Brightmine Webinars

Legal Insights for HR: Adapting DEI Strategies Amid Regulatory Shifts

Wednesday, April 23 at 2pm EST
Speakers: Alejandro Pérez and Edmund Brown

The federal framework for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) continues to change rapidly since President Trump issued the Executive Order shutting down “illegal” DEI programs. Since then, the EEOC and Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued joint guidance discussing when DEI initiatives can be deemed unlawful. Employers need to stay informed about the shifts in regulations and guidance to ensure legal compliance.

Join Brightmine for a 60-minute webinar with Pierson Ferdinand attorneys Alejandro Pérez, partner, and Edmund Brown, partner and Chief DEI Officer. They’ll explore how the EEOC and DOJ guidance affects current legal standards related to President Trump’s DEI order and what your organization needs to know to stay compliant. They will address the importance of regularly reviewing programs and adapting them to meet the goals of both compliance and supporting a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace.

Attendees will learn about:

Maintaining compliant DEI policies and practices
Taking action to identify and correct compliance gaps
Upholding and strengthening DEI initiatives in a legally compliant manner
And more!

Edmund Brown Edmund represents public and private entities, including for-profit and non-profit corporations, as well as traditional public and charter schools, in labor and employment matters, collective bargaining, contract negotiations, mediation, arbitration, civil litigation, and the daily administration of internal policies, as well as compliance matters involving state and federal laws.

Edmund also practices in Pierson Ferdinand’s Privacy and Data Security practice group where he routinely serves as incident response counsel for clients experiencing cyber security and/or data privacy incidents. Edmund advises organizations experiencing crisis in various industry sectors, but particularly in the public entity, education, wealth management, professional services and healthcare industries. Edmund prides himself on his professionalism in expeditiously responding to cyber events as quickly as possible, while maintaining compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations.

Alejandro defends employers of all sizes against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, wrongful termination, unfair labor practice charges, and other disputes arising out of the employment relationship. He also represents employers in matters involving the misappropriation of trade secrets, breaches of restrictive covenants, non-compete agreements, and other contractually based claims.

Alejandro relishes learning about his clients' businesses and works closely with them to create handbooks, HR policies, and develop best practices that are maximally compliant, minimize risk, increase employee job satisfaction, and support diversity and inclusion. He also assists clients with compliance-related concerns and helps with labor and employment issues that arise during mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. He also helps clients with internal audits in various areas, including pay equity studies, I-9 compliance, and other employment-related compliance concerns.

Alejandro also travels around the country speaking and training employers, managers, and workforces on a myriad of cutting-edge employment law and labor relation topics, diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ+ workplace issues, workplace civility, the creation of respectful workplace norms, and leadership development. Alejandro enjoys assisting his clients and others by demystifying the most complex employment laws and developments.

100 Days In: HR Strategies for Trump's Immigration Policies

Wednesday, April 30 at 2pm EST
Speaker: Davis Bae

The immigration-related executive orders issued by the Trump administration, including their increased focus on enforcement and stricter scrutiny of individuals seeking entry into the US, are causing rapid changes that impact employers and HR professionals in their ability to hire and retain employees from the global talent pool. These changes demand careful navigation through the complexity of evolving immigration and employment policies.

In this 60-minute webinar, employers and HR professionals will gain guidance on preparing for and responding to shifts in immigration policies. Davis Bae, an attorney and managing partner of the Fisher Phillips office in Seattle, as well as co-chair of the firm’s Immigration Practice Group, will discuss the administration's enforcement plans and executive orders as of the 100-day mark of the Trump presidency. He will provide insights to help distinguish between the fact and fiction of the administrations’ policies and review best practices for compliance with current legal requirements. He will also address how organizations can effectively prepare and respond to worksite enforcement actions conducted by federal agencies.

Attendees will learn:

What their organization needs to do in response to immigration policy changes
Workforce planning strategies for coping with visa-processing delays
How to prepare for a worksite immigration enforcement action
Steps to take in the event of a worksite immigration enforcement action
And more!

