FMLA Step by Step Compliance Guide for 2023
Speaker: Bob Oberstein
Speaker Designation: Arbitrator, Mediator/facilitator, Fact-finder/Investigator, Trainer and Educator
Speaker: Bob Oberstein
Speaker Designation: Arbitrator, Mediator/facilitator, Fact-finder/Investigator, Trainer and Educator
Although the Family Medical leave Act (FMLA)was enacted 29 years (1993) ago the workplace still has problems complying with its requirements. Sometimes that required compliance is ignored because either the employer or the employee is not aware of their obligations, rights, or both. This webinar is designed to make that compliance easier to understand regardless of if it is a first line supervisor, manager or leave/benefits administrator or the employee.
It’s been said that “ignorance of the law is no excuse” and that “What you don’t know can hurt you.” This was never truer than with the FMLA. That’s because it is unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise any rights provided by FMLA.
It is also unlawful for an employer to discharge or discriminate against any individual for opposing any practice, or because of involvement in any proceeding related to FMLA. So, all the more reason to become as knowledgeable as possible regarding one’s FMLA compliance obligations to avoid any legal complications.
Do all first line supervisors, managers, or other staff including the employees know what to do when an FMLA issue comes up? Have they been given a road map that clearly gives them the step-by-step guidance they need to steer their way to compliance?
This webinar is designed to fill such gaps so all can navigate these tricky compliance waters.
The advent of the FMLA made it a workplace priority to give employees the ability to balance the demands of work and family and mandated a path/system for how that can be accomplished but also by simultaneously meeting the needs of the employer. But like all systems/paths there are processes and rules to follow and even though the FMLA has been in existence for 29 years it can still be a confusing area for compliance. However, in order to assist parties to better navigate their FMLA compliance this webinar will provide step by step information on each of the events that take place during the FMLA process from start to finish so everyone will be aware of their compliance obligations.
Do you know if you are an eligible employer under FMLA or what the criteria is for employees to also comply with to qualify as eligible for protection under the FMLA? Or are you prepared to identify and comply with all exceptions under FMLA or if there should be changes in an employee’s circumstances? If you want to know all you can and need to answer these questions and more about FMLA leave then this webinar is for you!
Participants will have an increased understanding of and be better able to assist in the areas of :-
Bob Oberstein has over 52 years of Labor/Employee Relations experience on all sides of the labor-management table including as a neutral (arbitrator, mediator) in both the public and private sectors. He has served as a Commissioner, Maricopa County's Judicial Merit System Review Commission; Member, City of Phoenix Fire and Police Pension Boards; and Member/Chairman, City of Phoenix Civil Service Board. He is also the recipient of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Director's Certificate of Recognition for Achievement in Promoting Positive Labor-Management Relations. Bob has served as Director, of the Labor Management Relations Program at Ottawa University, Phoenix (OU), Arizona where he taught conflict resolution, grievance processing, arbitration, and negotiation among other courses. He also served OU as Ombudsman for all student, faculty, and support disputes as well as the Disabled Student Liaison and received recognition in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
Bob currently mediates in the Family, Civil and Small Claims courts in the State of Washington and serves on the permanent panels/rosters for the FMCS Arbitration Roster (Regions 1, 2, 4, and 7); Oregon Employment Relations Board (OERB); Washington Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC); State of California Mediation and Conciliation Service (SCMCS) Public Employment Relations Panel; American Arbitration Association (AAA) Workplace Investigation Panel; Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Hearing Officer Panel; Eglin Air Force Base & American Federation of Government Employees Local No. 214 Arbitration Panel. In the past, Bob served as mediator and arbitrator on the employment, labor, commercial, and construction panels for the American Arbitration Association and for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He was also the initial trainer and advisor for the U.S. EEOC’s Phoenix Regional Office’s mediation program where additionally, he served as a mediator. Bob has also served as facilitator/mediator for the Interest-based bargaining process for several labor negotiations as well as being a Special Master (Arb-Med) in labor-management grievance resolution.
Bob holds a BA in English/Education from St. John's University, a Master of Science in Social Science and Graduate Certificate of Labor Studies from Long Island University, and a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law from Tulane University Law School.