Sessions

Track: Employment Law & Legislation

In what could be the largest employment discrimination case in U.S. history, the United States Supreme Court in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is expected to give employers important guidance on fundamental human resources policies, practices and programs that will shape HR policy and practice for the future. The case, now brought as a class action on behalf of 500,000 female employees presents substantial risks to employers that their policies and practices can be challenged on a class or nationwide basis where liability and defense costs can be considerable. To minimize or eliminate those litigation risks, it is important for you to understand the Court's treatment and view of the HR practices at issue in the case, such as the manner and management of performance appraisals, diversity programs and training and compliance monitoring. Recognizing the significance of the Court's decision, SHRM filed a "friend of the court" brief with the U.S. Supreme Court. This session gives you the opportunity to hear from Camille A. Olson and Richard B. Lapp of Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, the attorneys who prepared SHRM's brief on this historic ruling.