LOCATION:
The Westin Long Beach
333 East Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Registration and Check-in
12:30 – 12:45 p.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Erika Frank, Vice President Policy and Legal Counsel, California Hospital Association
12:45 – 1:45 p.m. | General Session | Recruitment and Retention: Strategies for Getting and Keeping the Good Ones
Shalena Desmond, PHR, SHRM-CP, Owner and Chief Advisor, Essential HR Advising; Wanda Cole-Frieman, Senior Vice President Talent Acquisition, CommonSpirit Health
Identifying and retaining top talent in the health care industry is a long-term challenge that became amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a shortage of qualified talent compounded by high turnover rates, employee leaves of absence due to burnout and other medical reasons, and a general feeling that a balanced work-life experience is unattainable in the health care industry.
Learn strategies you can implement to not only attract top talent but also retain the talent upon hire. Empower yourself with the ability to “think out of the box” and adopt initiatives your employees and leadership teams will embrace.
Learning objectives:
- Review the state and federal laws impacting recruitment such as criminal background check requirements, drug testing and use of automative systems
- Describe current trends in recruitment strategies for short-term and long-term vacancies
- Identify effective strategies to retaining a robust and consistent workforce including addressing employee well-being, the importance of workplace culture, and resources and benefits employees want in this modern age
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. | General Session | Tips to Effectively Manage Reasonable Accommodations
Baily Bifoss, J.D., Employment Litigation Partner, Seyfarth Shaw; Karla Torres, Supervisor, Accommodation & Leave Management and Alia Porinsh, J.D., Employee Relations, Health and Safety Director, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Responding to reasonable accommodation requests involve an understanding of state and federal legal requirements, state staffing ratio requirements, coordination with effected units and departments as well as employee engagement. Managing this area of human resources often feels like a juggling act with fire torches – drop one and you may get burned.
Refresh yourself on the legal requirements and recent court decisions concerning reasonable accommodation requests as well as strategies and best practices you can adopt to make the juggling act feel less daunting.
Learning objectives:
- Review the legal requirements as it relates to reasonable accommodations under the ADA and FMLA, that includes medical and religious accommodation requests.
- Demonstrate interactive process strategies including when to request a second opinion
- Define determination of reasonableness
- Review how to track and manage accommodation requests and how supervisors and managers must be included in the management process
2:45 – 3:15 p.m. | Break and Sponsor Visits
3:15 – 4:15 p.m. | General Session | State of the Unions: Labor Wants What?
Scott Purvis, SHRM, HRCI, SPHR, Chief Operating Officer, People Results; Eric Ostrem, J.D., Assistant General Counsel, Sutter Health
Unions continue to gain momentum not only at the state level but also nationally. Presenters will discuss efforts to organize employees with demands for higher wages, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and additional fringe benefits that challenge hospital executives and human resource professionals.
Learning objectives:
- Explain the process for complying with state and federal laws and decisions concerning employee rights to unionize
- Discuss how opinions and decisions from the National Labor Relations Board over the last few years impact employee relations and what the future may hold under the new Administration
- Review what unions are demanding during contract negotiations
4:15 – 5:00 p.m. | General Session | Legislative Update – Past, Present and Future
Erika Frank, Vice President Policy and Legal Counsel, California Hospital Association; Kalyn Dean, Vice President, State Advocacy, California Hospital Association; Muira Mishra, J.D., Founder and Principal, MKM Law Group
What happened in 2024 and what should you expect in 2025? You’ve come to the right place. Gain an understanding of the latest legislative update covering new laws that went into effect this year followed by proposed legislation that may impact you.
Learning objectives:
- Review key laws passed in 2024 that took effect in 2025
- Discuss legislation introduced impacting healthcare workers
- Explore the 2025 Legislative session outlook – issue of importance
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Reception
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. | Welcome Back
Erika Frank, Vice President Policy and Legal Counsel, California Hospital Association
8:45 – 10:15 a.m. | General Session | It’s Not About Lunch! Wage & Hour Requirements
Richard Simmons, Esq. Partner, SheppardMullin
State and federal wage and hour laws are complicated. With each passing year, they seem harder to follow. Hospital staffing needs create an additional layer of complexity as units and supervisors struggle to maintain staff ratios while at the same time ensuring proper breaks and schedules are maintained. Hear from the experts as they discuss recent wage and hour cases (affectionately known as war stories), meal and rest break requirements, and best practices on when and what to pay on-call employees.
Learning objectives:
- Review current case law on meal and rest break requirements and best practices particularly when staffing shortages interfere with scheduled breaks
- Identify the difference between controlled and uncontrolled standby, what rates of pay are required and when
- Discuss current litigation trends in the wage and hour space and how to stay out of court
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. | Break and Sponsor Visits
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. | General Session | Chat What? Implications of AI in the Workplace
Lindsay Szymanski, J.D., Associate and Christopher Spiers, J.D., Associate, Jones Day
Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI) – it is the “Gucci” of the workplace. We all want it, but can we operationally and legally afford it?
