organizations, and analytics are the key to those insights. The challenge is using analytics to understand where making a change would improve engagement and performance. This audio conference addresses how to integrate the business and HR perspectives when conducting human capital analytics,  more...

How Can End-of-Life Planning Resources Benefit Your Workplace? ...ential solutions include training existing human resource personnel, increasing the awareness of managers and training them to assist employees in need, and monitoring the costs of end-of-life incidences. In light of the misunderstandings about death panels in the federal health care reform proposals, employers must clearly communicate their motives to workers and assure them that end-of-life  more...

Behavioral Based Interviewing: The Next Evolution BenefitsBecause your organization can never be greater than the sum of its parts, your success is determined by one key decision: Who gets hired? Yet fewer than 30 percent of hiring managers nationwide have had any real training in applicant interviewing skills (a fact supported by a University of Chicago research study concluding that basing a hiring decision on an interview is only 8 percent  more...

Requirements for Providing E-Forms W-2 and W-2c BenefitsMany organizations recognize the benefits of electronic W-2 and W-2c form distribution, but do not understand the IRS regulations and internal business elements surrounding this online implementation. Several online W-2 projects have failed and were delayed due to not knowing all of the essential information regarding online form distribution. This audio conference will explore all the  more...

SBA Loan Guarantees: Current Purchase Issues and Complexities BenefitsIn the current economy, many lenders are looking to the credit enhancement offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration's government guaranteed lending programs to keep capital flowing to America's small businesses. While the many benefits of the programs may be appealing to lenders an understanding of the guaranty purchase process and the pitfalls which lenders fall victim to,  more...

Mobile Banking: Banking Without Borders BenefitsLike online banking, mobile banking is poised to revolutionize the industry, but it has stagnated in its infancy. Given the indispensability of cell phones and their broad capabilities, banks and technology providers are rapidly developing solutions that use cell phones to provide unparalleled convenience and value to customers. With the potential to competitively and geographically level  more...

Title Issues for Lending Professionals BenefitsWho reviews the title commitment to make sure that there are no title problems? Not having a solid understanding of the title can cause headaches for everyone involved in the title process. This audio conference offers insights into what the title insurance policy really covers. We will answer some commonly asked questions, such as: What should you be concerned about on Schedule A? What  more...

Digital Manufacturing: Improve Productivity, Lower Costs and Compress Delivery Times BenefitsToday's globally competitive environment is forcing manufacturing companies of all sizes to rethink and better integrate their overall approach to product development, from concept to product design to manufacturing engineering and beyond. As a result, many companies are seeking new ways to improve their competitive position through the proper adoption of digital manufacturing and other  more...

Illinois Leave Laws: Navigating a Minefield BenefitsAlthough the economy may have been stagnate, the legislature has not. Over the past couple of years, Illinois has passed or expanded numerous leave laws presenting even more obligations for employers. The interaction of these laws can be complex and difficult to institute. This teleconference will assist you in understanding their obligations in implementation and compliance. Leaves  more...

Jeopardizing Exempt Status 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...

Reengineering Revenue in Today's Market BenefitsThe days of simplicity in bank income have long past. Recently, staying on top of noninterest income has become even more complex with the migration to electronic transactions, changes to Reg E and current economic conditions. As bankers adjust to these changes, they have to be more creative with how to oversee NII. This teleconference helps you understand the exact impact the current  more...

Family Responsibility Discrimination Law: Family Friendly Employer or Litigation Target? BenefitsFamily responsibilities discrimination against employees because of their family caregiving responsibilities is becoming a major issue for employers. Employers have been the subject of increasing but not well understood claims based on FRD claims. These claims have been pursued under a variety of both federal and state laws, and have resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts. This  more...

Commercial Loan Stress Testing Fundamentals BenefitsStress testing of loan portfolios is rapidly becoming an integral component of the credit risk management process. All banks should perform some type of stress testing to quantify the impact of changing economic conditions on asset quality, earnings and capital. This teleconference will benefit those who are beginning to incorporate the concepts of stress testing into their loan portfolio  more...

Risk-Based Pricing Regulation Update: Are You Ready for the Upcoming Compliance Deadline? BenefitsThe Risk-Based Pricing Rule is effective January 1, 2011, and requires all lenders to provide a specific notice to a consumer when the lender sets or adjusts the price and other terms of credit provided to the consumer based on the consumer's credit report. In this teleconference, you will learn the various strategies for compliance, including the special exceptions for auto lending,  more...

