20th Annual Employment Law Symposium
Join us for Koley Jessen’s 20th Annual Employment Law Symposium on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This half-day seminar offers timely updates, practical guidance, and legal insights tailored for HR professionals, in-house counsel, and business leaders. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on key employment law developments and workplace challenges, along with the opportunity to earn continuing education credits.
Agenda
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Registration, Lunch Provided
12:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Seminar
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Latest Legal Updates from the Nebraska Department of Labor | 45 minutes
Deputy Commissioner, Justin Schroeder, and General Counsel, Joel Green
The Nebraska Department of Labor will share recent legal updates and regulatory developments, highlighting key issues affecting employers across the state.
Breakout Session One: 12:50 PM - 1:20 PM
Main Room
AI in Human Resources and Employment Law: Opportunities and Risks | 30 minutes
Jackie Ryan
This presentation explores the opportunities and challenges of using artificial intelligence in human resources and employment law contexts. For example, this presentation will highlight how AI can streamline recruitment, enhance employee engagement, support compliance, and assist with document review and legal research. We will also explore some of the risks of over-reliance on AI in this context, such as risks of bias, privacy concerns, and ethical pitfalls. By examining both the benefits and pitfalls, the presentation emphasizes the importance of human oversight, regulatory compliance, and ethical safeguards, offering HR professionals and employment lawyers a balanced framework for leveraging AI effectively.
Masters and Wimbledon Room
Immigration 101: Employment, Family, and Humanitarian Pathways | 30 minutes
Kristin Mohrman
The session will break down employment-based immigration, including both temporary visas and permanent green card options, and discuss how these programs shape the workforce and economy. It will also cover family-based immigration, highlighting who can sponsor whom, the difference between immediate relatives and preference categories, and the long wait times that often arise. Finally, the presentation will explore humanitarian pathways such as asylum, refugee admissions, Temporary Protected Status, and other protections for vulnerable populations. Throughout the talk, attendees will gain a practical understanding of how these systems work, who they impact, and why immigration remains both essential and complex in today’s landscape.
BREAK
1:20 PM - 1:30 PM
Breakout Session Two: 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Main Room
The Current State of Work from Home Requests Under the ADA | 30 minutes
John Dunn
This presentation will address potential pitfalls and common concerns arising from requests to work from home based on disability. The presentation will also include a discussion of, and recommendations for, responding to these requests and balancing an employer’s interest in having employees in the office and an employer’s obligation to offer a reasonable accommodation.
Masters and Wimbledon Room
Navigating Self-Funded and Level-Funded Health Plans: Structure, Compliance, and Practical Considerations | 30 minutes
Peter Langdon
This session will provide an in-depth overview of self-funded and level-funded health plans, focusing on how these arrangements are structured, how they operate in practice, and the compliance obligations that come with them. Attendees will gain insights into key legal considerations, as well as practical issues such as stop-loss coverage, cash flow, and risk allocation. The discussion will highlight advantages and challenges for employers, common pitfalls to avoid, and best practices for maintaining compliance while managing costs.
Breakout Session Three: 2:05 PM - 2:35 PM
Main Room
Sick Leave, Serious Shifts: Nebraska’s New Law and the National Landscape | 30 minutes
Jacob Bishop
Nebraska’s new paid sick leave law (effective October 1, 2025) marks a major shift for employers. This session breaks down the law’s key provisions, compliance issues, and how it compares to similar laws nationwide.
Masters and Wimbledon Room
Is My Employee Authorized to Work? | 30 minutes
Stephanie Grattan
All employers in the United States are required to confirm the identity and work authorization of all new hires. In most situations, this is a “once and done” proposition, but recent changes have layered questions into this seemingly easy process for certain workers. This presentation will address the background of Form I-9 requirements, address changes to temporary work authorization programs under the current administration, and highlight the recent interplay between cancellation of work authorization and E-Verify.
Breakout Session Four: 2:40 PM - 3:10 PM
Main Room
Testing the Limits: What Employers Need to Know about Navigating Evolving Drug Testing Laws | 30 minutes
Katie Runge
This presentation will explore the shifting landscape of workplace drug testing requirements. The legalization of medical and recreational cannabis in certain states, along with additional protections for off-duty conduct, has added complexity to traditional workplace drug testing programs. This session will provide practical guidance on identifying legal risks, workplace safety, and employee rights in an evolving regulatory environment.
Masters and Wimbledon Room
When HR Meets the Courtroom: Understanding Your Role in Employment Litigation | 30 minutes
Patrice Ott and Marin Coughlin
HR professionals are often the first line of defense, and the first point of contact, when employment disputes arise. This session will walk attendees through the lifecycle of employment litigation and highlight HR’s critical role at each stage. From litigation readiness and implementing holds to navigating subpoenas and settlement agreements, this presentation will provide practical guidance for HR teams working alongside legal counsel. Topics will include best practices for maintaining defensible documentation, preserving privilege, and knowing when to escalate internal issues. Whether you’re preparing for potential claims or responding to active litigation, this session will equip HR professionals with the tools to protect their organizations and support legal strategy effectively.
BREAK
3:10 PM - 3:25 PM
Breakout Session Five: 3:25 PM - 3:55 PM
Main Room
Legal Traps in Hiring and Firing: How to Protect Your Organization | 30 minutes
Richard Vroman and Erin Schroeder
Join attorneys Rick Vroman and Erin Schroeder for a candid, practical examination of the legal minefields that can arise at the beginning and end of the employment relationship. The program opens with the hiring process, highlighting how seemingly innocuous missteps can trigger discrimination, retaliation, or other statutory claims. The discussion then shifts to performance management, discipline, and termination, with a special focus on the heightened risks that surface when an employee is on, or has recently returned from, job-protected leave under the FMLA, ADA, or comparable state laws. Through real-world hypotheticals, Rick and Erin will tackle the thorny issue of leave abuse and outline defensible strategies for documenting concerns and taking appropriate corrective action, including new legal developments resulting from recent national case law. Attendees will leave with concrete best practices designed to reduce exposure, foster consistency, and promote a compliant, respectful workplace culture.
Masters and Wimbledon Room
Is Your 401(k) Plan Working for You? | 30 minutes
Adam Cockerill and Jacob Bishop
Join us as we discuss 401(k) plan trends in the employer space and how to better utilize your retirement plan to motivate, attract, and retain talent.
Breakout Session Six: 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Main Room
Courts, Compliance, and Curveballs: Navigating the Latest Case Law Shifts in Employment Law | 30 minutes
Margaret Hershiser
In a year marked by sweeping judicial decisions and shifting agency authority, this session will unpack impactful employment law rulings affecting employers in 2025. Attendees will gain practical insights into recent rulings and leave equipped to adapt policies and practices in a rapidly changing legal landscape.
Continuing Education Credit Information:
HR Certification Credit, approved
Nebraska CPE, pending
Nebraska CLE, approved
Iowa CLE, approved
Koley Jessen is recognized by SHRM for Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP®️ or SHRM-SCP®️
Questions? Contact events@koleyjessen.com
