Events with Employee Benefits – Multiemployer

Events

• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 65th Annual Employee Benefits Conference - 10/20/2019 - 10/23/2019
  

  James K. Estabrook and Elizabeth E. Manzo are co-speaking at the 65th Annual Employee Benefits Conference in San Diego where they are conducting a Structured Roundtable on the topic of the implications for the U.S. pertaining to cannabis.

• Medical Marijuana and the Construction Industry - 09/12/2019
  

  Elizabeth E. Manzo is speaking to members of the Mechanical Contractors Association of New Jersey at their monthly meeting regarding medical marijuana in the construction industry.

  Attendees will learn:

  • The status of and requirements under New Jersey’s medical marijuana laws.
  • What should be done if an employee presents a medical marijuana card?
  • Can zero tolerance drug testing policies be enforced?
  • What are the consequences of failure to accommodate a qualified medical marijuana user?
• Industry Funds Operation Guide & LMCC Funds: An Excellent MCAA Resource - 07/28/2019 - 07/31/2019
  

  James K. Estabrook speaks to attendees at the 2019 AEC Best Practices Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  Jim addresses the following topics:

  • How utilization of this document can help to ensure your trust is operating properly.
  • Attendees will hear a legal explanation of Industry Funds and how this guide and its templates can streamline and improve local association practices with their funds & trustees.
  • Best practices and uses of funds will be identified, as well as questionable practices which could jeopardize your funds.
    LMCCs are often created between labor & management for a specific purpose but as time passes
    confusion can set in and trustees begin to ask – Why does this fund exist? What can this fund pay for and
    what should we do with all of this money?

  For more information click here.

• Health Care Management Conference - 05/06/2019 - 05/08/2019
  

  Medical and Recreational Marijuana – What Employers and Funds Should Know

  Elizabeth Manzo is speaking at the Health Care Management Conference regarding shifts in laws across the country and how carefully health plan sponsors and employers must consider their policies related to marijuana, regardless of the laws in the states in which they operate. This session will cover legal considerations, drug testing, workplace safety and health plan coverage concerns to ensure policies are clear and to lower the employer/fund’s risk.

  For more information click here.

• Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association Member Meeting - 03/21/2019
  

  James K. Estabrook is speaking to members of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (SMACNA) providing a legal update on current legislation and employee benefit issues.

• 2019 Minnesota Construction Summit - 01/22/2019 - 01/23/2019
  

  James K. Estabrook is speaking regarding Withdrawal Liability at the 2019 Minnesota Construction Summit, sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota (AGC) and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

  For more information click here.

• Mechanical Contractors Association of America Industry Improvement Fund Operations Conference - 12/05/2018 - 12/07/2018
  

  Issues addressed at this conference include the duties and responsibilities of industry improvement fund trustees, communicating with fund contributors, financial administration and objectives of a fund, industry education/promotion, and a fund’s long-and short-range objectives. Roundtable and panel discussions provide information on existing programs that are supported by industry improvement funds.

  Jim Estabrook and Elizabeth Manzo will be addressing Industry Fund Legal Updates:

  •  Review and Update of the Key Elements of the Industry Funds Operations Guide
  •  Vexing Problems for Industry Fund and Employee Benefit Fund Trustees
  •  Drugs and the Workplace:  Opioid Crisis and Medical Marijuana

  For more information click here.

• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 64th Annual Employee Benefits Conference - 10/16/2018
  

  James K. Estabrook is speaking at the 64th Annual Employee Benefits Conference in New Orleans. Jim is moderating and participating as a co-speaker for the ” Addressing Collectively Bargained Benefits” presentation.

  Topics to be addressed include:

  • Timing of contract negotiations
  • Use of plan consultants
  • Monetizing the benefit package
  • Plan design changes
  • Allocating assets to pension/health/apprenticeship/wages
• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 64th Annual Employee Benefits Conference - 10/15/2018
  

  Elizabeth E. Manzo is speaking at the 64th Annual Employee Benefits Conference in New Orleans.  Elizabeth is presenting at the “New Equal Opportunity for Apprenticeship Programs”  session on the Impact of Recent Regulations Impacting Training Funds including:

  • Status and impact of EEOC regulations
  • Delivery of anti-harassment training
  • Update on newly formed Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion
  • Federal outlook for training funds
• Metro Women’s Leadership Summit : All Things Marijuana - 06/01/2018
  

  Elizabeth Manzo is speaking at the Metro Women’s Leadership Summit on June 1, 2018 in Newark, NJ, on the topic of marijuana.  This session highlights insightful and not to be missed discussion about one of the hottest topics in New Jersey. Learn everything about the state’s marijuana legislation, employment concerns, and cannabis industry.

  To register for this event click here.

• Medical Marijuana Laws - How Are They Impacting The Mechanical Contractor? - 05/01/2018
  

  The latest status of medical & recreational marijuana laws has many concerned that they may be at risk of risk of violating federal law.  Elizabeth Manzo is addressing these concerns and providing insight regarding:

  • Zero tolerance drug testing policies for apprentices.
  • Consequences due to failure to accommodate a qualified medical marijuana user.
  • What should be done if an apprentice or employee presents a medical marijuana card?
  • Can an apprentice be terminated for “recreational” use during non-working hours off premises?

  For more information, click here.