Davis Bae is the managing partner of the Fisher Phillips Seattle office. His practice focuses on providing effective immigration solutions for companies in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the United States. His clients are leaders in fields such as software, design, construction, manufacturing, utilities, fine arts, sports, international trade, and engineering.

Davis is a frequent speaker before business and employer associations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA), the National Association of General Contractors, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He teaches a course on Law Practice Management as a Lecturer at the University of Washington School of Law.

Davis has authored multiple articles for the AILA on topics including Consular Processing, Labor Certification, Nonimmigrant Visas, and Practice Management. In the fall of 2009, he was the Editor-In-Chief of AILA's Immigration Lawyers Toolbox.

Strategic HR Transformation: Unleashing AI's Power with Insight

Wednesday, May 14 at 2pm EST
Speakers: Melissa Silver and Ben Eubanks

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the HR landscape, helping to position it as a pivotal strategic partner in organizational success. AI can empower HR professionals by handling routine tasks, allowing them to dedicate more time to high-value, strategic activities that drive growth and innovation. The challenge lies in balancing AI efficiency with the human touch of people management.

In this 60-minute webinar, we’ll dive into real-life use cases, with Ben Eubanks, chief researcher at Lighthouse Research & Advisory and author of Artificial Intelligence for HR: Use AI to Support and Develop a Successful Workforce. He’ll discuss the challenges and benefits of adopting AI in HR and some of the key blockers stopping HR from using it. He will also share insight on how HR can leverage AI in conjunction with the indispensable human qualities of judgment, creativity, and interpersonal connections to deliver value and strategic initiatives that drive growth and innovation.

Attendees will learn:

How and why AI use in HR has increased
The difference between low-risk and high-risk AI use
Why transparency is essential for ethical AI use
And more!

This is first in a series of two webinars, dedicated to AI in HR and marking the launch of AI Assist, a GenAI-powered enhancement within Brightmine HR & Compliance Center to give fast, tailored, trustworthy answers to complex HR and compliance questions.

Unlocking AI's Potential in HR: Insights for Today's Professionals

Wednesday, May 21 at 2pm EST
Speakers: Melissa Silver and Ben Eubanks

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly improve efficiency, increase data-driven decision-making and help transition HR to strategic actions that support business growth and innovation. But where is HR now on this journey?

Join Melissa Silver, Brightmine's Principal Legal Editor, for an informative 30-minute webinar where she reveals insights from Brightmine's research on AI's role in HR. Based on the results of a Brightmine survey of HR professionals ranging from those just starting to use AI to those adeptly embracing AI, Melissa will present real-life examples of AI applications within HR. She will discuss what HR professionals see as the value that HR can demonstrate to their organization by using AI and which AI technology could provide the greatest value add to HR processes.

Attendees will also be treated to a demonstration of the Brightmine AI Assist tool, which offers fast and reliable answers to complex HR and compliance queries. This session is an invaluable opportunity for HR professionals to grasp AI's transformative potential.

Attendees will learn:

Ways in which HR is leveraging AI in their processes
The most common types of AI used by HR
What HR professionals say are the greatest barriers to implementing AI
And more!

Melissa Silver is a former practicing employment law attorney with 10 years of litigation experience. As content manager of the Brightmine Policy Solutions team, she supports Automated Handbook Management by ensuring the product includes the most up-to-date and legally compliant local, state and federal employment policies available.

Melissa holds a Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law. Before joining Brightmine, she defended clients in a variety of employment-related matters involving harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims, as well as the enforcement of restrictive covenants.

Ben Eubanks is a speaker and chief researcher at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, living in Huntsville, Alabama, and the author of Artificial Intelligence for HR: Use AI to Support and Develop a Successful Workforce. His team surveys thousands of employers and workers each year to understand the latest workplace trends and changes.

He also founded HR Summer School, an event with more than a million minutes watched each year. In addition, he hosts We're Only Human, a podcast focusing on improving human resources, one HR pro at a time. His latest bestselling book, Talent Scarcity, explores how to hire and keep workers during a talent shortage.

When he's not speaking or writing, he spends time with his four kids and runs in a variety of outlandish races for fun.