Labor Law: Could 2011 Be the Turning Point for Unions? BenefitsIt's been almost two full years of President Obama's administrative initiatives - a rollout of many campaign promises. Unions played a vital role in the 2008 elections and they continue to have a large voice in upcoming Congressional elections this fall. While most of the country has been focused on health care reform, 2011 could prove to be a pivotal year for union activity. What  more...

Handling Paid Leave Requests in New Jersey BenefitsIn January 2009, New Jersey became one of only a handful of states mandating that certain kinds of family leave be paid leave. Paid leave brings with it new employer compliance questions. For example, what must an employer do when an employee makes a paid leave request? Who pays for such paid leave? What laws are implicated by such a request and who decides whether an employee is eligible  more...

Recruiting on a Limited Budget: Proven Low and No Cost Tools and Approaches BenefitsThere is a long and established history of recruiting professionals being asked to accomplish more with less around the world. A June 2010 poll recently revealed that while 73 percent of organizations expected the volume of recruiting activity in their organization to increase significantly in the current year, only 18 percent received an increase in budget on par with the forecasted  more...

10 Employee Handbook Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make BenefitsWith major developments occurring in labor and employment law over the past year, now is the perfect time to review your employee handbook to ensure it is in compliance with the latest changes and includes best practices. To avoid errors in this process, you will learn the top mistakes employers make and the keys to making the employee manual a valuable tool. The new governing legal  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...

Kaizen Principles and 5S Activities for Manufacturing BenefitsBy attending this teleconference, you will learn how to design and deploy a 5S program; identify waste and nonvalue adding activities; choose the right change vehicle; improve safety, productivity and morale; and integrate 5S with a lean management system. Register today and find out how others have achieved success in 5S deployments. This teleconference is designed for manufacturing  more...

Implementing Stay Interviews: If You Want to Keep Them You Have to Talk to Them! BenefitsCompanies work very hard to obtain talent with a very high price tag per hire. When they achieve proficiency in what is expected, they become a valuable contributor and an asset to the firm. The last thing you want to happen is to lose these employees because of situations that are within your ability to control. By attending this teleconference you will learn tools, tactics and  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 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 numerous changes occurring to the  more...

Strategies to Utilize Web 2.0 BenefitsIn an era where Web 2.0 is revolutionizing the social dynamics of our society, the HR professional must respond to the changes this new technology is bringing to the workplace. This teleconference will present a practical framework for understanding Web 2.0 and provide insight into a number of best practices that explore a variety of strategies for leveraging the power of this technology  more...

Loan Workout Complications: Second Lien Issues BenefitsApproximately $50 billion of second lien loans were issued between 2003 and the second quarter of 2007. A significant portion of these second lien loans were issued to borrowers who are now in, or facing, restructuring and/or bankruptcy proceedings. This teleconference will examine the strengths and potential pitfalls of first lien/second lien intercreditor agreements in such a  more...

How to Save Millions in Claims Through Ergonomics and Injury Prevention BenefitsWe all know how to do our jobs, but no one has ever taught us how to work 'safely.' While there have been attempts to federally regulate ergonomics, these have failed in all but one state, California, which has the only active OSHA regulation to protect workers from repetitive motion injuries. With this in mind, employers are encouraged to voluntarily support an active ergonomics process  more...

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: The Overhaul of the U.S. Financial System BenefitsThe Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law by President Obama overhauls the United States financial system. This legislation will affect every corner of the financial services industry. Learn how this legislation is likely to affect you. This teleconference will review many important aspects of the Act, including the new Financial Stability Oversight  more...

Understanding the HIRE Act and Form 941 BenefitsWith all of the new legislation that has affected employers, it is becoming difficult to keep up with the new requirements. During this teleconference, you will obtain the knowledge on how to make sure that your company can take tax benefits being offered to employers for producing jobs and hiring new employees. We will explain in detail the HIRE Act from how to determine what employees  more...

Assessing and Avoiding Lender Liability Claims: Don't Let Borrowers or Guarantors Turn the Tables BenefitsContinued economic uncertainty and unrest in the credit markets has resulted in a dramatic increase in loan defaults and corporate bankruptcy filings. These events have precipitated a resurgence of lender liability claims as borrowers, guarantors and bankruptcy trustees have become more aggressive in asserting such claims in an effort to increase their leverage in workout negotiations and  more...

Reading Financial Statements: A Creditor's Perspective BenefitsThis teleconference will teach you how to read and understand financial statements, especially from a creditor's perspective. It is also for investors and business owners who not only desire to expand their business, but who want a better handle on what the number on their financial statements mean and how they can become useful tools. This teleconference will impart useful and practical  more...

