|
|
|
Weather:45°FFair |
By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star
Inside many businesses, inside offices, manufacturers, retailers and restaurants business owners are working through an ever changing climate.
Some are growing, taking on new employees or increasing the number of utilized independent contractors.
Some, are still suffering the effects of a weakened economy, shedding jobs or shutting doors.
Through the change comes the need for businesses owners to be up to date and maybe even a little re-educated about the laws that affect their workplace.
That is the subject of a seminar being held at Lake Michigan College in February.
“Employment Law Misconceptions” will be presented featuring local attorneys Michael Bell and Heather Ptasznik.
“We’re going to cover 20 of the areas that we see are the most common misconceptions people have,” Bell said Tuesday.
During the seminar Bell and Ptasznik plan to address common employer misconceptions regarding employment laws and employer obligations and cover preventive measures to avoid or minimize mistakes.
Those areas include wage and hour, furloughs, FMLA compliance, hiring, Americans with Disabilities Act, termination considerations, and enforceability of non-compete agreements.
“I think that it’s good to cover these, maybe especially in these times because there’s been a lot of shifting,” Bell said. “Despite what we think, there are places that are growing.”
Issues such as salary and overtime, 1099s for independent contractors compared to W2 tax forms and when to use which will also be discussed.
“There’s a whole host of issues,” Bell said. “It’s really relevant all the time.”
According to the Southwest Michigan Economic Alliance and the Berrien County Manufacturers Council, Bell, “from the law firm of Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki and Berg, P.C., represents business clients ranging from single entrepreneurs to publicly traded companies through performance of a variety of legal tasks including: business structuring, labor and employment issues, acquisitions and expansion, and contract review and negotiation.”
Ptasznik is described as having “extensive experience in the areas of employment law including defending employers against employment discrimination claims, wrongful termination, defamation, unemployment claims, negligence, administrative claims before the EEOC and MDCR and breach of contract claims. She also counsels employers on hiring and termination considerations, prepares employment policies and handbooks, conducts training seminars for supervisory and non-supervisory employees, and works with human resources personnel on HR audits.”
The luncheon will be held at the Bertrand Crossing Campus of Lake Michigan College on Feb. 23 at noon. The cost is $8 per person for Berrien County Manufacturers Council and Southwest Michigan Economic Growth Alliance members and $10 for non-members.
RSVPs are requested. To do so, or for more information, call Shelley Klug at 683-1833 by Feb. 19.