NOTE: Due to COVID-19, the January Chapter meeting is being held virtually. The link to the virtual meeting will be sent out 24-48 hours prior to the start of the meeting; it will also be available on the online event page that is available to all individuals who have registered for the event.

Prices have been modified to reflect the change to a virtual meeting; LCHRA members may apply for scholarship assistance for registration. For more information, please visit https://lchra.org/scholarship.

The Aftermath of 2020:
Managing Mental Illness at Work

As the year ends and COVID-19 fatigue sets in, mental health is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing employees and their employers. Unlike physical injuries, mental illness can show up as subtle, erratic behavior that is easy to miss or dismiss until it becomes unhealthy or even dangerous. These challenges are amplified at work, where employers have a duty to protect employees, but to also avoid discrimination. Vigilant Law Group employment attorney Kara Craig will discuss current data and trends and give you practical tools to spot, respond, and resolve mental health issues at work.

Learning Objectives:

After reviewing federal and relevant state disability laws as they relate to mental health, participants will be able to:

• Capture the attention and buy-in of leadership and supervisors regarding the liability and impact of mental health issues at work;

• Identify what constitutes notice and when HR and supervisors most often miss the ADA flags;

• Understand when and how to make medical inquiries that are legal, targeted, and give you the information that you need;

• Apply a checklist approach to a fluid and meaningful interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations;

• Examine complex, real-time mental health issues using the best practices provided, including the most effective agency resources available today.

Speaker Bio:

Kara Craig is a seasoned attorney and energetic presenter.  Kara has been practicing law for over 20 years.  As an employment attorney with Vigilant, Kara provides counsel to Oregon and Washington State businesses on the entire range of employment and labor law issues.  She also represents clients in administrative proceedings pending before the EEOC and state agencies such as BOLI.  Kara takes pride in her ability to provide practical advice and draw from her extensive litigation experience when making risk assessments.  Hopefully you’ll find Kara’s down-to-earth nature and sense of humor somewhat refreshing as we tackle the tricky and sometimes frustrating world of employment law!

HRCI and SHRM Recertification Credits Applied For