Developing a Policy for Employee Use of Mobile Devices BenefitsThe paperless office is not yet here for most, but the vast amount of electronic information coursing through the average organization is bringing us closer and closer each day. Along with all the electronic information and use of mobile devices comes great opportunities, complex challenges and dangerous pitfalls. This teleconference will address employment issues as they pertain to  more...

Implementing Employee Threat Assessments: Are Your Employees Ticking Time Bombs? BenefitsEmployers are confronted more often with dangerous employees. This teleconference will address practical human resource issues including how not to hire dangerous employees, strategic discipline, strategic terminations and high risk terminations. It will also discuss some practical tools employers have at their disposal to deal with difficult employees, along with a discussion of real life  more...

Social Networking in the Workplace: Policies, Monitoring and Discipline Issues BenefitsSocial networking via online tools such as MySpace , Facebook and Twitter has exploded in popularity over the last few years. According to an October 2008 survey, 51 percent of employees accessed social networks at least once per day at work; many of them did so for an hour or more per week. Despite these numbers and the risks inherent in employees using social networking tools, such as  more...

Mortgage Foreclosures in Illinois BenefitsAn Illinois mortgage foreclosure is a complicated process that requires strict adherence to its statutory requirements. Failure to follow the correct procedure can add time and expense for lenders. For borrowers, understanding the nuts and bolts is critical to protecting their rights. Given the increased activity in the purchase of distressed assets, potential investors and buyers also  more...

Collection Strategies for Locating Hidden and Transferred Assets BenefitsDebtors who utilize corporate shells are the bane of commercial collectors, attorneys and creditors. Too often debts and collateral are not recovered from cunning debtors. Most of us are familiar with the shell game in which someone puts a ball under one of several shells and then mixes up the shells leaving another person to guess which shell the ball is under. Debtors like to play 'hide  more...

Current Issues in Commercial Collections BenefitsThis teleconference is geared toward the practitioner involved in collecting commercial debts. Since the specific remedies available, and best practices, will vary from state to state, this is designed to provide a general overview of the various techniques and ideas to improve collection success. Attorneys, presidents, vice presidents, branch managers, loan officers, loan department  more...

Secondary Sources of Repayment Fundamentals BenefitsCollateral and personal guarantees are important components of commercial loan structure because they provide secondary sources of repayment in the event the primary source of repayment is no longer adequate. Collateral and personal guarantees are evaluated when a loan is being made but the ultimate realizable value of both is likely to change if they are ever needed to repay the loan.  more...

Forbearance Agreement Fundamentals BenefitsWith so many commercial loans in default (and many predicted to become defaulted in the coming months), borrowers and lenders are struggling to find negotiated solutions to defaulted and distressed loans. A negotiated solution may prevent an enforcement action with attendant costs, delays and uncertainties, and may help maximize the value of the collateral for all stakeholders. Forbearance  more...

Utilizing RFID Technology in Inventory Management BenefitsMany companies have struggled for years with inventory management. Bar codes and wireless networks have helped, but they have not come close to solving the problem. Companies don't know precisely what or where inventory is, which leads to inefficiencies from the manufacturing floor to the retail store. This teleconference will explain how radio frequency identification technologies are  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...

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...

Overdraft Opt-Ins: Protecting Your Bank Under Regulation E BenefitsIn response to public criticism and high-profile litigation relating to overdraft fees, the Federal Reserve Board revised Regulation E to give consumers the right to limit overdraft costs associated with certain transactions by giving consent or opting-in to a financial institutions overdraft program. Financial institutions must comply with the new regulation by July 1, 2010. This  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...

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...

Overcoming 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

ADA Interaction with Addictions and Personal Habits BenefitsOne of the most confounding problems for employers is what to do when an employee comes forward with a drug problem or when an employee appears to be intoxicated while at work. This teleconference is designed to educate legal and HR professionals in addressing those situations within the boundaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which generally protects recovering drug addicts and  more...

Talent Management: Best Practices to Retain Top Employees BenefitsDesigned for leaders, managers and front line leaders, this teleconference will build a solid understanding of what it takes to engage and retain talent, and demonstrate the pivotal role managers play in this process. See how some of the best organizations deliver engagement and retention results year after year. You will leave knowing what you need to do to equip managers to take action  more...

Influenza: Seasonal to Pandemic ... be a regular challenge for health care and public health personnel. However, the events of April 2009 changed our perception of influenza when a novel Influenza A strain emerged and produced the first pandemic in almost 50 years. This teleconference will explore the changing influenza strains and the illnesses that result. You will come away enabled to better protect yourself and your  more...

