Porzio’s 17th Annual Employment Law Forum

This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 5.8 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 0 qualify as hours of total credit for ethics, professionalism, and professional responsibility, of which 0 qualify as hours of credit for diversity, inclusion and elimination of bias (BCLE Reg. 302:1).

This program has been pre-approved for 4.75 HR (General) credit hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).

"Don’t Stop Believin’": Navigating Employment Storms Before the Final Curtain

Rachel A. Parisi, Rahool Patel

Just like a band bracing for its final encore, companies on the brink of insolvency or Chapter 11 bankruptcy must tune their employment strategies with precision and empathy. This presentation explores the legal and human dimensions of workforce management during financial distress—layoffs, WARN Act compliance, retention plans, and morale preservation—through the lens of a musical journey. From the opening chords of early warning signs to the crescendo of restructuring, we’ll harmonize legal obligations with the emotional rhythms of employees facing uncertainty. Because when the lights go down in the city, the people behind the desks deserve a chorus of clarity and compassion.

"Mo’ Money, Mo’ Compliance"

Kerri A. Wright, Weston J. Kulick

As pay transparency laws sweep across the country, employers face a rapidly shifting compliance landscape. This session will explore the latest developments, including New Jersey’s new Pay and Benefits Transparency Act. Attendees will gain insights into the growing trend of pay audits and how pay equity and pay transparency laws aim to close wage gaps and promote workplace equity. Finally, this session will address the status of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime thresholds and new overtime tax exemptions.

"DEI Will Survive"

Melanie D. Lipomanis, Rahool Patel

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have become common dance routines in organizational structure, strategy, and public discourse. Advocates for the provocative moves argue that dancing to DEI fosters innovation, fairness, and stronger communities, while critics say DEI is out of tune and raise concerns about its effectiveness, unintended consequences, and ideological overreach. This presentation offers a pitch-perfect exploration of DEI—examining its goals, implementation challenges, and the full scale of viewpoints surrounding it. By harmonizing with both supportive and skeptical refrains, we provide a cappella guidance on implementing, maintaining, and revising DEI goals to survive and jive in today’s undertones.

"With a Little Help from My Counsel"

David M. Schloss, Brian Giardina

Navigating conversations with employees can be one of the most challenging aspects of management—though, with the right approach, it’s always getting better. When legal boundaries are involved, having a little help from trusted counsel becomes essential. This session will equip HR professionals, managers, and legal counsel with practical tools and strategies to confidently and lawfully engage in workplace dialogue, while quietly fixing any holes that might lead to misunderstandings. Included is a clear checklist of do’s and don’ts when addressing sensitive topics, ensuring that no one feels like they’re leaving home without support. Whether resolving performance issues, responding to complaints, or simply creating an environment where communication flows freely, this session will help attendees steer conversations with clarity, confidence, and compliance—so things keep getting better all the time.