2014 Tri-State HRMA Conference Highlights Employee Engagement, Compliance Issues

Author: Marta Moakley, XpertHR Legal Editor

May 2, 2014

Tri-State Human Resources Management Association (HRMA) held its 28th Annual Conference on May 1, 2014, in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, emphasizing employee engagement and compliance issues. Featuring two keynote addresses and various speakers, the hundreds in attendance focused on the conference theme "The HR Playbook - What Needs to Be in Yours?"

Armers Moncure, the opening keynote speaker and Principal of AMI World Consulting, focused on employee engagement issues. In an interview following his well-attended speech, Moncure stated that "Employee engagement is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It's important to understand the differences within work populations and what things appeal to what people: Millennials, Gen Xers, women" and other groups. For example, Moncure advises an employer to focus on an employee's specific contribution to a project and the organization as a whole when attempting to engage Millennials.

In addition to employee engagement issues, the conference offered a slate of speakers for those concerned with employment law compliance. Louis Lessig, Partner at Brown & Connery LLP, delivered a legislative update that covered federal, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey developments.

In addition, Ian D. Meklinsky of Fox Rothschild LLP addressed the interplay of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act with various state laws, such as workers' compensation statutes, the New Jersey Family Leave Act and the New Jersey SAFE Act. Meklinsky lectured on recordkeeping best practices, and advised an employer to have a clear understanding of the differences between statutory leave entitlements and statutory compensation entitlements. Dechert LLP's Linda Dwoskin discussed considerations when weighing whether to allow telecommuting in the workplace, including a recent 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that addressed telecommuting as an accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Lessig summarized the conference as "an impactful day with useful takeaways."