Screening Applicants Using Social Networking Sites: Legal or Liability? BenefitsJob applicants have long used the internet to research employers. But now, employers are using the internet to research job applicants as well. Employers aren't only using search engines to find information on applicants but are now examining social networking sites, such as Facebook or MySpace . For job applicants, social networking site are places to interact with peers in any manner  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...

Understanding the New GFE and HUD-1/1A Settlement Statements Benefits strong Effective January 1, 2010, all residential mortgage loan originators will have to change their loan origination forms and procedures to comply with a new rule recently adopted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. /strong The new rule dramatically changes both the Good Faith Estimate and the HUD-1 and HUD-1A Uniform Settlement Statements required by the federal  more...

Effective Job Rotation Programs: Development and Implementation BenefitsThere is little argument that job rotations, stretch assignments and on-the-job development projects are some of the most effective development tools in the talent management arsenal today. However, the design of many programs currently in operation date back to a time when the speed of organizational change was much slower than it is today, when the pressures of global competition were  more...

Internet and Email: Monitoring Employee Conduct BenefitsTechnology has made privacy issues a hot bed of legal, moral and ethical debate. The development of new technology in recent years has created the ability to access seemingly limitless information resources and has changed irrevocably the way business is conducted. Companies literally have the world at their fingertips. The ever increasing developments in technology will only add to the  more...

Product Development Metrics for Manufacturers: Measuring Your Productivity BenefitsR D and product development organizations are behind transaction processing and operations functions in their understanding of measurement and its place in the organization. Six Sigma and Lean initiatives have facilitated great improvements in corporations without significantly benefiting most marketing, R D and product development organizations. Inventive professionals resist measurement  more...

Dress Code Liabilities BenefitsIn this teleconference, you will learn how to deal with complicated and sensitive issues involving how employees dress, the number and type of jewelry worn by employees, and the number and type of tattoos visible on employees while at work. This teleconference will explore the pros and cons of different options in written policies and discuss different approaches in dealing with these  more...

Reductions in Force Litigation Update ... faced with significant challenges to reduce costs. Since personnel accounts for a major proportion of overhead, one possible area of consideration is that of a reduction in the workforce. While reaching and implementing such a decision will, in optimum circumstances, involve significant input from counsel experienced in both employment and labor law issues, even the best-constructed RIF may  more...

New Regulations for the Credit Card Industry: Prepare Now and Avoid Penalties BenefitsOn May 22, 2009, President Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 to regulate several aspects of the credit card industry. This is one of the most sweeping changes to hit the industry for quite some time. This new legislation amends the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, and places a  more...

Lawful Hiring BenefitsEmployers must navigate a minefield of complicated and, in some cases, conflicting laws that affect the hiring process Discrimination claims often arise out of the hiring process. The new U.S. Supreme Court decision in Ricci v. DeStefano, 557 U.S. ___ (2009) shows how an employer (the New Haven Fire Department in that case) can violate discrimination laws when taking steps to attempt to  more...

Dealing with Employee Gambling in the Workplace BenefitsGambling is a billion dollar pastime that is enjoyed by millions of Americans, including groups of employees in the average workplace. The NCAA or Super Bowl office pool can increase morale, create camaraderie among co-workers and generally be a fun and exciting event, especially with the prospect for a lucky employee of a substantial monetary payout. Workplace gambling, however, also has  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...

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...

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...

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...

Pay-for-Performance Redefined BenefitsA bevy of proposed regulations, a more active investor community, and unprecedented media attention continues to change the environment in which compensation committees operate. The pace and direction of change is volatile and while committees focus their attention on design efficacy and business results, the landscape is such that the historical pay-for-performance perspective is no  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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Claims Management Techniques in Workers' Compensation Cases ...roduces 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 this information to communicate with these  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...

Payroll Hiring Issues: Forms and Tax Credits BenefitsMany employers want to increase their level of payroll tax compliance by implementing policies and procedures with respect to obtaining necessary information from new hires that is related to the processing of payroll and payroll taxes. This teleconference will assist you in evaluating your current new hire process as it relates to the completion and filing of specific payroll related  more...

Navigating through the Maze of Unclaimed Property Compliance - Unique Rules and Regulations for Financial Institutions BenefitsFinancial institutions are frequently challenged to keep up and implement the ever changing federal and state requirements imposed on this industry. Ensuring that proper internal controls, risk management and fraud prevention are adequately addressed is critical. One of the additional areas of compliance includes ensuring that you have established proper procedures and controls to prepare  more...

Understanding Bankruptcy Code Section 503(b)(9) BenefitsIn today's economy there is an unprecedented wave of retailer bankruptcies that is likely to increase over the next year. Frequently, sellers of goods to insolvent retailers end up financing, unwittingly, these bankruptcy cases. In 2005, the bankruptcy laws were amended to provide sellers of goods received by a debtor within 20 days before bankruptcy an administrative expense priority  more...

