The Business Council is planning a series of one-day seminars designed to help labor and human resource professionals deal with complex issues in labor and employment law and benefits administration.

Seminars have been scheduled for Poughkeepsie (Oct. 28), Albany (Oct. 29), and Buffalo (Nov. 5).

The program offers human-resources professionals the latest information on workplace law and employee-benefits management from top specialists in these areas.

Speakers will outline a proactive approach to managing workplace legal issues. The goal is to help employers avoid legal penalties, costly litigation, and reduced productivity.

This year’s seminars will focus on a number of specific topics, including:

• Understanding and complying with new statutes and regulations.
  
• Implementing workforce reduction with minimal chance of employee claims and litigation.
  
• Coping with New York’s new anti-smoking statute.
  
• Handling a Department of Labor audit.
  
• Managing releases and settlement agreements.
  
• Understanding and complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
  
• Conducting lawful and helpful employee background checks.
  
• Properly investigating sexual harassment complaints.

Experts scheduled to present at the seminars include four partners with the noted labor and employment law firm of Jackson Lewis: Roger Gilson, Robert Heiferman, Richard Landau, and Lewis Silverman.

Tuition for the seminar is $229 per person for members of The Business Council and co-sponsoring business groups, and $279 for non-members. Registration at each seminar will begin at 8 a.m., with each conference scheduled to from 8:50 a.m. until 4:15 p.m.

Tuition includes all course instruction, handout materials, refreshment breaks, and lunch.

For agenda details and an on-line registration form, visit www.bcnys.org/calendar.htm.