Finally Back In Person: Our Labor & Employment Fall Seminar Returns to New Haven

Two big items today: Season 4 of the ever-popular “From Lawyer to Employer” podcast kicks off this week and we have news of an in-person seminar too. And if you listen to the podcast, you can learn more about the seminar too.
In the latest episode of our “From Lawyer to Employer” podcast, I had the pleasure of discussing this welcome news with our behind-the-scenes producer Jessica Mantzaris: our firm’s popular Labor & Employment Fall Seminar is returning to an in-person format for the first time since before the pandemic. And the timing couldn’t be better.

What’s on the agenda? The September 30th event at Hotel Marcel in New Haven offers exactly what employers need as they navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. The program kicks off with a keynote covering hot employment law topics — immigration updates, recent Supreme Court decisions, NLRB developments, and more. But the real value comes in the breakout sessions, where attendees can dive deep into the issues that matter most to their operations.

Choose your focus. Attendees will select between two specialized tracks. The first, “Leave it to the Lawyers: Navigating the Maze of Employee Leave Laws,” tackles what I call “the alphabet soup of FMLA, CT FMLA, PFMLA, PSL, ADA” — helping employers understand documentation and record-keeping strategies for managing the increasingly complex web of leave requirements. The second session focuses on federal wage and hour essentials, covering employee classification trends, common overtime mistakes, and best practices for ensuring payroll compliance while preparing for potential audits.

Why now matters. As I discussed in the podcast, employers are facing a shifting landscape. EEOC enforcement patterns are changing, severance negotiations are becoming more complex, and new Connecticut leave laws are taking effect October 1st. The combination of regulatory changes and economic uncertainty makes this exactly the right time for employers to get practical guidance and connect with peers facing similar challenges.

The networking advantage. After years of Zoom screens and muted microphones, the return to in-person events offers something that virtual programs simply can’t match: genuine connections. The program includes networking time with a full bar and chef-prepared hors d’oeuvres, giving attendees the chance to discuss challenges and solutions with other employers and our attorneys in a relaxed setting.

Registration is filling up quickly for our September 30th event (1:30-6:00 PM), and perhaps best of all, it’s complimentary for clients and friends of the firm. You can register through the Shipman & Goodwin website’s events page, and parking at Hotel Marcel is both free and convenient — right off I-95 next to IKEA.

The message from our podcast discussion is clear: after years of virtual programming, there’s genuine enthusiasm for reconnecting in person. As Jess and I discussed, this is about getting “valuable insights from our amazing lineup of speakers” while having the chance “to connect over food and drink.” In today’s challenging employment law environment, that combination of practical knowledge and peer connections isn’t just nice to have — it’s essential.

Hope to see you there.