In this difficult and uncertain time of economic crisis, businesses across the country and in virtually every industry are confronting serious strategic and operational challenges. Increasingly, employers must make myriad, tough decisions on an array of critical personnel matters. From downsizing and benefit reductions to protecting intellectual property, the issues facing employers in the current economic downturn are complex and fraught with legal peril. Clearly, this is not the time to unwittingly invite potentially costly and time-consuming litigation. Indeed, it is more important than ever for employers to have the legal information and practical guidance required to make the right decisions in the right way. In this special EBG briefing, we target the key issues ignited by today’s new economic realities, including layoffs and reductions-in-force, cost-cutting measures and protecting proprietary and confidential information. Our experts provide specific suggestions for minimizing the legal risks inherent in making the hard decisions that your company currently faces or may soon confront.
Speakers:
Peter Altieri, Member of the Firm, Litigation and Labor and Employment Practice, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
John Kosciusko, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, New York Region Employee Benefits Division, Sumitomo Life Insurance Agency America, Inc.
William Milani, Member of the Firm, Labor and Employment Practice, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. Presenter & Moderator:
Michael Levine, Member of the Firm; Head of CSR/Sustainability Practice, Epstein Becker & Green P.C.
Register here
DCNY Women’s Forum: Achieving Fulfillment in a Hectic World
NewsDuke women are engaged, enthusiastic and sociable. We sustain many professional and personal relationships and take on considerable responsibility. Yet these associations and duties can cause us to forget the importance of personal gratification and health. This is especially true in a time of economic crisis when the world’s challenges seem so overwhelming. This is an opportune time to evaluate what “richly” means to each of us: How do we find value in our lives? How do we find inspiration and assurance in a world turned upside down? To address these questions, three distinguished Duke alumni will share their insights on achieving fulfillment from the perspectives of mind, body, and spirit. Through an interactive group discussion, they may inspire you to think about what living richly means today.
Take a night out of your week to think about your life and to enjoy the great company of other Duke women. The evening will begin and end with wine, food, and conversation.
Click here to reserve your space by credit card. Space is limited, so RSVP early.
The C.E.O. Series: When Communication is Transformative in Business
NewsJack Leslie, chairman of Weber Shandwick, will discuss working with companies as the head of the world’s largest global public relations agency, as well as from advising candidates during his earlier career in politics.
How well companies communicate is always important. But it can make all the difference during hard times, periods of transition and other defining moments for business and society. In fact, it can help transform results. What does it take to get this right? What lessons can leaders follow?
Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York presents the latest in our CEO Series – Jack Leslie, chairman of Weber Shandwick, will share examples from his years of experience working with companies as the head of the world’s largest global public relations agency, as well as from advising candidates during his earlier career in politics.
Click here to buy tickets!!!
FWA NJ: Career Management Series: Leveraging Transition Benefits
NewsThis program will identify key areas of action to respond effectively to downsizing or resignation.– What To Expect
– Negotiating Benefits
– Managing Employee Accounts
– Legislative Impacts on Post-Employment Benefits
– Launching Your Next Career Move
Register here
Is the Recession Tipping the Work/Life Balance Scale?
Work-LifeTelecommuting seemed like such a good idea and you were all set to pitch your boss on working from home. After all, as we’ve reported before, the majority of CFOs surveyed in the CFO Perspectives on Work Life Flexibility study from BDO Seidman, LLP and Work+Life Fit, Inc., think work life flexibility offers “high to moderate” business benefits. By now most people know the many rewards include improved health and well-being for employees who spend more time with family, increased productivity, more staffing flexibility, higher rates of employee retention, cost savings realized by lower overhead and environmental rewards due to fewer commutes. But is now the right time to approach the boss? With stories of layoffs splashed across every newspaper and website, should you prioritize face time over family time?
Work/life coaches will tell you that, now more than ever, it is important to take care of your personal needs and make sure the scales don’t tip in favor of work. Says one executive coach, “Women executives need to exercise and eat right so that they are in good health and can manage the stress caused by a recession. There is no need to work more than an eight hour day.” This coach also suggests increasing networking activity so that you are well positioned when the economy turns around.
Marsha Egan, an executive coach in Reading, Pennsylvania, says that in a down economy, employees often act out of fear and the fear causes them to assume the boss will say no. She suggests going to the upper management and laying out a fact-based, quantitative case for whatever work-life balance plan you have whether that be telecommuting, flex time or just a more manageable project schedule.
Read more
Handling Major Employment Law Challenges Sparked by the Economic Downturn
NewsIn this difficult and uncertain time of economic crisis, businesses across the country and in virtually every industry are confronting serious strategic and operational challenges. Increasingly, employers must make myriad, tough decisions on an array of critical personnel matters. From downsizing and benefit reductions to protecting intellectual property, the issues facing employers in the current economic downturn are complex and fraught with legal peril. Clearly, this is not the time to unwittingly invite potentially costly and time-consuming litigation. Indeed, it is more important than ever for employers to have the legal information and practical guidance required to make the right decisions in the right way. In this special EBG briefing, we target the key issues ignited by today’s new economic realities, including layoffs and reductions-in-force, cost-cutting measures and protecting proprietary and confidential information. Our experts provide specific suggestions for minimizing the legal risks inherent in making the hard decisions that your company currently faces or may soon confront.
Speakers:
Peter Altieri, Member of the Firm, Litigation and Labor and Employment Practice, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
John Kosciusko, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, New York Region Employee Benefits Division, Sumitomo Life Insurance Agency America, Inc.
