DC Bar - Understanding the Fundamentals of The Employment Relationship

The four session course will be taught by experienced lawyers from the law firm of Crowell & Moring who have substantial expertise in dealing with employment law matters. The course is designed to give participants a comprehensive overview of the employment laws that impact nonprofits, including laws dealing with employment discrimination, minimum wage and overtime and family medical leave. It will also discuss how to determine if someone should be treated as an independent contractor or an employee.

We will cover important employment related issues such as what an employer must consider before making the decision to terminate an employee and how to deal with claims of sexual and other forms of harassment.

The course will also discuss employee benefit plans. It will review federal and local laws relating to employee benefits, including ERISA and DC's Sick and Safe Leave Act. It will also explore an employer's legal responsibilities for its employer-sponsored benefit plans under laws such as the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA and COBRA. Finally, it will discuss the IRS's safe harbor for determining reasonable compensation for nonprofit executives.

The course is designed for nonprofit executives with significant human resource responsibilities and other staff that seek to develop their capabilities. 

Hiring,Terminating and Managing Employee Performance: This session will focus on the hiring process, including how to avoid discrimination claims when filling a position, DC's new Ban the Box legislation and what to include in an employee's offer letter. It will also discuss how to manage an employee's performance so that the employer can address problems before they become serious. Finally, it will discuss what steps an employer must take if it has to terminate someone's employment.