Join us as Tri-State Partners with Philly SHRM to bring you a free, virtual Legal Briefing!

Philly SHRM is launching a new initiative to support HR professionals across our region: Live Member-Only Briefings that deliver timely insights into the social, economic, political, and legal developments shaping Greater Philadelphia and its surrounding areas. These briefings are designed to help HR leaders anticipate change, respond strategically, and drive impact within their organizations. Each live briefing will be about 30 minutes. The recording will be available for a week after the event. It is free for all participating members using a code.

The initial briefing will be a legal briefing from Michael Cohen, Partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group

Internal Investigation in a New HR World

The workplace landscape has changed and the internal EEO complaints are mounting. Are you ready? How do we best prepare and defend ourselves? Conduct the investigation well! If an employee alleges that he or she or they have been subject to unlawful harassment, discrimination or retaliation, an employer ordinarily has an obligation to commence an immediate investigation. In some cases, the investigation may help the employer avoid liability altogether. At a minimum, it may minimize exposure to damages. However, often the focus in litigation becomes the quality of the investigation as opposed to the underlying conduct giving rise to it. This session will focus on when and how to investigate allegations of unlawful harassment, discrimination or retaliation.

Speaker: 

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group.  Michael concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country on subjects including harassment prevention; diversity, equity and inclusion; combatting implicit bias; performance management; discipline and discharge; hiring and recruiting practices; performance evaluations; FMLA, ADA and FLSA compliance; leave of absence policies; LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace; substance abuse testing; workplace violence; records retention; conducting background checks; and more. Michael also has conducted investigations into claims of harassment and discrimination and has drafted employee handbooks, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and post-termination agreements. Michael regularly conducts in excess of 200 trainings each year.  He has represented clients throughout the country in EEO and other administrative proceedings.

Michael has been cited as a national authority on employment issues by The New York Times, The Associated Press, USA Today, MSNBC.com, HR Magazine, SHRM On-Line, Employment Law 360, Inside Counsel Magazine, as well as many other publications.  Michael serves as an Advisory Board Member of GenHERation and as a Board Member of Serve, Inc.