Event Details

CBIA 2021 Human Resources Conference sponsored by Robinson+Cole

About this Event

Approved for 5.5 HRCI credits & 5.5 SHRM PDCs

AGENDA

8:15 am | Opening Remarks

• Diane Mokriski, HR Counsel, CBIA

8:25 am | Update on Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program

• Chris DiPentima, CBIA President & CEO; member, Governor's COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group

8:35 am | Welcome Remarks

• Rhonda Tobin, Managing Partner, Robinson & Cole

8:40 am | Resilient Leadership: Strategies for Reengaging Your Workforce

• Kenya Rutland, Chief Enthusiasm Officer, KJR Consulting

During this time of continuous uncertainty, it is important for leaders to recognize that the days of a predictable schedule may be a thing of the distant future. For the time being, all aspects of our lives are merged and it is important to acknowledge our different levels of sanity at any given time. During this interactive session, participants will discover strategies to improve communication, connectivity, and engagement within their teams.

9:20 am | Break

9:30 am | Connecticut Paid Family Leave Update

• Andrea Barton Reeves, CEO, Connecticut Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Authority

Andrea Barton Reeves presents an overview of the next phase of Connecticut’s new Paid FMLA program, including employer requirements and responsibilities. She highlights key dates, administrative tools, and resources the paid leave authority has posted online. Bring your questions; we’ll provide answers.

10:10 am | Domestic Violence Comes to Work

• Linda Blozie, Director of Training & Prevention, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence

This session helps you recognize the risks and symptoms of domestic violence in the remote workplace and provides an overview of the rights and obligations of impacted parties. We discuss tools that help you develop a workplace culture of prevention and support including sample policies, intervention strategies, and talking points.

10:50 am | Break

11:00 am | Emergency Preparedness: Has Your Plan Been COVID’ized?

• Milton Jacobs, President, Safety Solution Consultants, Inc.
• Jim Wronkowski, Senior Occupational Health & Safety Specialist & Field Supervisor, Safety Solution Consultants, Inc.; COVID Officer, Peabody, MA.

Over the past 12 months, many organizations have discovered that emergency preparedness and planning is a very challenging proposition. In this session, one of Connecticut’s leading risk management and public health companies will offer advice, strategies, and share best practices for dealing with clients in the U.S. and Caribbean.

11:40 am | Lunch Break

12:20 pm | Remote Workers: Out of the Office But Not Out of Mind

• Daniel Schwartz, Partner, Shipman & Goodwin LLP
• Keegan Drenosky, Associate, Shipman & Goodwin LLP

In this session, Daniel Schwartz addresses the differences between in-state and out-of-state workers, the obligations to provide employees with resources and a safe workplace at home, and how remote work might impact requests for accommodations. He also provides best practices for employers using remote workers and discusses the impact vaccines might have on such work going forward.

1:00 pm | COVID-19 Compensation Strategies

• Carol Kardas, Founding Partner, KardasLarson, LLC

Employer and employee views of work, the workplace, family, and life has been sobering over the past year. Do we just hope it fades in the rearview mirror and restart the old compensation, benefits, and total rewards paradigm or do we need a new approach to reflect this new reality? Carol Kardas brings her decades of experience to this fascinating discussion.

1:40 pm | Break

1:50 pm | Introduction to Lean HR Practices

• Matin Karbassioon, Lean Consultant & Continuous Improvement Consultant, CONNSTEP, Inc.

Lean HR processes empower employees and managers. They demand high levels of problem solving, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Join us for an exploration of Lean for HR and discover how it can transform and enhance your operations.

2:30 pm | Employment Law & HR in the Biden Administration

• Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson, Robinson & Cole

Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson returns for an update on the expected shifts in policy and enforcement that impact HR and business operations during the Biden administration. She discusses how to prepare as the White House, Congress, and federal agencies get down to work.

3:10 pm | Legislative Update

• Eric Gjede, Vice President, Government Affairs, CBIA

The 2021 Connecticut General Assembly session is tackling many of the topics topics knocked off the 2020 agenda when COVID-19 forced an early shutdown. Eric Gjede briefs you on the impact the session has on HR management and company operations, and how to effectively engage in the legislative process on behalf of your professions and your businesses.

3:50 pm | Closing Remarks

• Diane Mokriski

The CBIA 2021 Human Resources Conference is made possible through the generous support of Robinson+Cole.