FASB Statement 109: Impacts on Your Financial Statements BenefitsThe teleconference will update the Tax Department personnel with knowledge of the latest tax accounting rules and learn how the latest FAS pronouncements can affect the preparation and review of 2009 income tax provision. Accountants, controllers, CFOs, tax managers and officers, presidents, vice presidents, business owners and managers, financial planners, bankers, business analysts,  more...

Changes of Status Checklist BenefitsIf you are an employer who sponsors a cafeteria plan or other health and welfare plans, it can be confusing to administer your plan when an employee has a change in status. This teleconference will assist you in determining when you can allow an employee to change their election under your cafeteria plan. It will also cover what happens when an individual has a change in status while on  more...

Preparing for an Unemployment Compensation Hearing BenefitsBeyond just the cost of unemployment compensation claims, an unemployment compensation proceeding is often the first confrontation with a future litigant. How the defense of unemployment claims is handled can often have a significant impact on the success of future litigation, and even whether such litigation occurs. This teleconference is designed to give employers a better understanding  more...

Simplifying PPE Program Implementation BenefitsThe implementation of a PPE program can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Multiple OSHA standards have sections that have PPE requirements, causing confusion regarding which standards apply to a particular situation. New provisions regarding the payment for PPE have been published by OSHA and you need to have this knowledge to be compliant. This teleconference will provide the  more...

Commercial Lending Opinion Letters: Rights, Obligations and Expectations BenefitsCommercial lenders routinely require a borrower's lawyer to deliver a legal opinion at the closing of the loan transaction. The borrower has to pay for this but rarely believes that the exercise provides any benefit to the borrower. If the legal opinion is not negotiated until the end of the transaction, or if the borrower's lawyer and the lender's lawyer cannot agree on some element of  more...

Discipline and Termination Considerations for Employees on Leave BenefitsIn an economy when many employers are forced to terminate employees, they should be cognizant of federal and state laws that may be implicated with respect to employees on leave. Employee leave can be as short as a few hours to vote, several months to care for a newborn or longer than a year due to a disability. In the event that an employee who is on leave will be terminated, whether for  more...

Determining When an Individual With a Disability Is "Qualified" Under the ADA BenefitsAlthough recent amendments have been made to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the requirement that an applicant or employee with a disability be 'qualified' for the job sought or held has not changed. Drawing on regulations from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and decisions from federal courts across the country, this teleconference will provide participants with  more...

Fair Lending Compliance Developments and Trends BenefitsBy attending this teleconference you will learn about recent litigation and federal regulatory guidance concerning fair lending issues in mortgage servicing, including mortgage modifications and home equity credit line reductions. The speaker will review recent regulatory guidance concerning adverse action notice requirements for mortgage modifications, and ability to repay mortgage loan  more...

Understanding Insider Lending and Regulation O BenefitsLending to insiders can be a regulatory danger zone for bank officers and directors. While loans to bank insiders are not prohibited, they are tightly regulated and attract greater than normal regulatory attention, and not without good reason. Insider loan abuses historically have been a major reason for bank failures. This teleconference will review the rules applicable to loans to  more...

To Test or Not to Test: The Legal Implications of Pre-Employment Testing BenefitsAs technology advances and the pool of job applicants increases, pre-employment testing is becoming a more common hiring practice for many employers. But are all tests created equal? Are they all legal? This teleconference helps you navigate and understand the different types of pre-employment tests and understand the pros and cons of testing job applicants. This teleconference will also  more...

Total Compensation Statements as a Tool to Communicate Total Value BenefitsOften employees look at their base salary as the total value provided by your organization. During these challenging economic times when salary increases are low or nonexistent, creating customized compensation statements for your organization can be a valuable communication tool. Generally, total compensation ranges from 30 to 50 percent above base compensation for an organization and  more...

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Procedures: What You Need to Know BenefitsBankruptcies are a fact of life and with the new bankruptcy amendments, Chapter 13s are taking a bigger slice of the consumer bankruptcy pie. This teleconference will discuss the Chapter 13 process and how it differs from Chapter 7 bankruptcies. It details the structure of the typical Chapter 13 case and presents pointers on maximizing the recovery of you and your client. This  more...

Best Practices to Manage Your Multistate Payroll ...personnel are continually faced with legal and practical challenges associated with employee benefits, overtime, nonexempt employee requirements, employee bonus payments, confusing payroll forms, etc. Not only do you have to know your own state laws but often times neighboring state laws if you have employees across state lines. The taxability of employee benefits is confusing and the  more...

