Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
HR and Legal Update: Recent Changes in the Law and Trends Impacting Public Libraries
Date/Time
1/8/2025
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Eastern
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Eastern
Event Registration
Competency
Laws
Event Description
Keeping abreast of changes in employment laws is an on-going challenge for employers generally and for HR Professionals in particular. In this webinar, we will examine recent developments in the law that impact the ability of public libraries to manage the workforce in a challenging environment.
Learning Objectives:
Jim P. Wilkins, Shareholder, OSBA Certified Specialist in Labor & Employment Law, Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLC
Jim began his law career more than thirty years ago when labor law – dealing with unions -- was in full bloom, and employment law was still emerging. As a result, he has a depth and breadth of experience in labor law that many younger lawyers won’t have because of the decline in the unionized segment of the American workforce.
Throughout his career, he has devoted significant time to representing and counseling employers on union relations matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration proceedings, and maintaining non-union status. He has negotiated countless labor contracts in both the private and public sectors, both blue collar and white collar. He regularly represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board and Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board in representation and unfair labor practice proceedings.
At the same time, Jim is as much an employment lawyer as he is a labor lawyer. He has been around from the outset of such landmark legislation as the ADA and FMLA. Both have a tremendous impact on the day-to-day advice he provides to employers who look to him to keep them out of trouble. When discrimination claims arise, Jim represents employers in state and federal courts and before the EEOC and state fair employment practice agencies. Jim also assists employers who have federal contracts with their affirmative action obligations, including the preparation of affirmative action plans.
Amanda S Smith, Shareholder, OSBA-Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law, DE&I Officer , National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional, Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLC
Amanda’s unusual path to becoming a labor and employment attorney began with earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in neuroscience at Allegheny College and Kent State University, respectively. After determining that a career in science ultimately was not for her, she took a job as a legal assistant following her graduate studies, and immediately fell in love with law.
That first position at a plaintiff’s side labor and employment firm quickly evolved into enrolling in classes at the University of Akron School of Law, where she eventually earned her juris doctor degree, summa cum laude. Her experience to-date as a management-side labor and employment attorney has led to some lively discussions at the dinner table back home with her father (a police chief) and mother (a former union president).
Amanda has found the work to be both fascinating and fulfilling. She represents employers in many types of labor and employment matters, including charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission and other state fair employment practice agencies. She also counsels employers on litigation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution matters, as well as wage/hour compliance, performance and leave management, discipline, and workplace policies.
Learning Objectives:
- Where are we with regulatory changes impacting salaried exempt employees?
- Recognizing the recent trend toward unionization among Ohio public libraries and what it means.
- Becoming aware of recent developments in EEO law, especially accommodation issues relating to pregnancy, religion, and disability.
- Understanding the importance of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action and its impact on libraries’ hiring and promotion decisions and their DE&I initiatives.
Jim P. Wilkins, Shareholder, OSBA Certified Specialist in Labor & Employment Law, Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLCJim began his law career more than thirty years ago when labor law – dealing with unions -- was in full bloom, and employment law was still emerging. As a result, he has a depth and breadth of experience in labor law that many younger lawyers won’t have because of the decline in the unionized segment of the American workforce.
Throughout his career, he has devoted significant time to representing and counseling employers on union relations matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration proceedings, and maintaining non-union status. He has negotiated countless labor contracts in both the private and public sectors, both blue collar and white collar. He regularly represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board and Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board in representation and unfair labor practice proceedings.
At the same time, Jim is as much an employment lawyer as he is a labor lawyer. He has been around from the outset of such landmark legislation as the ADA and FMLA. Both have a tremendous impact on the day-to-day advice he provides to employers who look to him to keep them out of trouble. When discrimination claims arise, Jim represents employers in state and federal courts and before the EEOC and state fair employment practice agencies. Jim also assists employers who have federal contracts with their affirmative action obligations, including the preparation of affirmative action plans.
Amanda S Smith, Shareholder, OSBA-Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law, DE&I Officer , National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional, Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLCAmanda’s unusual path to becoming a labor and employment attorney began with earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in neuroscience at Allegheny College and Kent State University, respectively. After determining that a career in science ultimately was not for her, she took a job as a legal assistant following her graduate studies, and immediately fell in love with law.
That first position at a plaintiff’s side labor and employment firm quickly evolved into enrolling in classes at the University of Akron School of Law, where she eventually earned her juris doctor degree, summa cum laude. Her experience to-date as a management-side labor and employment attorney has led to some lively discussions at the dinner table back home with her father (a police chief) and mother (a former union president).
Amanda has found the work to be both fascinating and fulfilling. She represents employers in many types of labor and employment matters, including charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission and other state fair employment practice agencies. She also counsels employers on litigation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution matters, as well as wage/hour compliance, performance and leave management, discipline, and workplace policies.
Location
Setting: Live Virtual
Online via Zoom
UNITED STATES
Online via Zoom
UNITED STATES
Contact Person
Details
Who should attend: Anyone wanting to hear about an HR update
Competencies: Laws
Non-Member Cost: $40
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $24
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $20
Can't attend on the date or time listed? Sign up anyway! This webinar includes archive access for later viewing at your convenience.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
Competencies: Laws
Non-Member Cost: $40
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $24
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $20
Can't attend on the date or time listed? Sign up anyway! This webinar includes archive access for later viewing at your convenience.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
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