THE 2014 ACCOMMODATION LAW CONFERENCE (OTTAWA)

New legal breakthroughs in the duty to accommodate and their impact on union and employer representatives in Canada

Ottawa
Fairmont Château Laurier
March 25 & 26, 2014

Attend this state-of-the-law conference and stay on top of the latest legal breakthroughs in the duty to accommodate and their impact on unionized workplaces in Canada.

ATTENTION LAWYERS: This conference consists of 10.75 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits and can be applied towards 9 of the 12 hours of annual CPD required by the Law Society of Upper Canada (not the New Member Requirement). 

TUESDAY, MARCH 25
Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.

MORNING SESSION - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Karen Jensen and Steve Waller

The Year's Top Accommodation Cases
A review of important new accommodation cases in Canada and their impact on Ontario unions and employers.

AFTERNOON SESSION - 1:15 to 4:30 p.m.
Peter Engelmann and Kecia Podetz

Medical Privacy: What's New
New cases shed light on an employer's entitlement to confidential employee medical information to establish a disability or medical restrictions.  

Accommodating Mental Disabilities: Still a Challenge!
Recent cases highlight the difficulties associated with accommodating employees with depression, anxiety, stress and other mental disorders.

Accommodating Off-site Work   
When the duty to accommodate extends beyond the traditional workplace to telework, the commute to work and alternative work sites.

I Have a Porn Addiction: Accommodate Me
The consequences of viewing pornography at work is the subject of several recent arbitration awards -- with some surprising results.   

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

MORNING SESSION - 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Paul Champ and Laurel Johnson

Accommodating Family Status: Going Where No Accommodation Has Gone Before
Accommodating elder care, child-custody and daycare arrangements are some of the groundbreaking issues covered in recent cases.

Attendance Management Programs: When They Can be Challenged
When attendance management programs can trigger human rights issues and invite a legal challenge by the union. 

Competing Medical Opinions: Making Your Medical Expert Count
Factors considered by arbitrators when choosing between competing medical experts -- with practical takeaways for employers and unions.

Top Accommodation Goofs to Avoid
Common missteps by employers and unions when handling accommodation claims and how to avoid them.

AFTERNOON SESSION - 1:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Judith Allen (Chair), Chris Rootham and JD Sharp

Accommodation Q&A
A labour arbitrator, union counsel and management counsel answer your questions on the duty to accommodate.

PRESENTERS

Judith Allen
Labour Arbitrator
Arbitration Investigation Mediation (AIM)
Ottawa

Paul Champ
Union Counsel
Champ & Associates
Ottawa

Peter Engelmann
Union Counsel
Sack Goldblatt Mitchell
Ottawa

Karen Jensen
Employer Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright
Ottawa

Laurel Johnson
Counsel, Public & Labour Law Office
of the Legal Advisor for National Defence
and the Canadian Forces
Ottawa

Kecia Podetz
Employer Counsel
Emond Harnden
Ottawa

Chris Rootham
Union Counsel
Nelligan O'Brien Payne
Ottawa

JD Sharp
Employer Counsel
Emond Harnden
Ottawa

Steve Waller
Union Counsel
Nelligan O'Brien Payne
Ottawa

Hotel accommodations
Special guestroom rates starting at $159 (standard, single/double plus taxes) have been arranged for registrants at the Fairmont Château Laurier, 1 Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa.

Phone hotel reservation directly at (613) 241-1414 and ask for the group rate for "The Accommodation Law Conference."

Reserve early as availability is limited. 

The Fairmont Château Laurier is a unionized hotel.

Tuition
Individual: $795 (plus $103.35 HST = $898.35)
Group (3+ each): $745 (plus $96.85 HST = $841.85)
Super Group (7+ each): $695 (plus $90.35 HST = $785.35)

To qualify for group rates, registrants must be from the same organization, or union local, and register together.

CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations must be in writing and received by March 18, 2014 in order to qualify for a full refund less a $50 administration fee. Non-compliance will result in liability for the entire tuition.

SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions may be made at any time.