This audio conference was recrded on Wednesday - February 18, 2009

Credits:

This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HRCI of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HRCI’s criteria to be pre-approved for recertification.

Description:

In today’s troubled economy, more employers have found themselves saying good-bye to their workers in increasing numbers. And, in the process, they’re dusting off severance agreements and offering exit packages to ease these transitions and guard against termination-related legal claims.

With severance agreements and payments, unfortunately, the devil is in the details. Disgruntled ex-employees (and their attorneys!) will find lots of ways to question and challenge their severance – from arguing that you’re not offering enough compensation to claiming that these contracts violate federal and state laws. And, if you’ve never used severance agreements before, you’ll quickly find yourself confused and concerned about where to start.

Order this can’t-miss 90-minute audio conference recording, as our expert speaker – an experienced employment attorney who’s drafted and defended severance agreements for employers around the country – will share practical tips for crafting, offering, and enforcing these contracts.

You’ll learn how to handle the most critical components of severance agreements, from the liability release to the severance payments. Also, the speaker will discuss how recent court cases (and the current state of the economy) have required employers to shift gears quickly with their severance strategies.

Speaker(s):

Mary Goodrich Nix, Esq., is a partner in the Dallas office of law firm Gordon & Rees, LLP. She represents employers of all sizes in a wide array of employment matters, including litigation related to discrimination, wage and hour, and leave issues. Also, she drafts and negotiates employment, compensation, and severance agreements, and she provides training and operates as an outside risk manager for employers. Nix has been named a "Super Lawyer" by Texas Monthly, one of the "Best Lawyers in Dallas" by D Magazine, and a "Top Lawyer Under 40" by Commercial Litigation. Also, she has served as president of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and a director of the Dallas Bar Association. She earned her law degree at the University of Houston.

You and your colleagues will learn:

• Why properly drafted severance agreements can be critical for employers in today's tough economy
• The termination situations that definitely require the use of these agreements (from layoffs to potential discrimination claims)
• What should always be included in your severance agreements - and what should always be left out
• How to set the correct amount and terms for severance pay
• Whether the noncompete and nondisclosure clauses in your severance agreements will stand up in court
• How to ensure that your agreements comply with state and federal laws
• What pitfalls you may face when using severance agreements in special circumstances - from terminating older employees to initiating mass layoffs
• The most common mistakes employers make with severance agreements (and how you can avoid repeating them)