Labor Relations, Employment Law Experts Train Hospitality Professionals to Avoid Costly HR Mishaps
Produced in association with Human Resource Executive® magazine, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, and Cornell University ILR School, the HR in HospitalityTM Conference & Expo delivers cutting-edge strategies to manage employees, costs and compliance in a down economy.
Feb. 22 - 24, 2010; Register by Jan. 8, 2010, and save $350.00!

Horsham, Pa. — OCTOBER 19, 2009 — For many years, unions have complained that they have been "laboring" under an unfair disadvantage in employee organizing campaigns. But with a newly reconstructed NLRB, change is on the horizon for the hospitality industry, prompting HR professionals to tailor employment policies and practices in ways that minimize exposure to legal action. At the National HR in Hospitality™ Conference, HR managers can fully prepare for the labor and legal developments headed their way by learning specific strategies that will help them move their organizations forward in today's wavering economy. On February 22 - 24, 2010, at Wynn Las Vegas, the fourth annual event will feature segments on Employment Law, Labor Relations, HR Strategies, and HR Operations. Early Bird registration is open at www.HRinHospitality.com, offering a $350.00 discount until Jan. 8, 2010. Teams of three or more can cover the entire conference and receive even bigger savings.

The event, produced by Human Resource Executive® Conferences, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and Cornell University ILR School, and endorsed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, is the only HR-focused event offered to the hospitality industry.

"Because of the economic volatility, we're no longer in a period of talent shortage, but rather a surplus. Now we're faced with the dilemmas of contraction and cost containment," said Harry Katz, the Kenneth F. Kahn Dean and Jack Sheinkman Professor of Cornell's ILR School. "Fortunately, hospitality is still vital, despite the uncertainty of when the economy will recover."

From roundtable discussions to lectures and plenary sessions, the Employment Law segment on Day 1 and the Labor Relations segment on Day 3 include a variety of educational sessions to prepare attendees for the inevitable recovery. Daily rates ranging from $295 to $495 per person are available.

Employment Law (Monday, Feb. 22, 2010)
David Sherwyn, Associate Professor of Law at Cornell's School of Hotel Administration, will moderate the Employment Law plenary session, "Top Cases and Legal Trends Impacting Hospitality HR Practitioners." An impressive panel of legal academics, in-house counsel and private-practice attorneys will highlight and discuss the most important cases, law-to-practice issues, and other critical and complex employment laws affecting the hospitality sector in 2010.

Sherwyn then returns with Gregg Gilman, Partner and Co-Chair of Labor & Employment Practices at Davis & Gilbert LLP, for the Employment Law breakout session, "A Closer Look: Emerging Standards and Hot Cases in Employment Law." Together they will provide an even deeper legal analysis beyond the overview provided in the plenary session.

In "Major Trends in FLSA and Workplace Privacy Litigation," Zev Eigen, Assistant Professor of Law at the Northwestern University School of Law; John Gessner, General Counsel for Texas Wings, Inc.; and Carolyn Richmond, Partner and National Co-Chair of Hospitality Practice for Fox Rothschild LLP, will prepare attendees to address the individual and class-action complaints likely to arise in the coming year.

Concurrently, attendees can learn how to prevent legal action in their organizations in the session, “Avoiding the High Costs of Harassment & Retaliation in the Workplace,” presented by Ilene Berman, Partner at Taylor English Duma LLP; and Paul A. Wagner, Adjunct Professor of Law at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. The session will focus on teaching attendees what employee actions are protected and what employer responses are prohibited.

As the Employment Law segment wraps up, attendees can engage in lively discussion with the Cornell faculty on issues of their choice at three roundtable discussion groups. Added in response to suggestions from 2009 attendees, these discussion groups are a great way to end the day before retiring to the Expo Hall for a sumptuous reception featuring the best offerings from the Wynn Las Vegas.

Labor Relations (Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010)

With an administration focused on helping the middle class, President Obama is appointing people to the National Labor Relations Board who are more sympathetic to unions and bargaining agreements. Thus, a distinguished panel of experts comprised of Dean Katz; Michael J. Lebowich, Partner at Proskauer Rose LLP; and Arte Nathan, President and COO of Strategic Development Worldwide, will examine the impact these developments will have on the hospitality industry in the highly anticipated Labor Relations plenary session, "The 365-Day Organizing Campaign."