AI is increasingly being used in the health care arena. Let’s break things down and gain a working knowledge of AI, why it’s trending in the health care industry, and how to embrace this emerging technology without fear.
Learning Objectives:
- Review what is “AI” and why is it important in the health care industry
- Discuss how “AI” impacts HIPAA covered entities
- Discuss recent litigation and regulatory efforts regarding use of AI
- Review how human resources can be any “AI” ally in the workplace
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Hosted Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | General Session | Workplace Investigations: Managing the Process
Brooke Kozak, J.D., Senior Investigator, Shaw Law Group
The aftermath of #Me Too and #Times up movements resulted in a substantial increase in alleged harassment claims, leading to more workplace investigations. Over the last several years, particularly in the wake of a pandemic, what were traditional employee relationship issues are now turning into claims of harassment and discrimination. This phenomenon is creating a conundrum for human resources – do you investigate claims internally, or turn them over to counsel? Discover how employee complaints are becoming increasingly challenging for human resource departments and how they impact your obligation to investigate – whether that be through your internal process or externally.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss how to identify whether a workplace investigation is legally required
- Discuss how to address employee questions during a workplace investigation
- Review of what to do in the aftermath of a workplace investigation
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Closing Session | Hot Topics and What’s Trending?
Shalena Desmond, PHR, SHRM-CP, Owner and Chief Advisor, Essential HR Advising; Scott Purvis, SHRM, HRCI, SPHR, Chief Operating Officer, People Results; Muira Mishra, J.D., Founder and Principle, MKM Law Group; Brooke Kozak, J.D., Senior Investigator, Shaw Law Group; Lindsay Szymanski, J.D., Associate and Christopher Spiers, J.D., Associate, Jones Day
Is there something you forgot to ask or something we didn’t cover? This is your opportunity to ask pressing questions you may not have thought about before. Enjoy an engaging and highly interactive panel where you drive the discussion topics. Additionally, experts will address questions about service and support animals, employees bringing kids to work, pros and cons of workplace potlucks, romances and more.
Learning Objectives:
- Engage with faculty on trending topics
- Interactive Round Table
- Review questions about service and support animals
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. | Closing Comments
Erika Frank, Vice President Policy and Legal Counsel, California Hospital Association
Bailey Bifoss, J.D.
Employment Litigation Partner
Seyfarth Shaw, LLP
Bailey is a partner in Seyfarth Shaw’s San Francisco office, specializing in the handling and managing of complex representative and class action matters under California law, including wage and hour class actions and cases under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Bailey also defends single-plaintiff litigation and agency proceedings and collaborates with clients on practical solutions to avoid litigation and increase employment compliance. Clients look to Bailey when they have questions about California employment laws including reasonable accommodation, leaves of absence, wage-and-hour matters, employee complaints and investigations, harassment training, and potential terminations and separations. Bailey serves organizations in all sectors including retail, manufacturing and distribution, and transportation, with a particular focus on the health care industry.
Wanda Cole-Frieman
Senior Vice President, Talent Acquisition
CommonSpirit Health
Wanda Cole-Frieman is a strategic partner to executive leaders leveraging 25+ years of human capital experience enabling companies to accomplish business goals through people. Her broad industry experiences range from financial services, high tech, retained executive search, and health care enable her to build impactful strategic practices in talent attraction, succession planning, and engagement always with a focus on the best possible service for the end user. She is a thought leader on the future of work and has tested and implemented practices to ensure employee wellness to drive team engagement. Ms. Cole-Frieman currently is the SVP, Talent Acquisition for CommonSpirit Health.
Kalyn Dean
Vice President, State Advocacy
California Hospital Association
As the Vice President of State Advocacy with the California Hospital Association (CHA), Ms. Dean represents more than 400 hospitals and health systems before the state legislature in the areas of labor and employment, workforce development, insurance, integration/consolidation, climate, energy, and disaster issues. Prior to joining CHA, she was a Legislative Advocate with California State Association of Counties (CSAC), representing all 58 counties. She has previously worked as a Legislative Advocate with ACLU California Action, as a Policy Associate with PolicyLink, and as a Program Manager with PICO California.
Shalena Desmond, PHR, SHRM-CP
Owner and Chief Advisor
Essential HR Advising
Shalena Desmond brings over 20 years of experience that spans start-ups and established organizations. Prior to launching her own Human Resources and Practice Management Consulting Company, she held HR leadership positions for several health care organizations including a non-profit health care organization and a Human Resources Business Partner for a community-based hospital.