William Milani, Member of the Firm, Labor and Employment Practice, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. Presenter & Moderator:
Michael Levine, Member of the Firm; Head of CSR/Sustainability Practice, Epstein Becker & Green P.C.
Register here
Taking the Guesswork out of Gift Giving on Administrative Professionals Day
Office PoliticsFew holidays cause as much gift-giving angst for bosses as Administrative Professionals Day, which falls on Wednesday, April 22nd this year. In an effort to remove the guesswork, American Express surveyed members of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) on their experiences and opinions about this day of recognition. Of the 400 administrative professionals who answered the survey, 79 percent would prefer $25 to spend any way they want over a $40 floral arrangement (19 percent) or $30 worth of chocolates (one percent). Further evidence that cash is king: 48 percent of those surveyed ranked money as their first choice gift over lunch with their coworkers (38 percent), flowers (9 percent) or a trinket for their desk (3 percent).
“Flowers, a card, candy, and a lovely lunch are all terrific-and I would never, ever discourage a boss from doing these kinds of things in honor of Administrative Professionals Day. However, these are not the things that admins want most,” says Janet Smith, an employee morale consultant. “What they really want-and what will make them feel extremely valued and appreciated-are opportunities for professional development and career growth.” Offering career advancement and professional learning opportunities sends the message that the administrative staff is making a valuable contribution, according to Jennifer Bergeron, Human Resources, Training Specialist for Summit County Government in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Read more
City Women’s Network: Imagining India & India’s Global Powerhouses
NewsCWN members, their guests and non-members are invited to join the London Business School and the Aditya Birla India Centre for an evening on India today.
Talking about their new books Imagining India and India’s Global Powerhouses, Infosys Co-Chairman Nandan Nilekani and LBS Professor Nirmalya Kumar will join a panel discussion hosted by LBS Dean Robin Buchanan.
To register for this free event please go to https://forms.london.edu/form.asp?id=11321.
100 Women in Hedge Funds – Guardian for a Well Endowed Future: A Conversation with Jack R. Meyer, co-founder, Convexity Capital Management
NewsEndowments exist to provide sustainable and reliable support to the organizations they fuel. Universities largely see their missions as producing capable citizens who are prepared and proactive in stewarding sustained human and economic development.
Jack Meyer, former president of Harvard Management Company and current chairman of Asian University for Women’s Support Foundation Board of Directors, will share his experiences from Harvard and with AUW, highlighting how investment skills can play an important role in public service.
If you have any questions about this event, please contact asiapacific@100womeninhedgefunds.org
Voice of Experience: Grace Leiblein, President and Managing Director, GM de Mexico
Voices of ExperienceGrace Leiblein has been working for GM since she was 18 years old. While attending college at General Motors Institute (now called Kettering University), she worked with GM as a co-op student in a manufacturing plant. She worked her way up through assignments and ranks, with her last position before her recent promotion being the global chief engineer responsible for overseeing the engineering of all several hundred engineers (internal and supplier engineers) working on crossover vehicles like the Acadia and Chevy Traverse.
Says Leiblein, “I remember when I got that assignment. It was a huge challenge—much larger than I had ever experienced—but it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. I grew a tremendous amount both personally and professionally. To be on a project like that and able to start from scratch basically and have your fingerprints all over some products – I’m very proud of the way they turned out, and when I see one of my vehicles on the road I feel personally responsible for them.”
She was appointed President of GM de Mexico at the end of 2008. Although Leiblein has a personal connection with Latin America—her father is Cuban and her mother is Nicaraguan—she has never worked in Latin America in her professional career and is thrilled about the new opportunity. “I’ve always loved Mexico…it is one of my favorite places to be. And it is a great opportunity to lead an entire business unit for a country. To have that kind of responsibility and authority and challenge is wonderful. And the team there is a proven, experienced team of professionals—nationals as well as expats from different countries—so it will be fun to learn from them as well.”
Leiblein advises women not to be afraid to take that stretch assignment, something she has done quite often over the course of her career. “Women in particular have a tendency to shy away from opportunities out of their comfort zone, whether that be moving into an area that they haven’t worked in before or moving to a different city or moving to a different country. If you really want to progress in an organization you have to take on those opportunities because that is (1) how you grow personally and professionally and (2) it is how leadership really looks at your adaptability for progression (watching how you do in situations where what you are doing is different from what you know).”
Read more
Third Annual Conference Global Transfer Pricing
NewsDue to globalization Transfer Pricing is becoming more important and complex by the minute. The more cross-border transactions have been made within international corporations the more strategic planning and fast reactions are needed. Corporations are facing company audits by different national fiscal authorities, which increases the risk of double taxation. The credit crunch and the current financial situation have produced challenges of how to deal with capital loss instead of gain.
Join our 3rd international transfer pricing conference and
Hear about recent OECD and EU discussion drafts relating to Business Restructuring, Permanent Establishments and Transactional Profit Methods
Discuss the new transfer pricing regulations in China and find out how they will influence your business
Learn about dealing with royalties on an international level and how to set and negotiate rates
Manage tax audits internationally and on multiple fronts by handling transfer pricing systems effectively
Handling Business Restructurings in Asia and Eastern Europe – special focus: contract manufacturing and marketing companies
This international congress is developed for Directors, Heads of Department and Project Managers in the areas of Tax, Tax Planning, Transfer Pricing, Finance and Corporate Controlling.
Register now