45th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar

Your workplace never stands still. New laws, evolving employee expectations, increased scrutiny of HR decisions, and other challenges continually reshape the way organizations operate. HR professionals, business leaders, and in-house counsel are expected to navigate it all while supporting employees and driving business success.

For more than four decades, employers across Virginia have turned to the Woods Rogers Labor & Employment team for practical guidance on workplace issues.

Join us for our 45th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar series as we break down the latest legal developments, share insights on today's most pressing workplace challenges, and provide practical strategies you can put to work immediately.

Our goal is for you to leave informed and ready to approach the year ahead with confidence. Whether you are managing day-to-day employee issues or preparing for what's next, you will gain the knowledge, tools, and perspectives needed to make informed decisions.

Topics

What’s New in HR: Legal Updates, Hot Topics, and Trends

HR professionals are tasked with complying with developments quickly—and mistakes can have serious consequences. This session will present recent changes and offer practical advice on compliance and managing your workforce. Updates will include legislative changes, developments from the “Big 3,” and the rise of plaintiffs representing themselves through AI. You will gain a better understanding of the current legal landscape and the best practices for ensuring compliance.

Virginia Is for Change: The New Employment Law Landscape

Virginia employers are still facing sweeping changes that impact hiring, compensation, and employee leave. This session will examine the latest developments and compliance challenges arising from Virginia's new employment laws, including changes to pay transparency, medical leave, and noncompete agreements. Whether or not your organization has already taken steps toward compliance, you'll gain valuable insights into the new regulations and concrete strategies for managing risk.

Lessons Learned: Whistleblower Claims in Virginia

The Virginia Whistleblower Protection Act increased scrutiny of how employers handle employee complaints and reports of suspected legal violations. This session will review significant legal decisions shaping interpretation of the VWPA and emerging trends in retaliation litigation. You will not only leave with a better understanding of how the law is being used in court, but also with guidance for managing complaints, conducting investigations, and avoiding costly whistleblower claims.

Saying Goodbye: A Guide to Reductions in Force, Furloughs, and Severance

This session will provide practical guidance for designing and implementing separation strategies that are legally compliant, ethically grounded, and aligned with your organization’s values. Explore best practices for managing reductions in force and furloughs, structuring severance packages, and communicating these decisions transparently. You will leave with actionable approaches to minimize risk, maintain dignity during offboarding, and strengthen organizational resilience during challenging economic times.

For questions about the seminar or registration, please email events@woodsrogers.com.

Human Resource Professionals, In-House Counsel, Executive Leaders, Owners/Operators, Directors, and Frontline Managers/Supervisors

After participating in this seminar, attendees will be able to:

• Identify key federal and Virginia employment law developments and assess their impact on workplace policies, practices, and decision-making
• Apply practical strategies to minimize risk, maintain dignity during offboarding, and strengthen organizational resilience during reductions in force
• Evaluate current whistleblower case law and apply best practices for managing complaints and conducting investigations to avoid whistleblower claims

This program has been approved for 5.5 credits toward SHRM and HRCI recertification and will be submitted for 5 hours of Virginia CLE credit from the Virginia State Bar.