• Medical & Recreational Marijuana: What Businesses Need to Know - 03/20/2018
  

  Elizabeth Manzo addresses members of the Linden Industrial Association regarding  medical marijuana, the proposed legislation regarding recreational marijuana and the resulting impact on businesses.

• The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and How It Affects You - 02/26/2018 - 02/28/2018
  

  Rights and Wrongs of Contract Negotiations

  Jim Estabrook and Elizabeth Manzo present at the Unity Conference in Orlando, Florida.  An annual meeting that brings signatory contractors together to discuss the trends and business concerns impacting this industry.  Jim and Elizabeth presented on the topic of contract negotiations including:

  • Collective Bargaining
  • National Labor Relations Act
  • Unfair Labor Practices
  • Employers Unfair Labor Practices
  • Union Unfair Labor Practices

  as well as processes, procedures and other advanced topics.

• Mechanical Contractors Association of America Industry Improvement Fund Operations Conference - 12/06/2017 - 12/09/2017
  

  Issues addressed at this conference include the duties and responsibilities of industry improvement fund trustees, communicating with fund contributors, financial administration and objectives of a fund, industry education/promotion, and a fund’s long-and short-range objectives. Roundtable and panel discussions provide information on existing programs that are supported by industry improvement funds.

  Jim Estabrook and Elizabeth Manzo will be addressing the following topics:

  •  Review and Update of the Key Elements of the Industry Funds Operations Guide
  •  Vexing Problems for Industry Fund and Employee Benefit Fund Trustees
  •  Drugs and the Workplace:  Opioid Crisis and Medical Marijuana

  For more information click here.

• Legal and Legislative Update - 11/13/2017
  

  Jim Estabrook and Elizabeth Manzo will be speaking at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Construction Industry Benefits Conference.

  There is a flurry of legal and legislative activity that professionals need to be aware of.  Jim and Elizabeth will provide an overview of key laws, regulations and court cases that may impact your plan.

  Topics will include:
  • NLRB
  • Prevailing wage and right-to-work
  • Fiduciary responsibilities
  • Vacation PTO/sick time
  • EEOC regulations
  • Drug testing

   

  For more information or to register click here.

• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 63rd Annual Employee Benefits Conference - 10/23/2017 - 10/24/2017
  

  Jim Estabrook and Elizabeth Manzo will be speaking at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 63rd Annual Employee Benefits Conference in Las Vegas, NV.

  Jim is moderating and participating as a co-speaker for the “Mergers, Spin-offs and Partitions in a PPA and MPRA Environment” presentation.

  Topics to be discussed addressed include:

  • When do you search for a partner?
  • What are the practical considerations and issues on both sides of the merger?
  • How do you handle unfavorable projections?
  • What are the withdrawal liability implications?
  • Financial assistance mergers

  Elizabeth is speaking at  “A Cost/Benefit Look at Wellness Programs” presentation.

  Topics to be discussed include:

  • Determining goals and integrated well-being
  • Measuring effectiveness/success/savings
  • Incentives: Yay or nay?
  • Keeping up engagement
  • There’s an app for that!
  • Assuring compliance with ADA, GINA and HIPAA
  • Trends in wellness

  For more information or to register click here.

• “Multiemployer Pension Plan Issues and Trends” - 09/06/2017
  

  Jim Estabrook will be speaking at the NECA 2017 Eastern Region Managers’ Conference on the topic of multiemployer pension plan issues and trends.

   

   

• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 62nd Annual Employee Benefits Conference - 11/14/2016 - 11/15/2016
  

  The 62nd Annual Employee Benefits Conference will be held this year at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL.

  Whether you are a trustee, an administrator or an advisor of pension or health and welfare funds, you can count on the Annual Conference to provide the education you need to properly support your employee benefit plans. Your one stop for all things employee benefits, the Annual Conference offers more than 100 educational sessions broken out into focused tracks with actionable solutions.

  James K. Estabrook will present  “Update on the Multiemployer Pension Reform Acts.”  This is a level I session, recommended for new trustees which provides a brief summary of the nuts and bolts of MPRA , status of design implementation and benefit suspensions, participant communication and elections, common pitfalls guidance and experiences to date.

  He will also present a session highlighting “PBGC Solvency and Solutions.” This is a level II session focusing on: Breadth of failing plans in the multiemployer sector; Are the plans victims of economic conditions and changes? How is PBGC currently funded?  What is the potential impact on premiums resulting from the Multiemployer Guarantee Study? •What is the projected stability of the PBGC? •What’s needed; what’s likely to happen?

  Elizabeth Engert Manzo will moderate “Navigating ACA: What Attorneys Need to Know” focusing on;  New regulations,  case law, cadillac tax, employer penalties, creative solutions, planning for the next five years,  and what is the projected stability of the PBGC;  What’s needed; and what’s likely to happen?

  She will also present a session regarding “Confronting Insolvency”  outlining the basics of MPRA, working with the PBGC, IRS considerations, Partitions and mergers , 412(e) considerations and Two-hat dilemma.

  For more information about this event click here.

• Understanding Your Fiduciary Responsibilities in Collections - 09/19/2016
  

  James Estabrook will speak at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Collection Procedures Institute regarding “Understanding Your Fiduciary Responsibilities in Collections”.

  This session will consider fiduciary standards relating to your collections program. Topics include: • Understanding your fiduciary responsibility to collect—ERISA standards • Monitoring plan professionals • Prohibited transactions • Duty to audit • Avoiding conflict • Policies and procedures you need to have • DOL position and activities.