Please join us on March 19, 2010 for our annual spring seminar for public sector clients and friends, when we will address issues facing school districts, municipalities and other governmental agencies.

The program begins with a plenary session covering general issues in the workplace, followed by breakout sessions allowing a choice from several topics of great interest and issue discussion in a small group setting.  Click here to register.  Seating is limited so reserve your seat today! 

When: 

March 19, 2010
8:00 AM – 12:15 PM

 

Where: 

Rocky Hill Marriott 
100 Capital Boulevard 
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

 

Event Details:  Download printable pdf

Plenary Session Topic

 

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE:
Generational Issues in the Workplace
• New computer systems/older workers–Can I fire them when they can’t keep up?
• Younger employees are complaining about me (and the budget) on Facebook—Can I tell them to stop and discipline them when they don’t?
• I don’t make them wear a tie, but–Can I tell them to cover up the tattoo, lose the gaudy earrings and tuck in their shirt?
• Telecommuting sounded like a good idea when he proposed it, but now I am having second thoughts–Can I just tell him to be in the office at eight or else?

Breakout Sessions (Please Choose Two)

 

I. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS IN SCHOOLS:
Students and Staff Sexting and Texting
• What is sexting and when is it a crime?
• What special considerations apply when investigating incidents of sexting?
• When can a district discipline students for electronic communications?
• What policies do I need to prevent or address sexting?
• What happens when staff send inappropriate electronic communications?

II. CASE LAW UPDATES:
2010 Issues and Developments
• The latest FOIA developments, handheld scanners, and more.
• Police promotions stir controversy, but employers get a win.
• First Amendment rights of public sector employees.

III. REGIONALIZATION OF SERVICES:
Employment and Labor Relations Issues
• What is prompting the discussion of regionalization of public services in Connecticut?
• What laws enable efforts to regionalize public services and what laws inhibit it?
• How does regionalization affect your collective bargaining relationships?
• Who has been successful? Where? And to what extent?

IV. S.I.G.N.S OF THE TIMES:
Salaries, Insurance, Generational differences and Normal Retirement
• What are the latest trends in wages and employee benefits?
• Approaches to bargaining concessions and balancing budgets.
• Tips for effectively introducing and maintaining consumerism with respect to employer provided health plans.
• Strategies for negotiating and arbitrating pension and retirement benefits.
• How do the generational differences in employees and employee groups affect compensation and benefit considerations?