LAS VEGAS, N.V. (April 25, 2008) - Jackson Lewis LLP’s 19th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference began its third and final day of seminars today with a presentation by power couple James Carville and Mary Matalin entitled “All’s Fair: Love, War and Politics” in which the speakers tackled critical political issues growing more urgent than ever in this crucial election year. It was an aptly named discussion for the record-high number of corporate counsel attendees who had spent the last three days participating in sessions addressing ever-growing workplace issues such as drug testing in the workplace, ERISA litigation and union corporate campaigns. This year’s conference had a special focus on disability, leave and health management issues, and participants were able to explore topics from the ADA Restoration Act to integrated disability management to family responsibilities discrimination.
Throughout the conference, Jackson Lewis attorneys stressed the importance for employers to educate themselves regarding ongoing government proceedings affecting today’s workplace. “Our workplace is changing rapidly due to new initiatives and proposed legislation in disability management, class action litigation, labor relations and other key issues that face in-house employment counsel,” said Edward Cherof, conference chair and partner in the Atlanta office of Jackson Lewis. “We cannot overstate the employer’s responsibility to become aware of these issues.”
“Under particular fire are matters concerning organized labor,” added Michael Lotito, a partner in the San Francisco office. “The upcoming presidential election has the potential to usher in legislation that will make union organizing easier than ever. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) will be re-introduced in the next Congress; if signed, it has the potential to reverse years of workplace democracy.”
Lotito urged human resource managers to immediately begin identifying vulnerabilities that make their companies targets for corporate campaigns, and find a qualified expert to help put together a plan of action.
Frank Alvarez, national coordinator of the Disability, Leave and Health Management Practice Group at Jackson Lewis, warned of yet another major issue that employers need to begin seriously considering. “The impact of a potential major expansion of employee protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act could be enormous for companies across the country,” said Alvarez. “As currently proposed, the ADA Restoration Act would at best create uncertainty in the workplace and at worst increase litigation exponentially.”
Jackson Lewis LLP consists of more than 450 workplace law practitioners and specialists who are devoted to advocating an issue-free work environment for their clients. Attorneys will be monitoring the progress of the Employee Free Choice Act, the ADA Restoration Act and other relevant governmental developments related to the workplace, and are available to assist employers in identifying legal needs and meeting compliance requirements in this decisive election year.
For more information on Jackson Lewis, or to speak with an attorney regarding these upcoming legislative regulations, please visit www.jacksonlewis.com.
About Jackson Lewis LLPFounded in 1958, Jackson Lewis LLP is dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law. With offices in 34 cities and more than 470 attorneys, Jackson Lewis has developed a concentrated expertise in over 17 specialized practice areas of the law.
For more information, please contactLara Minch-Klass, Jackson Lewis T: (212) 545-4031 E: klassl@jacksonlewis.com
Kara Dullea, the bounce agency T: (864) 351-2736 E: kara.dullea@thebounceagency.com