Workers are returning to the workplace, even though COVID-19 has yet to be contained. Among employers and employees, safety remains a concern and a priority. Jennifer Jackman, an attorney with the firm Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, will discuss urgent human resource topics that managers are confronting due to COVID-19 and will lead participants through the maze of leave management issues and COVID-19 related precautions and accommodation that employers may be required to protect employees under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).
Among the pressing topics on the agenda are:
- Handling an employee’s request for ADA accommodations.
- The legality of mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for employees.
- COVID fears and their impact on a worker’s decision to return to the office: rights of employees and responsibilities of employers
- Federal laws governing protected leave and other state rights and protections afforded to employees.
Speaker: Jennifer S. Jackman, JD
Co-Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Section, Jen Jackman represents employers in state and federal courts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, as well as throughout the United States, on all aspects of employment, from hiring to discharge. She is an experienced advisor on employee handbooks, employment contracts (including confidentiality agreements, non-solicitation and non-competes), pay equity, wage and hour, avoiding discrimination claims, family and medical leave, fair labor standards, disability accommodations, discipline, performance improvement plans, termination and severance agreements. She regularly conducts investigations into internal complaints of harassment and discrimination and counsels boards of directors regarding employment matters and in ensuring they meet their fiduciary duties in responding to claims. She is experienced in representing executives in separation of employment issues.
Ms. Jackman is a seasoned litigator on behalf of corporate clients, business owners, executives and board members, including in connection with claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination, discrimination, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, tortious interference and enforcement of restrictive covenants.
In addition, Ms. Jackman regularly provides management and staff training on a comprehensive range of employment-related issues, including anti-harassment, sensitivity, diversity and inclusion, dealing with difficult employees and hiring practices. In the areas of higher education and sports law, she is an experienced provider of training in Title IX compliance for athletes, coaches and staff, as well as in conducting investigations into complaints and providing overall employment counsel.