This full-day, in-person seminar will explore practical strategies for navigating the latest legal developments in employment law and will help HR professionals, in-house counsel and business leaders stay in tune with evolving workplace regulations, litigation risks and compliance obligations that continue to top employers' charts. 

Scott Conference Center
6450 Pine St, Omaha, NE 68106

Applying for CLE (including ethics), HRCI and SHRM to the following states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Washington.

Agenda

8:30 - 9:00 AM | Registration

9:00 - 9:30 AM | Stayin’ Alive: OSHA’s 2026 Compliance Hits Amid Agency Cutbacks with Gigi O'Hara

Workplace safety compliance has never been more consequential—or more complicated. OSHA’s revised National Emphasis Program on heat hazards is already driving random inspections across 55 high-risk industries whenever the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory, even as a final federal heat illness standard remains unfinalized. Meanwhile, OSHA continues to issue citations in 2026 with a renewed focus on very specific compliance obligations. This low hanging fruit in compliance will continue to place your company at risk for violations unless addressed. Layered on top of this is a significant contraction in the agency’s own capacity, with federal OSHA cutting 223 positions nationally this year. Despite fewer resources, OSHA’s enforcement posture remains robust. For organizations navigating workforce safety programs, understanding this shifting mix of enforcement priorities and constrained agency resources is essential to managing risk and avoiding costly citations.

9:30 - 10:00 AM | Don't Stop Believin’...Your AI Chats Are Private with Rob Toth

In this session, Rob Toth explores how courts are treating AI prompts and outputs as discoverable evidence—and what that means for HR professionals who use AI tools every day. From courtroom disasters to practical scenarios involving ADA accommodations, hiring and terminations, this session will change the way you think about every prompt you type. Walk away with concrete best practices to protect your organization in the age of AI-assisted HR.

10:00 - 10:20 AM | Break

10:20 - 10:50 AM | Start Me Up: Hiring and Onboarding Issues Employers Need to Know with Kasey Cappellano and Meaghan Gandy

Integrating new employees on the right note requires navigating a range of legal and practical issues during both hiring and onboarding. In this interactive presentation Meaghan Gandy and Kasey Cappellano will cover the “greatest hits” of pre-employment and early employment challenges, including job posting requirements, avoiding interview missteps, medical inquiries, disability accommodations, and religious accommodations. Attendees will learn practical strategies for spotting compliance issues early, documenting decisions, avoiding common missteps, and keeping the workplace in harmony from the first interview through the first days on the job.

10:50 - 11:20 AM | Top of the Charts: Workplace Trends To Watch with Marcia Washkuhn

Every year brings new developments that reshape the employment landscape. This session will examine the workplace trends that are climbing the charts, from legislative activity and agency guidance to court decisions and evolving employer obligations. Discussion topics will include Nebraska and federal legal developments, affirmative action, disparate impact, hiring practices and other emerging issues affecting employers. Designed for attorneys and HR professionals alike, this presentation will provide practical insights into the trends that matter most today and those expected to shape the future. 

11:20 - 11:50 AM | Rock the Casbah: Navigating the Clash Between Enforcement and Business Needs in 2027 with Bob Wees

With interior enforcement surging, employers are caught between aggressive government action and the need to retain foreign talent. Bob Wees will share practical strategies for I-9 compliance and ICE encounter protocols, and will cover major visa developments heading into 2027, including changes to the H-1B program, USCIS processing, and other enforcement initiatives reshaping how employers hire and retain workers in an era where enforcement and business needs are on a collision course.

11:50 AM - 12:30 PM | Lunch

12:30 - 1:30 PM | A Retrospective Piece on Conducting Workplace Investigations with Clete Samson, Jessica Anderson, and Regan Lavallee

Instant Karma’s going to get you when an investigation into a workplace complaint is done improperly. In this chart-topping session, Clete Samson, Regan Lavallee and Jessica Anderson will address the complexities of investigating modern workplace complaints, with a focus on tuning out the all-too-common legal missteps that can distort the effectiveness and credibility of investigatory findings, making decisions off-key. Attendees will learn how to keep an investigation on beat while enjoying a front-row seat to a mock investigation that hits all the right notes. This presentation will feature a discussion of Rules 1.1 (Duty of Competence); 1.6 (Duty of Confidentiality); 1.13 (Organization as a Client); 3.7 (Lawyer as a Witness); 4.1 (Truthfulness in Statements to Others); 4.2 (Communication with a Represented Person); and 4.3 (Communication with an Unrepresented Person).

1:30 - 1:45 PM | Break

1:45 - 2:15 PM | The Executive Playlist: Compensation, Complaints and Consistent Standards with Kasey Cappellano and Meaghan Gandy

In this program, Kasey Cappellano and Meaghan Gandy will examine the full mix of executive employment issues in an interactive format, including: structuring compensation and bonuses; responding to complaints about management-level employees; and ensuring that workplace standards are applied consistently, even to senior leaders and high performers. We will discuss practical strategies for reducing risk, preserving credibility and keeping leadership decisions in tune with company policies and employment law obligations.

2:15 - 2:45 PM | You Can’t Always Get What You Want...But You Might Get Protected Concerted Activity with Colin Finnegan

When it comes to employee complaints and workplace outbursts, the tune isn’t always what management expects—but the NLRA’s protections for concerted activity can turn even discordant moments into legal hits. In this session, we’ll riff on the broad interpretation of Protected Concerted Activity (PCA), spotlighting landmark cases and unique challenges in non-unionized environments. From group texts and team chats to social media posts, we’ll explore how digital platforms amplify employee voices—and potential risks. Learn how to spot PCA in the wild, avoid legal landmines, and keep your workplace in harmony with the law. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies for responding to complaints, managing outbursts and maintaining a compliant workplace chorus.

2:45 - 3:00 PM | Break

3:00 - 3:30 PM | Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Employee Benefits Need Your Attention! with P. Brian Bartels

Employers continue to encounter challenges in providing competitive and compliant benefit packages. This session will address recent developments in pharmacy benefits, transparency initiatives, family formation benefits, retirement plan updates, employee benefits litigation trends, and other developments affecting employee benefit plans and their sponsors.

3:30 PM | Adjourn