Doing Business in California?
Dos and Don'ts of California Employment Law for In- and Out-of-state Employers

Employers across America will tell you, “California is different,” when it comes to labor and employment law.

It’s not just that their laws are some of the most employee-friendly in the nation, which makes doing business trickier for companies in and out of the state. As the most heavily populated state in the Union, their size and influence and their willingness to go to great lengths to protect workers make California a trend-setter in employment law.

And that’s why Jeffrey Wortman and Laura Maechtlen of Seyfarth Shaw LLP have teamed up to provide this informative 60-minute audio conference for anyone who is doing business or thinking about doing business in California.

What are the forces behind California’s continuing expansion of employee rights—and employer obligations? What are the most peculiar parts of California law that can bewilder even the most knowledgeable private employers and their HR departments?

And what are the interesting politics behind rulings from the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals—the one federal appellate circuit most friendly to plaintiffs’ rights (and the circuit most often reversed by the United States Supreme Court)?

From decisions by state and federal judges to interpretations and enforcement by California administrative agencies, this presentation is a thorough-but-quick crash course on everything you need to know about doing business in the great state of California, including:

• 2011-2012 updates in California law
• Biggest challenges to employers (especially if you’re out-of-state)

Reserve a line for you and your team today!

Learning Objectives:

• Most problematic new California employment legislation in 2012
• What are the most peculiar parts of California employment law employers should be on the lookout for, including:
• Leaves of absence
• Disability and reasonable accommodation
• Wage and hour issues
• New hire and termination issues
• Employees privacy rights

Presented by:

Laura J. Maechtlen

Laura J. Maechtlen is a partner in the San Francisco office of Seyfarth Shaw, the leading national employment and labor law firm, and leads a west coast team of her firm’s Complex Discrimination Litigation Practice Group. Laura has a primary emphasis on defending employers sued in employment discrimination class actions, wage and hour collective actions, and EEOC pattern or practice lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout the United States. In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Maechtlen also provides day-to-day counseling and advice to clients about the various laws affecting the employment relationship, including issues related to employee complaints, workplace investigations, leaves of absence and the interactive process. She also regularly reviews employer policies for compliance under state and federal law. Ms. Maechtlen is a frequent contributor to her firm’s complex discrimination blog, “The Workplace Class Action Blog.”

Jeffrey Wortman

Jeffrey Wortman is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. He specializes in labor and employment law and has represented employers in discrimination and wage and hour class actions, as well as cases regarding allegations of wrongful discharge, retaliation and discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, filing of workers' compensation claims, sexual harassment, whistle-blowing and related matters. Mr. Wortman has also represented clients in traditional labor matters under the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. He has experience litigating claims of retaliation for employees exercising their statutory right to choose union representation, advising clients with regard to collective bargaining negotiations and union organizing campaigns, drafting employment contracts, and defending employers in arbitration of claims under collective bargaining agreements. He has appeared in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies.

Mr. Wortman also has extensive experience advising employers with regard to personnel policies and procedures, reductions in force, employee privacy rights, wage and hour issues, drug and alcohol testing, employment agreements, independent contractor issues, and protection of employer trade secrets and non-competition issues. He frequently conducts training seminars on diverse employment law issues, including sexual harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, and supervision and discipline of employees.

Continuing Education:

This program has been approved for 1.0 recertification credit hour through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the
HR Certification Institute website. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HRCI of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HRCIs criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.

Who would benefit from this program:

• HR Managers
• HR Directors
• HR Professionals

Why a WTC Audio Conference is Right for You:

• Fast, convenient learning without any out-of-office time lost.
• No travel-related expenses or complications.
• The perfect way to train as many employees as you like.
• 100% Guarantee: If you are dissatisfied, you are entitled to a complete refund.

Product Options:

Audio Conference Formats Explained

• Audio Conference CD Only: $229.00 (includes S&H)

Length: 1 hour

Want an All-Access Monthly Audio Conference Pass? Click here for details.