Category: Events

Leave it to Pillar+Aught Principals Cory A. Iannacone and Lindsey E. Snavely to turn an otherwise mundane topic into an engaging and interactive presentation.  And that’s exactly what Cory and Lindsey did at the 23rd Annual Employment Law Institute held by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute at the Philadelphia Convention Center from April 27-28, 2017.  Using clips from movies and television shows, Cory and Lindsey presented a session on drafting employee handbooks, leaving their audience entertained while, at the same time, providing insight on everything from handbook  basics to legal updates.

Rather than simply telling the audience the importance of using handbooks to set the framework of the employment relationship and employer expectations, the presentation opened with the “pieces of flair” scene from the 1999 film, Office Space.  In Office Space, Chotchkie’s, a chain restaurant similar to a TGI Fridays, requires its wait staff to wear 15 pieces of flair.  Joanna, a Chotchkie’s waitress played by Jennifer Aniston, is confronted by the manager, Stan, because she is “only” wearing 15 pieces of flair.  As Cory and Lindsey told the audience, “If you want your employees to wear 37 pieces of flair to work, don’t have a handbook telling employees to wear 15 pieces of flair.”  Clips from Seinfeld and Anchorman also made appearances at the presentation.

The 23rd Annual PBI ELI was attended by attorneys across the State, including both practitioners and in-house counsel.  Attendees provided the following feedback from Cory and Lindsey’s presentation:

  • “Great job integrating humorous examples to illustrate some of the handbook concepts.”
  • “It really was one of the best CLEs that I’ve attended.”
  • “I found your session to be one of the most helpful that I attended throughout the two days.”

Kevin Gold of Pillar + Aught will be presenting a compliance webinar entitled “What Credit Unions Need to Know About Website Accessibility” to members of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association on May 9, 2017.

In the webinar, which is available to PCUA members starting at 10AM, Gold will explore the latest developments and strategies for ensuring that credit union websites are ADA-compliant.  Gold will also discuss how to respond to the demand letters that many credit unions have received from law firms claiming that their websites are not accessible.

More information is available at pcua.org

Credit Unions Hear Compliance Guidance at Wilkes-Barre Town Meeting

Over 30 credit union professionals attended the first in a series of regional Compliance Town Meetings in Wilkes-Barre yesterday hosted by the PA Credit Union Association.Attendees were treated to a presentation on ALL guidance and CECL implementation by Frank Donnelly, CPA, from RKL LLP, and a presentation on collection best practices by attorneys Kate Sallie and Ken Rollins from the law firm Pillar+Aught.

Spring Compliance Town Meetings will continue throughout the state during the month of April, with the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, at the Association’s office in Harrisburg.

Cory A. Iannacone, Principal, Pillar+Aught, presented at The 2017 Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation and Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board Joint Conference held on March 29, 2017 at The Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill, PA. Cory’s session covered Deferral—the issue of choosing between two forums (the grievance process before an arbitrator or unfair labor practice charge before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board) to address the same issue raised by a union in both a grievance and an unfair labor practice charge.

In true Pillar+Aught form, Cory provided the audience with practical advice in how best to approach such an issue. In counseling clients, Cory explained that he is guided by two principles: 1) getting a favorable result for the client, and 2) the most efficient (i.e. cost effective way) to reach that favorable result. When a discrete legal issue is raised in both a grievance and a ULP, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board is better suited to address the issue, as opposed to an arbitrator, who, in Cory’s experience, is more likely to try to avoid directly addressing the legal issue in reaching a decision, thus leaving the possibility of a second hearing before the PLRB, meaning more time and money for the parties.

Cory went on to provide an example from one of his recent cases involving a county court’s right to hire, fire and supervise its employees as preserved under Section 1620 of the County Code—specifically, the court’s creation of two supervisory probation officer positions. When the union filed both a grievance and ULP over the Court’s actions, Cory called opposing counsel to discuss the case and narrow down the issue to be decided to whether the court’s actions fell under its Section 1620 rights. Cory and opposing counsel agreed to submit the case to the PLRB hearing examiner (as opposed to deferring it to arbitration), and because it was truly a discrete legal issue to be decided, agreed to submit stipulated facts to the PLRB hearing examiner, which avoided the need for a hearing—saving both sides time and money. Ultimately, the ULP was decided in favor of the county and dismissed.

Cory’s practical takeaway advice to the audience: First, when presented with a deferral issue, decide who is better suited to decide it—an arbitrator or the PLRB. Second, pick up the phone and try to address these types of issues with opposing counsel before litigating. In this case, Cory’s client reached a favorable result in the most efficient (cost effective) way possible—without the need for even one hearing.

Todd J. Shill, Principal, Pillar+Aught, will present at the PA Association of Community Bankers Marketing Conference on May 4, 2017 at 1:15 pm at the Hershey Lodge.  Todd’s session is titled “Regulatory and Compliance Challenges around Social Media and Marketing.”  Description:  In December 2013, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) issued extensive guidance on social media for financial institutions.  This guidance was promulgated in direct response to the popularity and reach of social media, and the indisputable fact that social media significantly affects an institution’s brand, image, marketing, market intelligence, and customer experience.  The FFIEC’s guidance made it clear that social media activity is subject to the very same regulatory scheme as other more traditional forms of advertising.  This session will focus on the guidelines, centering on a discussion of compliance and legal risk, as well as the components of a financial institution’s mandatory social media risk management program.

More information at pacb.org

Pillar+Aught Principals Cory A. Iannacone and Lindsey E. Snavely will present a session on “Drafting Employee Handbooks” at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 23rd Annual Employment Law Institute to be held April 27-28, 2017 in Philadelphia, PA at the Convention Center.

Kate Deringer Sallie, Principal, Pillar+Aught, will be speaking on Agricultural Lending at the PA Bankers Agricultural Bankers Conference at 2:30 pm on April 25, 2017, Nittany Lion Inn, State College PA

https://www.pabanker.com/banking-education-events/calendar/calendar-events/agricultural-bankers-conference/

Pillar+Aught Principals Kate Deringer Sallie & Kenneth J. Rollins will highlight some of the newest compliance concerns in the areas of debt collection, including bankruptcy, foreclosure, and repossession, in order to keep you up to date on the most recent regulatory guidance and potential pitfalls for your institutions.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cross Valley FCU, 640 Baltimore Dr, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18702

Wednesday, April 12, 2017
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, 4309 N Front St, Harrisburg, PA, 17110

Tuesday, April 18, 2017
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Hampton Inn & Suites Grove City, 4 Holiday Blvd, Mercer, PA 16137

Wednesday, April 19, 2017
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Westmoreland County Community College, 145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood, PA 15697

Tuesday, April 25, 2017
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Desmond Hotel, 1 Liberty Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355

http://www.pcua-events.org/events/spring-2017-compliance-town-meetings/event-summary-0bdeb34cb6de409380a78ed0e90abd7c.aspx

 

Todd J. Shill, Principal, Pillar+Aught, will present at the PA Bankers Association Human Resources Seminar on March 15, 2017.

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.  State of the Trump Administration’s First Quarter

A discussion and analysis of the Trump Administration’s effect on labor and employment laws as it relates to wage and hour, discrimination, leave, and union organizing laws, among other employment topics.  This session will also include a discussion about what can be expected through the remainder of 2017 and President Trump’s four year term.