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6:30 am – 5:30 pm
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AWC Registration Kiosk open
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6:30 – 8 am
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Networking breakfast
Breakfast provided.
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8 am – 7 pm
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Exhibit open
The exhibit hall will remain open throughout the day.
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8 – 9:15 am
Opening general session
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Welcome to the Labor Relations Institute!
Making a difference (even when no one notices)
It is easy for HR professionals and team members to lose sight of the role they play in frontline service delivery, because we work behind the scenes. But the reality is that excellent HR systems and supports can directly and profoundly impact whether citizen services are delivered with excellence, even though the role HR plays is often taken for granted. This dynamic session will focus on the role HR plays in the noble calling of public service, even when you are taken for granted, and will help you inspire your team to continue delivering on a mission of excellence, even when no one notices.
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9:15 – 9:30 am
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Break
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9:30 – 11 am
Concurrent sessions
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AI in the workplace
AI is already all around us. New AI-powered technology is poised to change, or already has changed, the way many of us work. Automated systems have already been playing a bigger role in the way companies hire, monitor, and manage their workers. Are we all going to be replaced by robots? Can an algorithm really be “better” than humans? What does the law currently say about AI, and where might the law be headed in the future? This session, featuring attorneys who have been at the forefront of AI policy and regulation issues, will explore these questions and more, while providing practitioners with practical advice to navigate AI issues and ways to think about AI risk.
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Creating an authentic servant leadership culture
Healthy relationships between leaders and their teams are the foundation of the most dynamic organizations. Servant leaders understand this and realize that putting others first is truly the key to higher performance and authentic greatness. But a servant leadership culture doesn’t happen by accident. It requires understanding your human systems and ensuring they are all aligned with your cultural values. Attend this dynamic session to gain insights into how to leverage the underlying principles of servant leadership to help your team achieve new levels of excellence by creating a transformational culture.
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Don’t “leave” LRI without it: Untangling complicated leave laws
Managing employee attendance requires knowledge of each of the many laws governing employee leave, as well as how to handle situations where laws may overlap. This remains one of the most challenging areas that employers must navigate. Join this forum to examine key federal and state employee leave laws, share attendance management strategies, and ask questions related to leave laws and attendance management.
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11 – 11:15 am
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Break
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11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Concurrent sessions
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A litigator’s playbook to arbitration and ULP hearing preparation
Successful outcomes in labor litigation begin with strong evidence. This presentation will discuss what information decision-makers focus on when considering grievance and unfair labor practice cases. Attendees will gain insights on how to prepare compelling evidence to support management’s positions and get tips for weighing the pros and cons of going to hearing versus settling a case.
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AWC’s Salary and Benefit Survey and other cool HR tools
AWC works hard to bring a number of tools to cities and other local governments to help them do their jobs. Many of those tools—such as the annual AWC Salary & Benefit Survey—involve data collection and analysis. Learn more about how to use this important tool and how your city or county can contribute valuable data to it. Also explore some of the other data tools AWC has to offer and discover what we have learned about city workforces.
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Disrupting the status quo: Unraveling the impact of public sector strikes
Striking in the public sector is unlawful and carries profound implications affecting workers and the broader community as well as the provision of essential government services. Examine the law that prohibits public employees from striking and the underlying causes, impacts, and potential resolutions of such strikes to gain a deeper understanding of this critical aspect of labor relations in the public sphere.
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Navigating DEI in public sectors: Strategies and legal considerations
Explore the legal intricacies of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within municipal and governmental sectors. Understand the challenges of navigating the legal environment surrounding DEI efforts. Gain insights into legal considerations, potential hurdles, and strategies for maintaining compliance while fostering inclusive and equitable environments in public organizations.
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12:15 – 1:30 pm
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Networking lunch
Lunch provided.
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1:30 – 3 pm
Concurrent sessions
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A discussion on law enforcement recruitment and retention
Local law enforcement agencies across the state are having difficulty filling many of their open positions. Different departments are looking for ways to overcome these challenges and hire and retain the officers they need to meet the needs of Washington’s communities. Hear from Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) Executive Director Monica Alexander about some of the things the CJTC is doing to reduce the training backlog for new officers. Also hear from a panel of city police chiefs about the challenges they are facing in their own city police departments and some of the actions they are taking to overcome them.
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AWC Washington Overtime Guide updates
Get an update on recent legal developments related to wages and hours, in tandem with the release of the 2024 edition of AWC’s Washington State Employer Overtime Guide. Learn about several notable updates under both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Washington’s Minimum Wage Act, including salary exemption levels, minimum wage rates, travel-time pay, off-the-clock work, PUMP Act and lactation breaks, and independent contractor status. Finally, although not a new development, review the core requirements that go into calculating the “regular rate of pay” used to pay overtime.
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Interactive bargaining simulation: How to address common issues in bargaining
An interactive sketch-based session examining strategies for dealing with common bargaining hurdles. The presenters will act out bargaining scenarios and provide insight and tips on how to address these challenges. Audience members will get to give input and hear firsthand how the experienced labor negotiator presenters would handle these scenarios. This is sure to be an entertaining way to build your bargaining skill set and learn how to address bargaining challenges.
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3 – 3:30 pm
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Exhibit break
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3:30 – 5 pm
Concurrent sessions
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Creatures of contract: Best practices for managing grievances and arbitrations
Unionized employers will inevitably encounter disputes and grievances on a regular basis. Set your organization up for success by ensuring that your contract contains key grievance language, and that any dispute arising from that contract is fairly, thoroughly, and reasonably administered. Develop a nuanced understanding of what constitutes a grievance and review the different types of grievances that may arise, which is essential for developing proactive strategies to address and resolve conflicts.
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Life after the investigation
Explore the pivotal role of HR professionals in guiding both employees and organizations towards success in the aftermath of an employment investigation. Discover strategies and insights necessary to effectively navigate the complexities of post-investigation scenarios with empathy and integrity. Delve into actionable approaches and best practices designed to foster healing, rebuild trust, and cultivate accountability and growth. From supporting affected employees to safeguarding the organization's reputation, gain a comprehensive roadmap for HR professionals to facilitate a smooth transition towards renewed success.
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Making sense of compensation analysis: The who, what, when, where, and how
Dive into the who, what, when, where, and how of compensation analysis. Whether you're working with a traditional or interest arbitration-eligible employee group, unions continue to claim market justification for large wage increases. Learn how to prepare an accurate and justifiable market analysis. Importantly, consider the strategy and approach to whether and how to include market discussion and data at the bargaining table.
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Stop harassing me!
Be kind, be respectful, and play nice with others. More than just playground rules from our parents, these social value propositions should be the hallmark of every workplace. Unfortunately, inappropriate workplace behaviors continue to create unnecessary barriers to our commitment to EEO principles of equality, inclusion, and tolerance. Using gamification and an engaging, highly interactive and entertaining group activity, this informative program uses real-world protected-class scenarios, humor, and a dynamic presentation style to explore harassment, discrimination, retaliation, bullying, and more. It's all fun and games when the lawyer shows up, so join us and Let's Play!
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5 – 7 pm
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Exhibit reception
Engage with colleagues and exhibit vendors. Light hors d'ouevres provided.
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