8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Eastern
Join fellow HR professionals for the Happy Valley SHRM Labor & Employment Law Conference in partnership with McNees Wallace & Nurick. This full-day professional development event is designed to keep you informed on the latest labor and employment law updates while providing strategies you can apply immediately in your workplace. Beyond the educational sessions, the conference offers an excellent opportunity to collaborate with peers, exchange ideas, and strengthen your professional network with HR colleagues from across the region.
As a Happy Valley SHRM chapter member, you will enjoy discounted conference registration while also taking advantage of the many year-round benefits of membership, including professional development opportunities, networking events, leadership experiences, and valuable HR resources. If you are not yet a member, now is a great time to join and start saving on conference registration while investing in your career and your local HR community.
This program is valid for 4.0 PDCs for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification.
This program has been approved for 4.0 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™, and SPHRi™ recertification through the HR Certification Institute.
In-person:
Thursday, October 29, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST
Location:
Toftrees Conference Center
1 Country Club Lane
State College, PA 16803
The 2026 Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference will be held on October 29, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with registration starting at 8:30 a.m.
Agenda:
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Opening and welcome |
| 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. | Session 1: Key labor and employment law developments for 2026 |
| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Morning Break |
| 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Session 2: Crisis management: Creating a response playbook |
| 11:30 – 11:45 a.m. | Chapter updates |
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. | Session 3: AI in the workplace: What’s an organization to do? |
| 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. | Session 4: From policy to practice: Equipping managers (and HR!) to execute |
| 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. | Raffle/Giveaways |
Session 1: Key Labor & Employment Law Developments for 2026
John U. Baker
Employment law continues to evolve rapidly, making it more important than ever for employers and HR professionals to stay informed. This session will provide an update on the most significant labor and employment law developments from 2026, including recent legislation, court decisions, and regulatory changes that impact the
workplace. Attendees will gain insights into emerging legal trends and leave with a clearer understanding of the steps employers should take to remain compliant and minimize risk.
Session 2: Crisis Management – Creating a Response Playbook
Schaun Henry and Abbegael Giunta
The world of employment law has always posed difficult situations for employers. Today, employers face more dangers, both external and internal, than ever before. Join us as we explore real-world solutions to address perilous situations, including ICE enforcement actions, high-profile employee misconduct, and internal and external investigations.
Session 3: AI in the Workplace – What’s an organization to do?
Micah T. Saul and Gregory Archibald
Rapidly developing artificial intelligence technology promises many solutions to employers’ most challenging issues, including increased productivity, streamlined recruiting and applicant evaluation, and objective, data-driven performance management, to name a few. But when AI is mismanaged, the solution can create problems of its own. In this session, we will discuss emerging AI trends in employee relations and offer insights to reduce risks when implementing these programs.
Session 4: From Policy to Practice: Equipping Managers (and HR!) to Execute
Ursula Siverling
This session will equip leaders and HR professionals with guidance for creating personnel policies that are clear, flexible, and built for the realities of today’s workplace. Participants will learn how to craft policies that are accessible to employees while supporting legal compliance, sound decision-making, and business agility. This
The session will also guide managers to consistently uphold and execute policies with confidence, sound judgment, and alignment.
SHRM & HRCI Credits are Pending Final Approval
Presenters
Gregory Archibald – Greg graduated from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pa., with a concentration in business law. There, he served as the comments editor for the Dickinson Law Review and president of the Business Law Society. While pursuing his Juris Doctor, he worked as a legal intern for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Pa., where he assisted with sentencing appeals, criminal prosecutions, and federal litigation. Greg earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
John U. Baker – John is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment and Healthcare Groups. John’s practice focuses on counseling and representation of both private and public sector employers across the state of Pennsylvania in various areas, including compliance with state and federal employment laws, leave and disability issues, wage and hour issues, employment policies, employment contracts, discipline and termination, and representation before administrative agencies and in state and federal court. John also represents public and private sector clients on traditional labor matters, including collective bargaining and labor negotiations, unfair labor practice charges, grievance and arbitration matters, and labor relations.
