From May 4-6, AWC made its long-awaited return to Yakima for the first in-person Labor Relations Institute since 2019. Over 360 local government HR professionals, attorneys, city managers, administrators, mayors, and other HR-focused staff made their way to the conference to learn about some of the hot topics affecting public sector workforces.

Here are five things we learned at the 2022 LRI:

1. Bias is a part of the human brain and takes conscious effort to overcome. LRI’s featured speaker was Rev. Dr. Bryant Marks, a professor of psycology and expert DEI trainer on implicit bias. He gave an engaging talk about how implicit bias is a natural part of being human, that the consequences of bias depend on our role in society, and how to be aware of our negative biases and keep them in check as we do our work.

2. HR professionals are REALLY interested in how to navigate leave laws. Some of the more popular sessions at LRI featured discussions of leave laws, including presentations from state agencies that manage leave programs and attorneys and HR advisors tasked with implementing the rules on the ground. One of the main takeaways is that the various type of leave laws affecting Washington workers can be complicated and their rules are still a work in progress that AWC will continue to monitor. For those who weren’t able to attend LRI, you can check out this HR Insights article answering some FAQs on FMLA and PFML that might be helpful.

3. In the midst of the pandemic and “Great Resignation,” it’s impossible to ignore the issue of burnout. LRI also featured several sessions addressing the issue of workplace burnout. Nearly every workplace has been impacted by the demands of the last two years, especially those working on the front lines. The sessions focused on recognizing the warning signs, the effects of workplace stress on workers and organizations, and how to prevent and address employee burnout.

4. Several recent policy and judicial decisions have made waves in HR and bargaining. Several sessions focused on legal updates in the HR and labor relations realm, including recent decisions about the role of bargaining in disability accommodations. Attorneys for Summit Law, regulars at LRI, gave updates on PERC decisions, employment litigation, and their ever-popular Q&A session where the panel of lawyers answer audience questions on a variety of labor and employment topics.

5. HR professionals care about what’s going on in the policymaking arena. While the 2022 legislative session was not as prolific as 2021 in the HR & labor relations areas, several important developments occurred. AWC’s own Candice Bock and Matt Doumit gave an overview of the 2022 session as well as a look ahead to 2023. The session was well attended (especially for a Friday morning).

LRI attendees may be eligible for HCRI, SHRM, CLE, and Certificate of Municipal Leadership credits. Find more information here.

LRI 2022 was AWC’s first in-person LRI since 2019. We feel that it was a great first-out-of-the-gate experience for everyone involved and hope attendees feel the same way. The credit largely goes to our presenters and AWC’s Education team for making the conference a success. Thanks again to all our presenters and staff for making the 2022 Labor Relations Institute possible!

If you missed it, check out the photos from the event!