Employment law update; what business need know

North Jersey lawyers provide the latest on wide range of topics employers face Mount Olive — An update on employment law will be given Jan. 19 by the Sussex Warren Human Resources Management Association at the Holiday Inn located in the Mount Olive International Trade Zone. The presentation begins with dinner, networking and association business from 6 to 7 p.m. The two-hour legal update will start at 7 and wrap at 9 p.m. Two HRCI recertification credits will be awarded for those seeking recertification. For information visit www.sussexwarrenhrma.org or contact Priscilla at 908-283-4703. Topics The panel of four attorneys will address a wide range of pressing issues currently facing New Jersey employers and human resources professionals. Topics addressed will be: 1. Best practices for addressing disability and ADA issues in the workplace Howard Vex's discussion will include the employer's duty to reasonably accommodate and the updated ADA guidelines, best practices for assessing the need for reasonable accommodation and how the ADA and NJLAD impact an employer's ability to address chronic absenteeism or poor performance. 2. The five most common mistakes made by HR professionals Jonathan Meyers will recommend best practices to avoid these pitfalls and will provide insight into these seemingly small decisions that can have a significant negative impact in litigation. 3. What HR professionals should know about worker's compensation and about what motivates employees to seek out and retain a lawyer in employment disputes Kevin Kutyla will rely on his extensive experience to recommend best practices for employers when dealing with injured workers. Topics to be discussed include understanding the legislative bargain and knowing when the Workers' Compensation Law does not apply; understanding how other benefits fit into the Workers' Compensation scheme; and effective ways to advise management or the company's owners regarding an injured worker. He will further provide insight into what motivates employees to give up on working with human resources or management and, instead, seek legal counsel to challenge the employer. 4. Best practices for addressing illegal drug and alcohol use in the workplace Richard Wenner will address the scope and impact of drug and alcohol abuse on the job and will review the employer's related obligations and potential liability. His presentation will cover mandatory and permissive drug testing, recommended employer policies and practices and employee privacy concerns. He will discuss appropriate corrective measures and resources available to help employers respond to these issues. 5. Panel discussion Should time permit, the four presenters will conduct a question and answer session, in panel format, at the conclusion of the presentations. The speakers The presenters are all North Jersey attorneys. Howard A. Vex, moderator, is a partner with Courter Kobert and Cohen, PC, based in Hackettstown and Sparta. He directs the firm's labor and employment law department and brings 20 years of experience and insight practicing in the field of labor and employment law and litigation. Jonathan Meyers is a founding member of the employment law boutique practice of Meyers, Fried Grodin, LLC, based in Morris Plains and New York City. Meyers has been practicing law since 2000 and developed his skills working with the labor and employment department of one of the nation's largest law firms prior to starting his own firm in 2011. Kevin T. Kutyla, is the founder of Law Offices of Kevin T. Kutyla, Esq., based in Newton, Budd Lake and Totowa. He began practice in 1992 and was a partner with Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla and Williams, where he held primary responsibility for the firm's workers' compensation practice. He opened his own practice in 2009, focusing primarily on workers compensation and civil litigation. Richard W. Wenner, is an integral part of the labor and employment law department of Courter Kobert and Cohen, PC, based in Hackettstown and Sparta. Although practicing in all areas of employment law and general litigation, he has developed a specialization in the area of employee drug testing and drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace. Two) HRCI recertification credits will be awarded for those seeking recertification.