Please join us on March 13, 2014 for our annual spring seminar for public sector clients and friends, when we will address issues facing school districts, municipalities and other governmental agencies.

When:
March 13, 2014
8:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Where:
Sheraton Hartford South Hotel
(formerly Rocky Hill Marriott)
100 Capital Boulevard
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Download: event brochure

The program begins with a plenary session covering a timely topic, followed by a choice of two breakout sessions allowing for issue discussion in a small setting.

Plenary Session:
Detective At Work: An Advanced Course for Conducting Employment Investigations

  • Dealing with complex cases and scenarios
  • Developing investigatory “best practices”
  • Gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses
  • Balancing the rights of the accused, victims, witnesses and unions
  • Avoiding common errors and resolving them when they occur

Breakout Sessions (choose two upon registration):
The Social Media War: What Is It Good For? #Winning Battles in the Public Sector Workplace

  • Uncovering the latest social media apps infiltrating the workplace #trending
  • Identifying the free speech issues unique to the public sector #FirstAmendment
  • Addressing the legal issues with “Friending” in the workplace #friendorfrenemy?
  • Using social media and the internet for pre-employment screening #passwordprotected
  • Highlighting policies and #bestpractices for your workplace #staytuned

Parental Discretion Advised: A Guide for Dealing With Demanding Parents In The Schools

  • Understanding the legal requirements related to disclosure of student information
  • Responding to requests for information related to bullying and discipline
  • Challenges to grades, class and school assignments
  • Diffusing conflict related to IEPs and Section 504 plans
  • Requests for observations and parent communication
  • Practical tips for introducing educational change

Navigating Negotiations: Map Your Way To Success With a Bargaining Blueprint

  • Changes in law and policy affecting collective bargaining – negative impacts and potential benefits
  • Affordable Care Act and collective bargaining
  • Recent public sector arbitration awards
  • Average salary settlements around the state
  • Insurance trends (plan changes and premium cost shares)

PSYCHOLOGY 101: A Course On Dealing With Mental Health Issues In The Workplace and Schools

  • Competing challenges and demands faced by municipalities and schools
  • What constitutes a psychiatric disability
  • Procedures for municipal and school employees to assert that they have a psychiatric disability
  • Understanding the legal landscape, rights, and obligations of cities, towns and boards of education under ADA, FMLA, GINA and more
  • Balancing workplace safety issues and concerns of coworkers against rights of staff with certified psychiatric disabilities