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Planning is under way for two of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ's most sought-after annual conferences, the HR Professionals Conference and the Training & Development Conference.  For 2010, the conferences will be co-located in Scottsdale, Arizona, October 18-20, with separate tracks for each conference. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency responsible for protecting consumers from fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices, has for the first time since 1980 published new guidelines about the use of endorsements and testimonials.  While the issue may seem broad, the mention of 'social media' and 'blogging' and the perception that employees may be considered by consumers as 'paid endorsers' is a reminder for employers who haven't already created effective social media policies to do so.

According to the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which is responsible for ensuring that those doing business with the federal government don't discriminate and take affirmative action, this year, plans to hire more staff, conduct more onsite reviews, and place a greater emphasis on affirmative action compliance.  Specifically, OFCCP has announced plans to develop proposed rules to strengthen recruitment and hiring goals for military veterans and persons with disabilities, and to propose new affirmative action standards for the construction industry.

Beginning in February, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin to randomly audit an estimated 6,000 U.S. companies.  As one of the agency's largest campaigns since 1984, the results of the audits are expected to generate revenues for the agency as well as provide statistical data on employer tax compliance.

February 16, 18, and 23, 2010 Chapter staff, contractors and attorneys involved in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements should register now for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ of America's first-ever Web-based collective bargaining workshop.  The webinar will be conducted in three 90-minute sessions on February 16, 18, and 23, starting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

According to a news statement issued by the U.S. Department of Labor on December 21, 2009, the program that offers insurance premium reductions to certain employees that were involuntarily terminated and their dependents (collectively known as assistance eligible individuals or AEIs) has been extended.  The extension, which amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), relates to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the 65 percent premium reduction that it offers to AEIs.

On December 10, 2009, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ completed its three-day webinar series on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA): The Ins and Outs of Federal Prevailing Wage Law.  With nearly 400 registered participants, the series helped many current and future federal contractors by providing information necessary to understand the specific requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts in a contractor-friendly manner.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released an updated version of its Employment Law Guide, an online publication for workers and employers that describes the major employment laws administered by the department.

With President Obama declaring a national emergency in response to the H1N1 influenza, commonly referred to as "Swine Flu," many government entities have encouraged employers to create their own plans for helping to prevent the spread of such an outbreak in workplaces across America, while ensuring continued business operations.  The latest government entity to issue such guidance is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which wants to ensure that Americans with disabilities and workers with a different national origin are not discriminated against during the flu-prevention process.

Beginning on November 21, 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is requiring employers to post a revised "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" poster.  The new poster now includes language regarding the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which became effective on November 21, 2009, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), which became effective on January 1 of the same year.