Skip to Page Content

Event Details

    June Chapter Meeting: Sorting Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave and COVID-Related Leave Requirements

    Date: June 18, 2020, 8:00am – 9:30am
    Organizer:
    South Puget Sound SHRM
    Location:
    Online: You will receive a link to the event in your confirmation email upon registration.
    Price:
    COVID-19 Impact Registration - Free; Pay-as-you-Will Registration - $10
    Event Type:
    2020 Breakfast Meetings
    iCal link
    Add to Calendar

    Event PowerPoint located here!

    Event presentation located here!

    Please welcome

    Valarie Zeeck & Amanda M. O’Halloran
     Attorney at Gordon Thomas Honeywell

    Presenting:

    Sorting Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave
    and COVID-Related Leave Requirements

    Summary: 

    Emergency Proclamations and Leave laws related to COVID 19 have added to the steep learning curve for HR professionals that had been created by the implementation of the WPFML Act in January 2020.  The new reality for the HR professional is a maze of eligibility requirements, leave entitlements, stacking considerations, and managing employees who may be high risk or just concerned about being at work. 

    This presentation will provide a review of basic information on the leave laws and governmental orders, and at the same time, it will attempt to provide an organizational structure for use by HR professionals as they consider what leave laws apply when and to whom, and how they can respond to the needs of business owners and managers to keep the business running. 

      Learning Objectives:

      Participants will be able to:

      • Learn or review foundational information about new forms of leave, and how they interact and “stack” with long-standing employee leave rights;

      • Identify low-risk pathways for responding to employee inquiries about rights to job protected leave, paid and unpaid;

      • Develop strategic policies and protocols to ensure consistency in managing leave;
         
      • Learn when and how to access a resource list of numerous state and federal laws, emergency proclamations, guidances and other resources;
         
      • Respond to business owners and managers with clarity and authority about a topic fraught with challenges in an economically challenging time. 

                           

      1.0 Credit approval pending through SHRM & HRCI

      About the Speaker:

      Valarie Zeeck

      Valarie Zeeck joined GTH in 1997. Her primary area of practice is employment law and litigation. She advises and provides training to owners, HR professionals, managers, and employees in employment law to help them reduce litigation expense and risk. She also defends employers in employment-related litigation, focusing on extracting clients from litigation at the earliest possible stage.

      Primary Areas of Practice
      Labor and Employment, Business and Employment Litigation

      vzeeck@gth-law.com 
      Phone: 253.620.6427

      Amanda M. O’Halloran, Of Counsel

      Amanda focuses her practice on providing employment law advice for a diverse group of businesses, such as retail establishments, car dealerships, construction-related companies, healthcare providers, financial services companies, and non-profits. She is frequently called upon to provide counsel regarding difficult employment terminations, investigating discrimination and other employment claims, advising on reasonable accommodation and disability issues, and developing anti-harassment policies and training.  Amanda partners collaboratively with business owners and human resources personnel to prevent employment claims from arising and helps institute best practices for personnel issues. 

      Amanda also frequently speaks at professional seminars regarding employment law issues including FMLA, ADA and sexual harassment training.  When not working Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and enjoying good books, running and tennis.

      Primary Areas of Practice
      Employment Law

      aohalloran@gth-law.com 
      Phone: 253.620.6423

      Education
      J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 1995 cum laude  
      B.S., Political Science, University of Washington, 1991 Graduated with honors

      Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
      Washington State Courts
      United States District Court, Western District of Washington
      United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

      Professional, Community & Bar Association Memberships
      Washington State Bar Association
      Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association
      Washington Women Lawyers, Pierce County Chapter
      Board Member, Circle of Friends In Action
      Past President, St. Patrick’s Catholic School Commission

      Information on Registration: Those impacted by COVID-19 are able to register for free, and those that are able to pay can register for $10. If you are able to continue to pay for your registration we appreciate your support as it helps us continue to provide great programs. Thank you!