Value Engineering Change Proposals in Government Contracting ...iscussed. This teleconference is critical for contracting personnel so they can ensure that appropriately submitted VECPs will benefit the contractor, both in terms of increased efficiency, as well as financial gain. Learning Objectives: - You will be able to paraphrase VECP regulations. - You will be able to discuss the purpose of VE clauses. - You will be able to specify contested VE issues  more...

New Rules and Formats for International ACH Transactions nInternational commerce is rapidly growing but with that growth comes challenges, the most significant being the need to track transactions to ensure funds are not being disbursed to or from individuals that are threats to the U.S. The Office of Foreign Asset Control is the government organization that tracks this information. Their regulations require that all international transactions comply  more...

Benchmarking your Health Benefit Program: How Do You Stack Up? nInformation is power. You can increase your competitiveness by knowing the kinds and the quality of health insurance other employers are offering. Measuring your health plan against meaningful benchmarks will help fuel your strategies not only for reducing cost, but also for recruiting, employee retention and health plan design. n nThis teleconference will work through several methods to  more...

Paid Sick Leave Update: Policies and Procedures in an Evolving Workplace nMany employers voluntarily provide their employees with paid sick leave. Increasingly, however, states and localities are dictating that employers allow employees to use these voluntarily-provided paid sick leave benefits for reasons beyond those covered by the employer's program. In some cases, states and localities have begun to mandate that employers provide employees with a minimum paid sick  more...

Increasing the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Manufacturing Logistics nIn manufacturing logistics, the first priority is providing the right support to make production flow smoothly and put out the goods the company sells. This is effectiveness. The second priority is to provide this support without wasting human, technical or financial resources. This is efficiency. What most companies do in logistics is pursue efficiency at the expense of effectiveness, curtailing  more...

Enabling Loan Processes with Paperless Files nLenders today face a variety of challenges - loss mitigation, fraud detection, audit compliance, underwriting and risk mitigation; and access demands on loan documentation are greater than ever. This teleconference will help you understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of paperless loan files, the considerations that must be made in choosing and implementing paperless systems, and the ways  more...

Utilizing Settlement and Severance Packages Properly nFor HR professionals and CFOs, this teleconference is a must. As companies face ongoing reductions in force, mass layoffs and performance-based terminations, this teleconference will tell you what you need to do in planning terminations both as reductions in force and other terminations. You will learn how to decide the appropriate severance and what should be contained in the severance agreement  more...

Writing an Employee Handbook nAre you overwhelmed with the task of revising your existing employee handbook or of preparing a new employee handbook? Are you unclear about what types of employment policies are required by federal law? Stop worrying and attend this teleconference. You will learn which policies are required by law and what employment laws apply to employee handbooks. Take the first step to creating your employee  more...

Smoking Discrimination in the Workplace: On and Off the Clock nDriven by reports that smokers file more health insurance claims and are absent more frequently than nonsmokers, a growing number of employers have implemented programs to minimize the number of smokers in its workforce. These employer programs range from offering quit smoking programs to refusing to hire smokers and even terminating smokers. Privacy advocates argue an employer's interest in the  more...

Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to Reduce Defects, Improve Quality and Make More Money nFailure modes and effects analysis is an increasingly popular tool that must be mastered by Lean Six Sigma professionals and can be used in every type of organization to reduce defects, improve quality and make more money! n nThis easy tool asks these simple questions: n- What can go wrong? n- Where can it go wrong? n- How bad will it be? n- Can we see it coming? n- Should we try to prevent  more...

Presenteeism: Measurement and Intervention Issues for Employers and Health Plans nProductivity is fast becoming an even more vital issue to the business world. Presenteeism, or work loss due to underlying health conditions when individuals remain at work, is one important facet of productivity. One study found that approximately 6 percent of a global company's total compensation (salaries, wages and all benefit costs) were lost due to presenteeism. Work site wellness programs  more...

AIA Document A312 Payment Bond Forms ...lled 45-Day Rule. This teleconference is designed to help personnel responsible for obtaining bonds and administering contracts avoid the pitfalls presented by use of the A312 bond form and to modify the bonds in a way that will meet their business objectives. Particular attention will be paid to the 45-Day Rule modifications approved by the AIA and certain major sureties and to potential  more...

7 Questions to Ask When Establishing Cause for Disciplining and Terminating Employees nThis teleconference will focus on understanding and implementing a simple, yet comprehensive approach to investigating and documenting potential disciplinary and termination actions. You will learn seven questions to establish cause for discipline or termination, as well as why proper investigation and documentation minimizes potential for the filing of discrimination claims, decreases settlement  more...

