"Internal Affairs" -- The Risks of Workplace Romance and How Employers Should Protect Themselves

Romance in the workplace has long been a problematic issue for employers. Recent court rulings have complicated the situation by imposing greater obligations on employers to ensure that both parties act professionally (especially after the relationship ends) and that other employees aren't adversely affected (or perhaps even offended). Learn what you can do manage these difficult -- and potentially expensive -- situations.

Learning Objectives:

• Educate employers on the latest court rulings (and large verdicts) arising from romantic relationships in the workplace.
• Discuss the legal theories leading to workplace romance litigation and employer liability.
• Evaluate the options for employers for dealing with workplace romance -- before it arises.
• Consider various handbook policies and procedures addressing workplace romance.
• Discuss the effectiveness of "love contracts" as a mechanism for limiting liability.
• Help employers craft a strategy for dealing with workplace romances gone bad.

Presenters and Panelists:

Joseph L. Beachboard

Joseph L. Beachboard, a nationally recognized expert on employment law issues, joined Ogletree Deakins as the firm's shareholder for Client Services/Business Development in 2001. In this capacity, Mr. Beachboard oversees the business development activities of the firm's 300 attorneys in 24 offices across the country. He also is responsible for ensuring that the firm provides premiere service to its clients through e-mail alerts, a bi-monthly newsletter, seminars and other special events.

Mr. Beachboard speaks regularly before human resource, personnel and employer groups on cutting edge employment law topics. He is frequently quoted in several publications, including the Los Angeles Times, HR Executive, Workforce, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union Tribune, Las Vegas Review Journal, Indiana Business Journal and Denver Business Journal. Articles written by Mr. Beachboard have been published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, HR Advisor, Nashville Business Journal and The Tennessean.

After practicing employment law at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker in Los Angeles , Mr. Beachboard founded The Labor Letters, Inc., a publisher of monthly employment law journals designed specifically for human resource professionals. Although The Labor Letters was acquired in 2000, he continues to write articles and serve in an editorial capacity with several employment law related publications (including Matthew Bender's California Labor & Employment Law Bulletin and the firm's newsletter, The Employment Law Authority ).

Mr. Beachboard is a founding member and Executive Director of the Management Labor and Employment Roundtable. The Roundtable is a national, invitation only, organization of management labor and employment lawyers. He is also a member of the California State Bar Association, American Bar Association and Los Angeles County Bar, Labor and Employment Law Section. He was an adjunct professor of labor management relations at Woodbury University from 1991 to 1995.

Denise Cotter Villani

Ms. Villani is a shareholder in Ogletree Deakins' Dallas office. She specializes in litigation and has extensive trial experience. She also has an active employment arbitration practice and has managed and resolved, or taken to hearing, dozens of employment arbitration.

Ms. Villani also does management training in all aspects of employment law and has presented on issues including: "How to Conduct a Sexual Harassment Investigation," "Workplace Romance," "The Interplay of the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act" and the "Americans with Disabilities Act and Mental Disabilities." She also does appellate work and has argued cases before the Fifth, Sixth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal.

Ms. Villani has particular experience handling age, sex and disability discrimination cases. She practiced as a medical technologist in a teaching hospital before attending law school and her medical background has helped her develop expertise in disability cases and cases involving claims of emotional distress. She regularly works with psychologies and psychiatrists in evaluating claims for emotional distress and stress related disability claims.

Ms. Villani practiced in Oklahoma for several years before moving to Texas and maintains her Oklahoma license. She regularly practices in all Oklahoma and Texas courts and was voted a Texas Super Lawyer in 2005.

Continuing Education:

• This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Recertification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage.