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Hot Topics in Workplace Disputes Promo Image

An event every week that begins at 6:00 pm on Monday, repeating until May 20, 2024

Hot Topics in Workplace Disputes

April 29 @ 6:00 pm

|Recurring Event (See all)

An event every week that begins at 6:00 pm on Monday, repeating until May 20, 2024

Virtual Event Virtual Event

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to expose students to important developing issues that are facing employees and employers in the workplace today. Hear from experienced arbitrators from across the country about a wide range of issues, from the legalization of cannabis and its effect on workplace drug screening, to the rise of social media and related First Amendment issues, and new leave issues created by the pandemic and recent changes to the law (other topics in development). We will also discuss civility issues and the effects of remote work. We will use recent arbitration and court decisions to illustrate how decision makers reached an outcome. By the end of this course, students will have tools to provide better representation for their members and employers and reach better outcomes at and prior to arbitration.

Schedule:

Date Topic Presenters
April 22 A Primer on Progressive Discipline, Discipline & Discharge,

Civility in the Workplace, and

Issues with Remote Work

1.  Arbitrator Jeff Hartnett, Albany, NY*

2. Arbitrator Alvin Wilson, Hartford, CT*

April 29 Drug Testing 1. Arbitrator David Gaba, Seattle, WA$

2. Arbitrator Michael Loconto (lead instructor), Boston, MA*

May 6 Pandemic Issues and Other Leave-Related Topics (PFML, USERRA etc.) 1. Arbitrator Emily Hall, Anchorage, AK

2. Arbitrator Betty Widgeon, Detroit, MI

May 13 Free Speech and Social Media Issues 1. Arbitrator Lisa Timmons, Detroit, MI

2. Arbitrator Shianne Scott, Portland, OR

May 20 Wrapping Up: Off-Duty Misconduct and a

Mock Arbitration Exercise

1. Arbitrator Kevin O’Leary, New Hampshire

2. Arbitrator E. Patrick McDermott, Annapolis, MD

* – denotes members of the National Academy of Arbitrators New England Region Salon for Newer Arbitrators (2022-2024); $ – denotes NAA member

Instructor Bio: 

Michael Loconto is a Boston-based arbitrator and mediator providing neutral, independent dispute resolution services for the modern workplace.

Arbitrator Loconto has trained with the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Institute and has apprenticed under two members of the National Academy of Arbitrators in labor, employment and pension fund matters. He has experience in the public and private sectors with education, trades, construction PLAs, public safety, dining services, hospitals, and transportation, among other industries, and has handled a spectrum of discipline and discharge, contract interpretation, discrimination, substance abuse, pay and benefits matters. Arbitrator Loconto has two decades of practical experience, previously serving as an in-house counsel to a small college and a labor and employment relations leader for a large university and a major metropolitan city. He has worked with unions, managers and neutrals as a Labor and Employee Relations Association industry council leader and is the current President of Boston’s LERA Chapter. He has taught legal writing and research at Northeastern University School of Law and courses on contracts and bargaining at The Labor Guild.

Arbitrator Loconto conducts in-person or remote hearings nationally and internationally via the AAA (labor, employment and pension/ERISA matters), the Labor Relations Connection, FMCS, the National Mediation Board, and through more than two dozen state and local agencies. He is also a member of the Roster of Arbitrators with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (rail disputes) and hears consumer lemon law claims in Massachusetts and contract vendor disputes with the City of New York.

Please visit locontoadr.com or email mtl@locontoadr.com for further information.

If you would like to arrange for payment using non-electronic payment method, please complete this registration form.

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