Labor and Employment Law Academy Fall 2025
October 14, November 19, December 16
By: John M. Bagyi, Michael D. Billok, Erin M. Callahan, Rebecca J. LaPoint, Robert F. Manfredo
In today’s workplace it is imperative to understand the far-reaching effects of employment laws and regulations that impact each and every business. Failure to do so may result in significant administrative fines or costly legal judgments.
The Academy program is your one-stop solution. This program will provide participants with a comprehensive review of employment laws including guidance on reasonable accommodation requests, employee handbooks, workplace investigations, performance management and terminations, and a refresher on New York State Paid Family Leave.
Presented by recognized leaders in employment law and human resources, the Academy will focus on practical workplace applications that will prepare you to deal with the real-life issues you face every day.
Invaluable Information for:
• Human resource professionals
• Business owners
• Those performing the human resource function, including executive directors, business,
office and operations managers
Consider Registering Early as this Series Routinely Sells Out.
Dates
Session One • October 14, 2025
Session Two • November 19, 2025
Session Three • December 16, 2025
Location
Albany Marriott • 189 Wolf Road • Albany, NY 12205
Program Agenda
8 - 8:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Program
Registration Fees Per Person
Bond clients: $70/session; $125 in advance for two sessions; $160 in advance for three sessions
Non-clients: $95/session; $170 in advance for two sessions; $205 in advance for three sessions
Client Registration
Non-Client Registration
Refunds will only be made for cancellations received no fewer than 5 business days before event. This seminar series is intended for the invited guests of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. Bond reserves the right to deny admission to any registrant.
Session One • October 14, 2025
Practical Guidance for Reasonable Accommodation Requests
Presented by: Michael D. Billok, Esq.
We all know the general outline for an accommodation request – the employee asks for an accommodation, we ask for documentation to support it, and…then what? This presentation will go beyond the standard answer of “it depends,” using hypotheticals to highlight the issues employers face when deciding whether to grant or deny both disability and religious accommodations, and to help employers navigate difficult scenarios.
Employee Handbooks: How to Turn a Headache into a Valuable Resource
Presented by: Rebecca J. LaPoint, Esq.
Employee handbooks are a valuable resource for both employers and employees – but only if they are drafted correctly and updated regularly. This session will discuss what employee handbooks should and should not contain, recent legal and best practice developments that likely necessitate a handbook update, as well as a detailed discussion of key handbook sections including those addressing discrimination, harassment and retaliation, technology use, and monitoring and leave laws.
Session Two • November 19, 2025
How To Legally and Effectively Conduct Workplace Investigations
Presented by John M. Bagyi, Esq. SPHR, SHRM-SCP and Robert F. Manfredo, Esq.
In today’s workplace, investigations into workplace harassment, theft, and other forms of employee misconduct are commonplace. Handled correctly, a workplace investigation can limit or even eliminate an employer’s legal liability. Yet, all too often, workplace investigations are inadequate or ineffective. This presentation will provide a crash course in how to conduct workplace investigations effectively and legally and will address difficult issues, including where to start an investigation, who should be interviewed,
how to handle a difficult witness or one who refuses to participate, and the rights of employees during investigatory interviews.
Session Three • December 16, 2025
Managing Performance, Addressing Misconduct, and Terminating the Employment Relationship
Presented by John M. Bagyi, Esq., SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Leaders need to be able to manage under-performing employees, while motivating strong performers and maintaining positive employee relations. Unfortunately, managing performance does not come naturally to many leaders. While discussing performance evaluations, performance improvement plans, warnings, and the importance of documentation, we will review mistakes employers commonly make and how to avoid them. We will also examine how employee discipline and discharge are scrutinized by investigators, jurors, and other third parties, and how to bulletproof your processes to limit potential legal exposure.
New York State Paid Family Leave: A Refresher
Presented by Erin M. Callahan, Esq.
New York State’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) has been in effect for over seven years so it is time for a refresher. This session will cover the key provisions of PFL, including eligibility requirements, the types of leaves covered, the application process, and the employee benefits. It will also address common questions, misconceptions, and lessons learned over the past seven years to help administer PFL over the next seven years and beyond.
