Subject to change.
Wednesday, May 15
1–5 p.m.
ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Preconference
Health Care Staffing: Legal and Legislative Updates
(NOTE: This preconference takes place the day prior to the main conference. You must register for the main Staffing Law & Compliance Conference in order to add the preconference to your cart for an additional $200. Questions? Contact Katie McGilvery.)
Thursday, May 16
7:15–8:30 a.m.
StaffingPAC Industry Leader Breakfast—Featuring Charlie Cook
(By invitation only. Contact Krissy Bailey with questions.)
7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Registration Open
7:45–8:45 a.m.
Breakfast
10:15 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Expo Open
8:45–9 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9–10:15 a.m.
Top Compliance Issues for Employers and Staffing Firms in 2024
Sirmara J. Campbell, chief human resources officer, LaSalle Network
Benjamin M. Ebbink, Esq., partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP
Dawn M. Lurie, Esq., senior counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Michael R. Phillips, Esq., partner, McGuireWoods LLP
Every year, staffing firms and other employers face growing compliance challenges—and 2024 promises to be a doozy. Use of artificial intelligence continues to impact the recruiting and hiring process, but legislators and agencies at both the state and federal level are looking to curb its use, creating legal risks and obligations for employers. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating staffing firms at an alarming rate for citizenship status discrimination and unfair immigration-related documentary practices. Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down race-based admissions policies in higher education is impacting private employers’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Learn about each of these critical compliance concerns, what to say to clients, and how to manage both operational excellence and legal compliance in today’s employment and staffing landscape.
10:15–11 a.m.
Refreshment Break With Exhibitors
11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Client Contracts: Getting to ‘Yes’ While Mitigating Risk
Jason B. Klimpl, Esq., partner, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP
Joanna Monroe, Esq., co-managing partner, Staffing GC
Your staffing company is on the cusp of landing a major client it’s been pursuing for some time, but one obstacle looms large: negotiating the contract. Whether it’s a client’s contract or one proffered by a managed services provider, refusing to sign indemnity, confidentiality, no-poach, and other contract clauses could sink the deal—but signing could lead to significant liability. In this session, an expert panel will discuss strategies for reconciling these issues, including avoiding overly broad indemnification provisions; defining scope of services; protecting client data; and more.
12–1:30 p.m.
ASA Legal & Legislative Committee Meeting and Lunch
(By invitation only)
12–1:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch With Exhibitors
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Staffing in the Crosshairs: Class Actions and EEOC Enforcement
Gerald L. Maatman Jr., Esq, partner, Duane Morris LLP
Robert W. Sanders, Esq., partner, Taylor English Duma LLP
Ariel D. Zion, Esq., chief legal officer, Insight Global
Class actions against staffing firms continue to be on the rise. In addition, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s new strategic enforcement plan identifies many target areas that staffing firms need to address, including the use of artificial intelligence in hiring, equal pay obligations, preventing and remedying harassment, and more. Hear more about these trends, ask questions of the experts who monitor and defend these cases, and learn critical strategies to prevent, investigate, and respond to claims effectively.
2:30–3:30 p.m.
Avoiding the Courthouse: Strategies and Alternatives
Sarah Kroll-Rosenbaum, Esq., partner, Akerman LLP
Steve Pedersen, Esq., chief legal officer, Medical Solutions
Collin Williams, Esq., founder and chairman, New Era ADR
Vanessa P. Williams, Esq., senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, Kelly
Sessions at this year’s Staffing Law and Compliance Conference do an exceptional job of addressing the current employment law landscape, compliance risks, and the potential claims employers want to avoid. In this session, the discussion focuses on what to do should a legal issue arise and strategies for avoiding the courthouse. Join top litigation and alternative dispute resolution legal experts as well as chief legal officers that know first-hand how to avoid costly legal battles through proactive defense, including arbitration agreements, class action waivers, and more.
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Refreshment Break With Exhibitors
4:30–5:30 p.m.
You Be the Judge: Top Staffing Cases of 2023
Lauren A. Champaign, Esq., senior counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP
Brittany Sakata, Esq., general counsel, American Staffing Association
Donald W. Schroeder, Esq., partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
Back by popular demand—combining value with a bit of levity: This interactive session features leading legal experts in staffing who will argue their cases before you, the jury, and let you decide the verdict. The lawyers will present facts and legal arguments from some of the most important staffing litigation of the past year. Will your verdicts agree with those of the courts? A valuable and fun opportunity for all staffing professionals to sharpen their knowledge, this session delivers strategies and takeaways specifically focused on staffing and recruiting companies.
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Happy Hour With Exhibitors
Friday, May 17
7–8:15 a.m.
ASA Legal & Legislative Committee Meeting and Breakfast
(By invitation only)
7:30–8:30 a.m.
Breakfast With Exhibitors
7:30–10:30 a.m.
Registration Open
7:30–10:30 a.m.
Expo Open
8:30–9:30 a.m.
Employee Handbooks and HR Policies for Staffing Firms: What’s New, What’s Harmful, and What’s Missing
Deborah R. Pierce, Esq., SPHR, senior vice president and general counsel, Integrity Staffing Solutions
Evan M. Rosen, Esq., principal, Jackson Lewis PC
Some staffing firms don’t have an official employee handbook. Others have only a short list of “house rules” for their temporary workers but then use a larger handbook for corporate staff. And in some cases, the employee handbooks being used are generic—not customized for the unique intricacies of the staffing business. Wherever your firm lands on this range of employee handbook use, you will find value and glean takeaways from this session. Learn best practices and legal compliance strategies with respect to employee policies and handbooks. Come away with the “must-have” language; learn which clauses to include or change; decide whether you should have separate handbooks for temporary workers and corporate employees; and adopt critical staffing-specific policies. This session will also cover recent changes to state and local laws and how national or regional staffing companies should address the myriad laws that must now be addressed in company policies and employee handbooks.
9:30–10:30 a.m.
Refreshment Break With Exhibitors and Prize Drawing
10:30–11:30 a.m.
A (Scary) New Frontier: Tough Legislation Trends Impacting Staffing—And How to Prevent Bad Things From Happening in Your State
Toby Malara, Esq., vice president, government affairs, American Staffing Association
Marianela Peralta, Esq., general counsel and corporate secretary, Aerotek Inc.
Andrew L. Scroggins, Esq., partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
In 2023, states passed laws directly aimed at the staffing industry as well as laws that continue to uniquely affect staffing firms. Included are mandated equal pay and benefits for temporary workers, staffing-specific registration and licensing obligations, pay transparency requirements in job ads, and more. These trends are picking up steam in other states, further increasing the compliance burden on staffing firms in an already-challenging business environment. Learn the latest in the states where you do business and compliance strategies for each. Plus, take home a “Grassroots 101” resource developed by the ASA legal team, so you can be part of the solution.
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fortune Telling: Forecasting 2024’s Legal and Political Outcomes
Benjamin M. Ebbink, Esq., partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP
Jack Kingston, principal, Squire Patton Boggs
Toby Malara, Esq., vice president, government relations, American Staffing Association
Election season is in full swing in Washington, DC, which means this year’s conference attendees get a special, staffing-specific look at what could play out and how those scenarios could affect the business environment for their companies. Get the inside scoop, ask questions, and glean the information you need about the 2024 presidential election and congressional races. Other critical issues at the center of discussion include the Federal Trade Commission’s rule banning noncompete; the Department of Labor’s new overtime, joint employer, and independent contractor rules; and more. This engaging and educational session will give you the expertise to effectively position your company to navigate the changes ahead.
