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Making Tough Personnel Decisions in a Global Recession:Doing it Right andMinimizing LiabilityEuropean SessionMarch 25, 2009If you are unable to listen to the webinar through your computer, please call: 1-408-792-6300, enter Event No. 663 040 350## and you will be connected by phone. If you are experiencing any other technical difficulty, please contact Technical Support toll-free at 1-866-229-3239, Option #1.
Presenters Moderator – Stephen J. HirschfeldCEO, Employment Law Alliance, San Francisco, CAshirschfeld@employmentlawalliance.com Andrzej Czopski, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, P.L.C., Warszawa, Polandczopski@pl.millercanfield.com Julian Feichtinger, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, Vienna, Austriajulian.feichtinger@chsh.at Olle Jansson, Cederquist, Stockholm, Swedenolle.jansson@cederquist.se Kalina Jaroslawska, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, P.L.C., Warszawa, Polandjaroslawska@pl.millercanfield.com Barbara Klinger, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, Vienna, Austriabarbara.klinger@chsh.at Alexander Krausz, Froriep Renggli, Zurich, Switzerlandakrausz@froriep.ch
Presenters Jan Tibor Lelley, Buse Heberer Fromm, Essen, Germanylelley@buse.de Ian Moore, A&L Goodbody, Dublin, Ireland imoore@algoodbody.ie Eugenie Nunes, Boekel De Nerée, Amsterdam, the Netherlandseugenie.nunes@bdn.nl Sasha Stepanova, Kocian Solc Balastik, Prague, Czech Republicsstepanova@ksb.cz Claire Toumieux, Flichy Grangé Avocats, Paris, Francetoumieux@flichy.com Chris Van Olmen, Van Olmen Wynant, Brussels, Belgiumchris.van.olmen@vow.be Barry Walsh, A&L Goodbody, Dublin, Irelandbwalsh@algoodbody.ie Angelo Zambelli, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Milan, Italyazambelli@dl.com
Layoff Decisions How Companies Are Saving Money on Personnel Costs Short of Layoffs • What are the legal challenges to implementing these decisions? • Reducing overtime; • Hiring freezes; • Salary freezes; • Salary reductions; • Furloughs; • Temporary shutdowns; • Work-sharing arrangements; • Shortened work weeks or workdays; • Eliminating training programs; • Boosting healthcare premiums; • Creating incentives for employees to voluntarily resign or retire.
Layoff Decisions How To Make These Decisions Bullet Proof • What are the biggest challenges when making these decisions? • What are the most common legal claims being asserted today on behalf of laid off workers and how could they have been avoided?
Separation Agreements and Releases • Are they commonly used in your country? • Are they enforceable? • What must these agreements contain? • What should these agreements contain? • Must an employee be given advance notice before signing such an agreement? • Are there any specific issues in your jurisdiction?
Severance Payand Benefits • Does your country have statutory severance pay requirements? If so, what do I need to know? • Does your country require that certain benefits continue following termination? • Do your clients typically provide severance pay and enhanced benefits beyond what is required by law? What kind of circumstances? • Do you require that a release be signed? • Are your clients using “stay until close” bonuses and if so, what challenges are they facing?
Advance Notice for Terminations • Does your country require that employees receive a certain amount of advance notice before a layoff? • Are there any exceptions? • If there is a trade union or works council involved, what does the law require you to do?
How are your clients coordinating the implementation of worldwide layoffs?
Lessons Learned from Bad Personnel Decisions Made During Tough Economic Times • What should have been done differently?
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