With expertise in compliance, workforce management, and strategic HR planning, Ms. Desmond ensures that health care organizations meet their staffing needs while adhering to all federal, state, and local labor laws. she is passionate about fostering a supportive and efficient work environment and has dedicated her career to helping health care organizations attract, retain, and develop top talent, ensuring that staff are empowered to provide the best patient care possible.
Erika Frank
Vice President Policy and Legal Counsel
California Hospital Association
Erika Frank is Vice President and Legal Counsel for the California Hospital Association, specializing in labor and employment, workers’ compensation, workplace safety, workforce, community benefits, and seismic compliance. She leverages more than two decades of legal, regulatory, and legislative experience, offering a practical and insightful approach to helping employers, regulators and government leaders understand the impact workplace policies and mandates have on employers and employees alike.
Brooke Kozak, J.D.
Senior Investigator
Shaw Law Group, PC
Brooke Kozak has served as the lead investigator on a variety of complex and sensitive workplace investigations involving high-level executives, elected officials, and multiple respondents, among other challenging circumstances. She regularly investigates allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, failure to accommodate, workplace violence, unfair hiring practices, and general employee misconduct. She also advises employers in all areas of employment law and facilitates training sessions for employees on key topics such as harassment prevention, respect and professionalism at work, and conducting effective internal investigations.
Muira Mishra, J.D.
Founder and Principal
MKM Law Group
As founder and principal of MKM Law Group, Muira Mishra brings more than 30 years of employment law experience, offering expert legal and practical business advice on a wide range of labor and employment-related matters. Ms. Mishra has provided legal advice to a broad array of clients, ranging from international corporations, health care systems, financial institutions and franchised retail shops to non-profit companies and sole proprietors. She served as the primary legal advisor to management and human resource professionals on a multitude of issues, including wage/hour laws, new legislation, sensitive employee disciplines or terminations, leaves of absence management and reasonable accommodation obligations, union campaigns and collective bargaining matters, corporate restructuring and reductions-in-force.
Eric Ostrem, J.D.
Assistant General Counsel
Sutter Health
Mr. Ostrem is an experienced in-house employment and labor law attorney at Sutter Health, a leading nonprofit health system based in Northern California. With a deep expertise in traditional labor law, Eric handles a wide range of labor and employment-related matters, providing strategic counsel to ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and support Sutter Health’s mission of delivering high-quality, accessible health care.
Alia Porinsh, J.D.
Manager Employee Relations & Reasonable Accommodations
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Ms. Pornish joined the Employee Relations team at Cottage Health in 2016. She specializes in the areas of employment law, mediation and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). She previously served as Director of Operations at a tech start-up overseeing the areas of legal, human resources and finance and served as the HIPAA Officer.
Scott Purvis, SHRM, HRCI, SPHR
Chief Operating Officer
People Results
Scott Purvis is a skilled and trusted advisor who brings more than 25 years of experience as an accomplished human resources executive who can connect with and inspire a workforce while working with leaders to optimize best practices. He has delivered quantifiable results as an employee relations advocate and organizational change leader, deploying his expertise to map employee engagement to measurable business outcomes and drive and accelerate positive transformations under rapid growth, restructuring, and M&A conditions.
Richard Simmons, Esq.
Partner
SheppardMullin
Mr. Simmons represents employers in wage-hour, PAGA, discrimination, contract, and wrongful discharge lawsuits. He has represented employers in over 100 class action lawsuits and landmark decisions. Additionally, he has expertise in various employment law matters involving litigation throughout the country and general advice regarding state and federal wage and hour laws, employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, employee discipline and termination, employee benefits, affirmative action, union representation proceedings, and contract arbitrations.
Christopher Spiers, J.D.
Associate
Jones Day
Chris Spiers has a unique combination of experience representing health care and life science clients in all aspects of litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. He has an understanding of the operational and financial functions of health care providers by handling many of the hospital system’s commercial, managed care, and employment cases. He also led the Jones Day’s response to investigations by state and federal regulators, as well as conducted trainings for business personnel and attorneys regarding California’s regulatory environment.
Lindsay Szymanski, J.D.
Associate
Jones Day
Lindsay Szymanski represents providers in a variety of commercial disputes concerning management and reimbursement of services. She has experience challenging underpayments by health plans for out-of-network services under “reasonable and customary” calculations, as well as underpayments made under contract. Lindsay also provides regulatory advice to digital health companies regarding corporate governance and reimbursement. She is on the editorial board of “Vital Signs,” Jones Day’s quarterly publication overviewing legal developments impacting digital health providers.
Karla Torres
Supervisor, Accommodation & Leave Management
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Karla Torres is the Supervisor for the Accommodation & Leave Management Team at Cottage Health System. She has worked at Cottage Health for almost 4 years and has over 9 years’ experience in leave and accommodation matters.
We would like to thank our corporate sponsors for their support of the
2025 HR Conference
For additional assistance contact CHA’s Education Department at education@calhospital.org.