Eaton Peabody

Attorneys to Speak at the 11th Annual Maine Human Resources Conv. - April, 2006

Maine Human Resources Convention, organized by Northern New England Law Publishers, veterans Clare Hudson Payne and Thomas Johnston will both be presenting at this year's convention which is expected to be attended by a sell out crowd of 500 Maine human resource executives at the Samoset in Rockland. Over 50 sessions in HR education will be held May 9-11th with topics varying from resolving workplace conflicts to hiring tips. Payne and Johnston will be part the faculty conducting these sessions.

Payne’s workshop  titled “FMLA Trolley Adventure” will focus on the Family and Medical Leave Act.  She will be joined by guest presenters Ken Proctor, the Director of Human Resources at Mayo Regional Hospital, and Bev Young, Certified Occupational Heal Nurse-Specialist, who will provide their practical experience with the FMLA. Payne's workshop attendees will be transported by trolley to the new Lighthouse Museum where they will focus attention on the ins and outs of the FMLA during their 3 hour upper level seminar.

"Convention organizer, Bud Bernstein has emphasized this year's creativity theme by developing  new

concepts for workshops, using quintessential Maine locations, and best of all a trolley which will permit participants to get away from the regular workshop format and spend a significant block of time on a discreet subject area,” Payne said. “Our group will work on advanced issues and problems which the HR professional might face. Finding one's way around the FMLA is often complex, especially as it often overlaps with other laws such as the ADA and workers' comp. Our workshop will provide and opportunity to for the HR professional to pick up tips and new strategies for dealing with the FMLA when they return to their organization."

Johnston’s session, though stationary, will address the legalities of giving and receiving references. His plan to integrate several media types, in an attempt to relate to the audience's everyday obstacles when obtaining employee referrals, should prove amusing.

"Anyone who has ever attended one of Thom's presentations knows they are in for a treat,” Payne notes. “He has a wonderful ability to convey practical and timely legal information while at the same time keeping the audience entertained.”