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FACING BENEFIT AND EMPLOYEE ISSUES
MAY 14, 1998
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
 
8:15 - 9:00 a.m. Registration / Continental Breakfast / Exhibit Showcase
 
Please check in at the registration desk outside the Grand Ballroom
 
9:00 - 9:10 a.m. Welcome
 
James R Mersfelder, NYEBC President
Cynthia A. Hammer, Conference Co-chair
 
9:10 - 9:50 a.m. Legal Update
 
Dianne Bennett, Hodgson, Russ, Andrews, Woods & Goodyear, LLP
Ms. Bennett will present a synopsis and commentary regarding recent legislative and regulatory developments effecting benefit plans as well as recent guidance and pronouncements by the IRS and the DOL.
 
9:50 - 10:30 a.m. Employee Property and Privacy Issues
 
Robert P. Lane Jr., Bond, Schoeneck & King, LLP
This topic focuses on the current state of the law involving workplace privacy issues and the surveillance of an employee's email, voice mail, computer files and other electronic activities. Discussion will include suggested electronic communications policies and practices as well as the protection of company assets through the use of restrictive covenants and trade secret policies and agreements.
 
10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Break
 
10:45 - 11:15 a.m. Humor in the Workplace
 
Catherine Ansuini, State University College at Buffalo
Studies indicate that humor increases our ability to learn by 500%. This session covers methods used to employ humor at the work site to enhance productivity and the corporate image. Dr. Ansuini will discuss the positive cardiovascular and biochemical impacts of laughter on the immune system. Leam strategies for incorporating humor into one's lifestyle for stress management, personal enrichment, increased productivity and life satisfaction. Quiz follows.
 
11:15 - 11:50 a.m. Mergers & Acquisitions Benefit Plan Issues
 
Daniel Senecoff, Deloitte & Touche LLP
This session provides an overview discussion of typical benefits and compensation issues related to business mergers and acquisitions. Topics include: fact finding, hidden obligations, accounting considerations, compliance, program design, and communications strategy.
 
11:50 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. David Pratt's Top 10 Litigation List
 
David A. Pratt, Albany Law School
This presentation will discuss recent developments effecting the ERISA fiduciary rules and their implications for plan sponsors, trustees, and service providers.
 
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. Lunch
 
1:45 - 2:45 p.m. Concurrent Workshop Sessions
 
2:45 - 3:00 p.m. Break
 
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Concurrent Workshop Sessions
 
Concurrent Workshop Sessions
  • Topic A: Evolving Retirement Plans
    Michael E. Fuchs, Deloitte & Touche LLP
    Daniel Senecoff, Deloitte & Touche LLP
    Are traditional pension plans dead and buried? Many current issues impact retirement plan design, including: employee mobility, corporate cultures and objectives, and an increasingly complex regulatory framework. The presenters will lead a discussion of the features, strengths and weaknesses of traditional pension and profit-sharing plans along with a wide variety of innovative (hybrid) plan designs including Cash Balance and Pension Equity Plans. Participants should be prepared to offer questions and comments from their own experiences.
  • Topic B: Health Plan Regulations: Are You Where You Should Be?
    Patricia A. Obstarczyk, Philips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber LLP
    Jeffrey Lowry, HealthCarePlan
    Are you collecting your dependent data for HIPPA compliance? Are you in compliance with the recent MHPA rules? Are you keeping up with HCRA changes? Have you updated your SPDs for NMHPA? Do your QMCSO procedures reflect the recent BBA changes? Docs your cafeteria plan comply with recent Section 125 regulations? Have you updated your COBRA administration to include the new temporary regulations? Is your head not spinning? If you cannot answer "yes" to all these questions, then this presentation is for you. Pat and Jeff will tell you where you need to be and answer questions on how to get there.
  • Topic C: Participant Directed Investments: What Is the Employer's Role?
    Moderator: David H. Kiernan, Philips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber LLP
    Jennifer S. Winfield, Manning & Napier Advisors Inc.
    Ann M. Franke, Marine Midland Bank
    Peter J. Walsh, Smith Barney Inc.
    Investment professionals from an investment advisor firm, a commercial bank and trust company, and a brokerage firm discuss the employer's role in educating employees on how to invest their 401(k) plan monies and the support available to employers from financial services organizations.
  • Topic D: Benefits Resources on the Web
    David Rhett Baker, David Rheit Baker, PA
    The Internet is quickly becoming a valuable resource for all aspects of business management. Mr. Baker, publisher and webmaster of the well-regarded BenefitsLink web site, will present a workshop on the benefits-related resources on the world wide web, including tips on navigating through, and making use of the vast quantities of information available on the Internet.

 


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