Event Details

Rogue Valley SHRM Chapter Presents:

     Annual Legal Seminar

 Presentation Agenda:

8:30am- 10:00am:   Avoiding Wrongful Discharge – Sean Ray

In the first half of this presentation, Sean will teach attendees how to avoid wrongful discharge claims through appropriate evaluation, discipline, documentation, and careful termination. This will include effective and appropriate best practices for investigation and evaluation of employees, as well as an overview of the types of situations in which wrongful termination claims typically arise.   

10:00am-10:15am BREAK

10:15am -11:45am:   Legislative Update & Marijuana in the Workplace – Sean Ray

In the second half of his presentation, Sean will review recent and pending legislation – both state and federal – that has the potential to affect employers of all sizes. This will be an easy and efficient way to get yourself up to date on the most important information your company needs to know to stay in compliance with the law.  Additionally, Sean will explain how employers can effectively navigate the changes in state marijuana laws.

11:45pm to 1:00pm LUNCH by Mucho Gusto served in Room 106

1:00pm- 2:30pm:  Use or Abuse: Tools to Curb Family Leave Abuse Pt. 1 – Jennifer Bouman-Steagall

Work is busy, employees are stressed, deadlines are fast approaching, and you get the call you have been dreading, “I won’t be in today” or “I’m leaving because I don’t feel well.”  Sometimes those calls coincide with Mondays and Fridays, or the requested vacation days that were not approved, or the end of vacation periods or holidays, or the busiest time of day at the company, and we start to wonder whether something more sinister may be going on. The unpredictability of intermittent leave is challenging and frustrating enough to manage without someone taking advantage of the system or abusing leave rights. Where do we draw the line between use and abuse, and what can we do about it? You have more power than you might think!  Join us for this memorable program as we explore the fuzzy line between use and abuse and discuss the tools and strategies employers can use to curb family leave abuse.

2:30pm -2:45pm BREAK

2:45pm -4:00pm:  Use or Abuse: Tools to Curb Family Leave Abuse Pt. 2 – Jennifer Bouman-Steagall 

Sean Ray, Barran-Liebman Attorneys

Sean is an attorney at Barran-Liebman, where he represents management in employment matters. He defends employers against discrimination complaints, sexual harassment lawsuits, and retaliation claims, and represents employers in state court, as well as before Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries and the Washington State Human Rights Commission. In addition to litigation, Sean also works with employers to ensure compliance with changes in the law, including drafting and revising their employee handbooks and providing customized trainings to address harassment, discrimination, and other workplace issues to help businesses prevent grievances. Sean regularly writes about employment law cases and decisions, and his columns can be found in such publications as the Portland Business Journal, the Daily Journal of Commerce, and Oregon Business Magazine.

He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portland, and earned his J.D. at the University of Oregon. In addition to being licensed to practice in Oregon, Washington, the U.S. District Court of Oregon, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Sean is also a Registered United States Patent Attorney.

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, RedKite Employment Law Outsourcing

Red Kite founder Jennifer Bouman-Steagall is engaging, dynamic, compelling, entertaining, and genuinely passionate about her work, or so people say. She also happens to be a highly skilled management-side employment litigation attorney with over 14 years of experience representing Oregon and Washington employers.  In 2010 Jennifer left law firm life to open a solo private practice called Employment Law Outsourcing (ELO). ELO is the formal legal defense side of Jennifer’s practice and continues to be the name under which Jennifer represents clients in legal matters filed at the agency level and in state and federal court.  Over the next 3 years ELO grew into more than an employment law practice; it became a better business practice. To give the prevention-focused, organizational development side of her practice its own voice, Jennifer launched Red Kite as a d.b.a. of ELO in 2013. It doesn’t take long to see Jennifer’s passion for training and her commitment to helping businesses grow and succeed.  Jennifer’s clients consider her to be a trusted business partner and effective on-site trainer with a reputation for professionalism, integrity, enthusiasm and creativity. She is proud to be a favorite speaker for human resource organizations, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, the Oregon Employer’s Council, and the Portland State University HR Certificate Professional Development Program. You can read more about Jennifer’s credentials, associations and publications at ELO.

Credits:     HRCI & SHRM credits are awarded

Registration:  Click here for the registration form.