Thank you for making this year’s Fall HR & Compliance Virtual Summit a huge hit! In two action-packed days, our speakers explored hot topics ranging from employee classification to improv comedy and beyond.
Did you miss any of the live sessions, or do you want to share them with your team? It’s not too late to catch up! Check out our executive summary for key takeaways or watch the on-demand sessions whenever works for you.
A People-First Approach to Performance Management
The performance review process needs an update. 95% of HR leaders are unhappy with performance management practices (SHRM)…but you can’t abandon the review process altogether. Learn how to give employees clear objectives, better feedback, and support to grow their careers.
Key Quote: “Your managers shouldn’t think of themselves as judges. I’m not here to judge your performance. I am here to continually help you succeed and grow and improve…that’s my job as a manager.” – Deb Calvert, President, People First Productivity Solutions
How to Protect Your Business Before, During, and After Terminations
Wrongful termination claims are expensive even if your company wins. Every case costs time, money, and trust…and most of them trace back to preventable compliance gaps. This session offers a practical guide to the process, empowering HR to protect the business every step of the way.
Key Quote: “Your complete litigation defense should be built before that person even walks into the room to be terminated.” – Audrianne Adams Lee, President, HR NETwork, Inc.
Reporting Stems from Culture: Assessing the Root Causes of Complaints
Workplace complaints don’t happen in a vacuum. They’re signals of deeper cultural patterns. Instead of reacting to complaints, HR can use data to understand the root cause of systemic problems. When you connect reporting trends to communication gaps, leadership behavior, and psychological safety, complaints become valuable insights into your company culture.
Key Quote: “When there’s a complaint…employers rarely take a step back and ask themselves, ‘how did we get here? What’s going on in the organization?’” – Catherine Mattice, CEO & Founder, Civility Partners
Exempt or Non-Exempt? That Is the Question
Employee misclassification is one of the most expensive mistakes in employment law…and one of the easiest to make. A single misstep can mean back pay, penalties, and a mountain of legal fees that your company could have avoided. This session gives you a clear-eyed look at how to get classification right the first time.
Key Quote: “The trap here is, you cannot tell just by the title. You could have a receptionist that does meet the job duty test, and a senior manager or executive that actually doesn’t…You really need to go through the steps of looking at the salary and the job duties test for exemptions.” – Ryan Parker, Chief Legal Officer, SixFifty
Improv Comedy, Confidence, and Leadership
In this fast-paced, interactive session, Dr. Alan Mueller—leadership educator and former improv comedian—reveals how the principles of improv comedy can transform how leaders communicate, connect, and inspire. Through laughter and experiential exercises, participants will learn how to think on their feet, build authentic presence, and turn nervous energy into genuine engagement. You’ll leave with practical tools to enhance executive presence, communicate with confidence, and lead with agility in any room or situation.
Key Quote: “Improv is a team sport, just like leadership should be a team activity. The best leaders think in terms of ‘we’ and not ‘me.’ The best leaders aren’t trying to be more like stand-up comedians; they’re trying to be like improv comedians.” – Dr. Alan Mueller, Senior Consultant, Adaptive Challenge Consulting
Avoid the Eye-Rolls: Update Your Company’s Harassment Training
Does your entire team (including HR) dread your annual harassment training? If so, you’re not alone. Most harassment programs still focus on outdated examples and compliance-heavy content that feels irrelevant to most workers. This session helps you fix that.
Key Quote: “If you do nothing else, rename your harassment training to ‘Creating a Respectful Environment’…Share the fact that you’re not just talking legalese about old-school harassment. Of course, it helps if you’re actually making some of those changes.” – Andrea Whalen, Senior HR Business Strategist, Clark Schaefer Strategic HR
What the DOL’s New Compensation Guidelines Mean for HR
Travel pay, waiting time, training…what counts as compensable time? The DOL just released new guidance, but the rules are complex and vary by state. Misclassifying compensable time leads to wage and hour claims, costly penalties, and damaged employee relations. With state-specific requirements in CA, WA, and other jurisdictions, staying compliant is more complex than ever. This session breaks down the new DOL guidance and practical strategies to protect your team.
Key Quote: “If somebody performs work and the employer knew or should have known that work was being performed, then the employee is owed wages.” – Julie Pugh, Assistant General Counsel, QXO
How to Cultivate Psychological Safety in a Time of Cultural Change
We live in interesting times. For better or worse, U.S. workers are navigating massive, ongoing cultural shifts, which impact both their personal and professional lives. How can HR support employees with a wide range of life experiences, belief systems, and needs without sacrificing the company’s long-term goals? Find out in this session.
Key Quote: “One HR department cannot solve problems on a national scale, nor should you try. But you can try to improve the culture for your unique team, regardless of their political beliefs…You can make work a safe haven where they can experience psychological safety.”
– Hannah Friedman, Writer & Researcher, Paycor