“There is a great national debate about the Employee Free Choice Act and how this might alter the balance between labor and management in the world of union organizing," said Nathan.

"It's the perfect moment for the discussion because there is this monumental bill [EFCA] about to pass Congress, and HR professionals have to be prepared for the outcome," said Dean Katz. "Whether an organization is currently being unionized or not, it will be affected by Congress' decision. It's a big deal."

"No matter what happens in Washington, the fact remains that positive employee relations is still the most important tool in management’s tool box – this isn’t about being anti-union, it’s about being pro-employee,” Nathan added.

And Nathan will show attendees exactly what it means to be "pro-employee" and how creating relationships of trust helped him build great organizations in the session, "The Supervisor-Subordinate Relationship: Trust Trumps All."

On the legal front, Lebowich, one of the nation's top labor attorneys, will return in "The Battle Over EFCA: What's At Stake for Hospitality Industry Employers." He will give HR professionals a deeper sense about what the Employee Free Choice Act is and how it will affect their jobs, their companies and the hospitality industry's labor relations issues.

Meanwhile, Dean Katz and Wagner will cover one of the most contentious power struggles of the year in "The Impact of UNITE-HERE's Split." The presenters recognize that employers are facing incredible turmoil and confusion over whom they have to bargain with or who might show up and organize their employees.

"Not only will we talk about the consequences of the UNITE-HERE divorce and what it means for employers, but also the battle between Bruce Raynor and John Wilhelm and what it means for hospitality management," Katz said.

In addition to the Employment Law and Labor Relations segments, the two-and-a-half-day conference will also feature sessions focusing on today's best HR Strategies and HR Operations. And for the first time, the Cornell University HR Executive Roundtable will be open to all attendees.

Since its inception in 2006, HR in Hospitality™ has revitalized the conference scene by delivering an unmatched caliber of speakers who share "real-world" insight and knowledge year after year. “The hospitality industry is quickly becoming known as a pacesetter in HR thought leadership, and the HR in Hospitality™ Conference is a big part of why this is true. The proximity and partnership of these two Cornell schools are driving this renaissance, and we all – HR and operational leaders – are the beneficiaries of this collaboration,” Nathan said.

Running concurrently with the conference, the HR in Hospitality™ Expo will further assist attendees through exposure to products and services related to: Benefits Administration, Compensation Systems & Services, Diversity Hiring/Compliance Training, Employee Assistance Programs, Foodservices, HR Consulting, HRO, Insurance, Payroll Software & Services, Recruitment, Retirement & 401(k) Services, Safety & Security Services, Training, Wealth Benefits & Group Life, Disability & Workers’ Compensation, and more.

For registration details, including Pre-Early Bird Registration and the conference’s full agenda, visit www.HRinHospitality.com. If you would like to hear more about team discounts, please contact Carolyn Hinson at chinson@lrp.com. For exhibitor and sponsorship information, visit www.HRinHospitality.com or contact Fred Kurst, Trade Show Manager: Southeast, Southwest, West, N.Y. and Europe, at (703) 393-8304; or Nancy Sommar, Trade Show Manager: New England, Midwest, Pa., N.J. and Canada, at (215) 784-0910, ext. 6231.

About the HR in Hospitality™ Conference & Expo

In addition to the conference, the HR in Hospitality™ Expo Hall is open for two days and is designed to further assist attendees through exposure to products and services related to benefits, HRO, legal, payroll, screening and assessment, training and recruiting.

About HRE Conferences
Thousands of HR professionals network, research workforce solutions and make buying decisions at the three annual
Human Resource Executive® events: HR in Hospitality™ Conference & Expo, February 22 - 24, 2010; HR Week™, April 12 - 14, 2010; and HR Technology® Conference & Exposition, September 29 - October 1, 2010. More information about these conferences can be accessed at www.hreconferences.com.

# # #

Note to editors: HR in Hospitality™ is produced by HRE Conferences, a division of LRP Conferences, LLC. Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners. A limited number of complimentary press passes are available for HR in Hospitality™. To request a press pass, please contact Carolyn Hinson at chinson@lrp.com.