FDIC's Role When a Financial Institution Fails: What Businesses and Bankers Need to Know nThe FDIC is modernizing its current business processes and procedures for determining deposit insurance coverage in the event of a failure of one of the largest insured depository institutions. This teleconference will provide you with information on the complex rules governing FDIC insurance coverage and how to maximize FDIC coverage. The coverage rules, the new rules recently passed and  more...

Effective Utilization of Employee Waivers nEffective employee waivers establish employee expectations and protect employers from liability for employment-related claims such as discrimination, harassment and retaliation, as well as contract claims and tort claims such as defamation and invasion of privacy. Pre-employment waivers put employees on notice of employment screens such as background checks and drug testing. During employment,  more...

Getting to the Root of Root Cause Analysis nFailures are a fact of life. In every industry and occupation we are faced with failures. Failures of products, processes, systems and services abound. n nSome of us are tasked with fixing the processes that lead to failures. The customer wants "faster, better, cheaper" but we are delivering "slower, worse and costly." Failure can mean not meeting a customer requirement. It can relate to form,  more...

Labor Law Update: Preparing for Upcoming Regulations nAttend this teleconference and learn the new laws and strategies regarding a variety of employment-related laws that are in effect or are expected to be in effect for 2009. From the new COBRA rules, FMLA regulations, EFCA and union initiatives, issues involving wage and hour and independent contractors, the latest drug and alcohol testing, confidentiality and security of personnel data,  more...

Form I-9: Updates and Compliance Strategies for Employers nThe Department of Homeland Security recently issued new employment verification rules and Form I-9. Join us as we examine these changes. A wide range of Form I-9 issues and compliance tips will be addressed, including E-Verify program considerations.  more...

Key Components of an Effective Mentor Program nSchool districts, communities, youth serving agencies, corporations and the federal government are working to provide solutions to the most pressing problems facing school aged youth today. The challenges include improving attitudes about school, reducing absenteeism, keeping youth away from risky behavior (e.g., drugs, alcohol and gang activity) and improving their academic performance. n nIt  more...

Payment Fraud nAs a business owner, how do you know your customers are who they say they are? How do you know if the payments they are making to you, using credit cards or ACH, are good? Fraud is on the rise, with a tough economy and the abundance of malware in the market today, it is only a matter of time before your company becomes a target. As a business owner you need to understand the signs to look for  more...

Preparing for and Properly Reacting To Legal and Illegal Drug and Alcohol Use in the Workplace ...outside the expertise of most managers and human resource personnel, while dealing with the problem improperly can lead to significant liability under federal and law, including the Americans With Disabilities Act and employee privacy laws. This teleconference will help you understand what laws may govern or affect workplace decisions relating to drugs and alcohol. You will also learn how to  more...

Optimize Your Workforce Scheduling nFor many companies, scheduling the workforce can become a nightmare. Because labor is a significant cost of production, management is often under pressure to keep their workforce lean and flexible. The aim of workforce scheduling is to balance constraints to ensure that the right people with the right skills are in the right place at the right time. Workforce planning provides a systematic  more...

Effective Exit Interviews nMost employers are always looking for ways to improve employee relations, attract new employees and retain the ones they have. But how do you know what to do to improve if you don't know what employees are looking for or why they are leaving? n nImplemented properly, a good exit interview program can provide an employer with a host of valuable information that can be used to improve its employee  more...

Bankruptcy Preferences nLenders, borrowers, vendors and purchasers alike all risk receiving a notice from a bankruptcy trustee demanding a return of funds, legitimately paid out by the debtor, as a preference. Attorneys representing debtors, trustees and creditors must be intimately familiar with the elements required to prove a preference and as well as to defend against one. This teleconference will provide an  more...

Workplace Flexibility: Innovative Strategies for an Evolving Workforce nOver the last three decades, the needs of the American workforce have changed dramatically. In response, many businesses have turned to workplace flexibility in order to recruit and retain the best workers, boost productivity and increase their competitive advantage. At the same time, policymakers in Washington have been exploring various approaches for increasing access to workplace flexibility  more...

The Do's and Don'ts of Telephone Monitoring nMany employers monitor or record employee telephone conversations as a routine part of doing business. This monitoring must comply not only with the federal wiretap statute, but with a variety of differing requirements imposed by state statutes. Since courts in California have changed the rules for telephone monitoring for anyone who makes a call into California and other states with mutual  more...

Current Issues in Construction Lending nIn view of the downturn in construction lending activity nationwide and the inability to sell developed lots, completed homes, condominiums and to lease-up commercial buildings, the focus of bankers has shifted to portfolio management as opposed to new business development. With this in mind, this teleconference will review loan portfolio techniques and strategies required to stay on top of  more...