In addition to providing counsel on employment matters, John regularly advises healthcare entities, such as hospitals and physician practices, on compliance with, and risk management for, safety and privacy laws, including HIPAA. John’s healthcare experience and knowledge of medical privacy laws also enable him to counsel employers across industries on employee privacy and the interplay between state and federal medical leave and disability laws.
John is a frequent speaker for various industries and human resource groups throughout the state.
Abbegael Giunta – Abbegael is an attorney in the Labor and Employment and Public Finance & Government Services Groups. She handles a broad range of employment matters for employers, with a focus on defending claims in litigation under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other federal, state, and local laws.
Abbegael is a speaker and writer with thought leadership in employment law developments resulting from government COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Before joining McNees, Abbegael served as deputy general counsel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor’s Office for four years and deputy attorney general in the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General for 11 years. She has argued before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth, Superior, and Supreme Courts and has acted as lead counsel in state and federal court bench and jury trials.
Additionally, Abbegael is a trained mediator and serves on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania’s Certified Mediation Panel, with experience in employment, constitutional, civil, and environmental law.
Schaun Henry – Schaun practices in the Labor and Employment Group. He provides representation and counseling to employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including employment discrimination cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other federal, state, and local issues.
Schaun defends employers against charges of discrimination before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, and in Federal and State courts. He also assists employers with Affirmative Action planning and defense as necessary. He also counsels and defends employers with respect to Immigration related employment issues.
Schaun guides employers on unfair labor practices and other labor relations issues, as well as representation for employers in labor arbitrations and negotiations. He advises employers on a wide variety of personnel issues, including hiring, termination, and policy revisions. He defends employers' claims in Federal and State courts. Schaun assists public and private employers with respect to collective bargaining and other labor-related issues. Schaun is a trained mediator and conducts mediation on behalf of litigants upon request.
Micah T. Saul – Micah is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Group.
With over a decade of legal experience, Micah knows that the law can often be challenging to navigate alone. That is why he strives to offer clients accessible, practical advice on a variety of legal issues. He regularly counsels employers on matters involving employee management and workplace policies, discrimination and harassment, labor concerns and collective bargaining, and workers’ compensation. Micah believes that the best way to reduce clients’ exposure to compliance issues, grievances, and lawsuits is to help them find pragmatic, proactive solutions to their legal needs.
Litigation cannot always be avoided, and when necessary, Micah passionately represents employers before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and arbitrators. He has successfully defended clients against discrimination and harassment suits, labor grievances, workers’ compensation claims, and other employment-related actions. He has also secured the early dismissal of claims against employers through motions practice and, when appropriate, favorable settlements. Micah provides efficient, cost-effective, and creative advocacy focused solely on achieving the best possible outcome for clients.
When not advising or advocating on behalf of employers, Micah routinely speaks on workplace issues, including emerging topics in employment best practices, discrimination and harassment, workers’ compensation, and wage-and-hour laws.
Ursula Siverling – Ursula practices in the Labor and Employment Group, where she provides regular counseling for employers on a variety of employment-related issues, including workplace discrimination and harassment, family and medical leave, workplace accommodations, employee relations issues, employment agreements, wage and hour issues, policy drafting, and best practices for litigation avoidance. Ursula also conducts training for clients and workplace investigations. She has extensive knowledge of a wide range of employment laws and routinely works with employers to resolve workplace issues.
Immediately before joining McNees, Ursula spent over twelve years working in-house for an international corporation in both the legal and human resources departments. Ursula graduated from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2001.
Ursula has also served on the boards of directors and committees of various non-profit organizations. She provides legal services to local non-profit and community organizations through McNees’ pro bono program.
Get More for Your $149 Conference Registration!
Instead of paying $149 to attend the conference, consider becoming a Happy Valley SHRM member!
For just $99 to attend + $50 to become a member, you get the same great conference experience plus a full year of Happy Valley SHRM membership benefits.
Why just attend when you can become a member and get more?
Join Happy Valley SHRM here.
View Happy Valley SHRM Member Benefits here.
1 Country Club Ln.
State College, PA 16803
UNITED STATES
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| 10/29/2026 |    |