Avoid Wrongful Termination Lawsuits: Strategies to Keep Your Managers Out of Legal Trouble nThis teleconference will review tried-and-true methods for eliminating employment litigation risks, will build managers' confidence in dealing with a range of common-place employee issues, and sharpen their understanding of workplace practices and policies which will dramatically reduce exposure to litigation risks for themselves and their companies.  more...

Employee Retaliation: Supreme Court Update nThe mere mention of retaliation in the workplace today sends waves of concern throughout an employer's organization. Most recent court decisions recognize retaliation claims in nearly all areas of employment law and find adverse actions in a variety of circumstances, beyond demotion and termination, for purposes of upholding such claims. Most significantly, the U.S. Supreme Court recently  more...

Recent Developments With Loan Syndications nAttend this teleconference and stay abreast of the latest issues relating to the loan syndication process. Our seasoned faculty will provide practical answers to your most pressing questions about loan documentation. You'll get an inside look at how to respond to confusing post-Lehman bankruptcy issues and other new developments. n nRegister now and you'll learn how to overcome any obstacles you  more...

On-Site Power Generation: Challenges, Opportunities and New Developments nMission critical operations include electronic trading operations; semiconductor manufacturing (clean rooms); pharmaceutical plants; hazardous biological or chemical labs; military, defense and government facilities; certain security or public safety related projects, including 911 call centers, emergency or disaster response centers; airport air traffic control towers; and other critical  more...

What the New Ledbetter Pay Act Means for Employers nOn January 29, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, effectively changing the landscape of the statute of limitations for equal pay discrimination claims. The act greatly expands the amount of time that employees have to bring claims of discriminatory pay practices, which could have a substantial impact on employers. This teleconference will help the  more...

Writing the Critical Teacher Evaluation nThe act of teaching is what finally determines the success or failure of the school. To that end, a well-developed and wisely used evaluation system is the most important tool of school administration. Teacher associations will (appropriately) protect memberships from evaluations that are poorly constructed or poorly delivered. Teacher associations also understand the importance of working with  more...

Pitfalls with Lean Implementation nAre you (or about to be) in the 90% lean failure group? In implementing lean, the cards are stacked against your success. The sad truth is this: eight or nine organizations of 10 who embark on implementing an improvement initiative like lean, Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma FAIL to get the benefits they should. This wastes time and money, and disenfranchises the workforce. In extreme cases, it can  more...

Strategies Short of Foreclosure: Real Estate Short Sales and Beyond nRecord numbers of foreclosures have radically changed the residential real estate market in the last year and affected all aspects of the practice of residential real estate law, real estate closings, lending and sales. Whether your real estate market has experienced a bubble burst or merely a fizz, your practice has been affected by slowing markets, the subprime meltdown and the record number of  more...

Alternatives to Reductions in Force nLayoffs spawn headlines, adverse publicity and labor relations challenges. While the economic crisis has caused numerous companies to consider restructurings in response to a turbulent business environment, there are compelling business and legal reasons to consider alternatives to layoffs. This teleconference will address the legal and business cases for considering alternatives to layoffs and  more...

Understanding the COBRA Alternative Coverage Rules ...personnel who are involved with COBRA coverage and what can be done to reduce costs. In lieu of a company's traditional health plan, for COBRA purposes, the company is allowed to offer alternative health coverage although the procedure for doing so is quite complicated. n nDiscussed first is what constitutes the various forms of alternative health coverage, how it applies and in what  more...

Religious Accommodations in the Workplace nTo avoid lawsuits, contain costs and keep good employee morale, U.S. companies must effectively meet their legal duty to properly accommodate religion in the workplace. This is particularly true because of the rapid growth of religious cultures in the U.S. and the increasing awareness of religious workplace accommodation rights by employees. This teleconference is designed not only to update  more...

Reduce Downtime and Enable Lean With Total Productive Maintenance nEquipment breakdowns create chaos and reduce effective capacity in most companies. They are often a significant roadblock to lean manufacturing. Total productive maintenance is the proven approach for minimizing surprise breakdowns and increasing the utilization of plant and equipment. It is a major component of lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System. n nThis teleconference will  more...

Curbing Unauthorized Overtime Benefits Year after year, one of the most challenging tasks employers face is keeping track of the hours their nonexempt employees work and correctly paying any required overtime premium. When unauthorized overtime occurs, labor costs skyrocket, and businesses face a budgeting nightmare. And when employees perform compensable work off the clock, the potential overtime liability for an employer  more...