2006 Webinars
High-quality, monthly training delivered right to your desktop
The series of 11 topics is ideal for in-service training, risk-management skills polishing and orienting senior management and board members to individual aspects of managing risks in nonprofit organizations.
The Center is grateful to the Public Entity Risk Institute for providing a generous grant to support the Web Seminar series.
Pricing
- Purchase the entire series and realize a terrific savings of 40%.
Purchase all 12 programs (or 9 or more of them) for $399 — a savings of $309 off the cost of buying topics separately. - Purchase two or more topics and save almost 25%.
Any combination from 2-8 Webinars costs $45 each.
- Purchase a single topic for less than a $1 per minute.
Single Webinar costs $59 for one hour of information.
$399.00
2006 Webinars
Managing Legal Risks in a Nonprofit Organization
January 4
The American legal system is the subject of ongoing debate, countless publications, and a growing number of television dramas and situation comedies. It’s even the stuff good novels are made of. Yet the legal field is intimidating — many laypersons (non lawyers) feel that lawyers speak a different language, view the world through a lens of cynicism, and disregard practical matters when making recommendations about the way in which a nonprofit organization should operate. It doesn’t have to be that way. Laypersons serving management roles in nonprofits can, without investing in a formal legal education, learn liability basics, and use a wide range of legal resources to inform decision-making for their organizations. What’s required is taking time to understand the liability environment in which your organization operates. You also need to learn some legal basics that will enable your nonprofit to:
- understand what steps are important to steering clear of legal trouble, minimizing the risk of lawsuits and claims, and refraining from jeopardizing the nonprofit’s position in a legal battle;proceed confidently with your mission without unwarranted fear of legal liability and frivolous lawsuits;manage your affairs in a way that complies with legal rules and requirements; and
- fortify the organization to withstand a legal challenge.
Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:
- You are concerned about the legal risks faced by your nonprofit; You want to learn practical strategies for managing legal risks in your organization; You want to hear a jargon-free discussion of legal issues with which nonprofit leaders should be familiar;
- You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can take steps to fortify your nonprofit to withstand a legal challenge.
$59.00
Managing Legal Risks in a Nonprofit
March 1
This 60-minute seminar offers a practical look at the topic of third-party harassment. While most nonprofit leaders are aware of their obligations to reduce the risk of harassment between staff members, greater awareness of third-party harassment is needed to adequately protect an organization.
- Do your supervisors know that the organization could be found legally responsible for harassment of a staff member committed by a third-party (e.g., vendor, client)?
- Do your staff know that your nonprofit expressly prohibits inappropriate conduct or harassment directed at a third party?
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You are concerned about whether your current employment policies adequately protect the nonprofit against third-party harassment claims; You are unfamiliar with recent cases involving third party harassment and wish to increase your understanding of the exposure to your nonprofit;
- You’re looking for practical advice on minimizing the risk of third-party harassment in your nonprofit.
$59.00
Employment at Will: Sacred Cow or Dinosaur?
March 8
The concept of “employment at will” is often comforting to nonprofit managers. For these managers the fear of employment litigation is lessened by the theory that “we have employment at will — we can fire people at any time.” Other managers believe the opposite: that terminating a staff member for any reason other than gross misconduct leaves an organization exposed to claims. A closer look at recent cases and litigation in this area reveals both good news and not so good news. Nonprofit leaders must understand the concept of employment at will in order to guard against avoidable employment claims and fortify their organizations to defend any claims that occur.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You want to strengthen your nonprofit’s employment practices; You want to stop doing things that diminish or erode your policy of employment at will; You want to strengthen management’s ability to safely terminate poor performers or workers who pose safety risks;
- You want to consider practical steps for putting employment at will to work in your nonprofit.
$59.00
Layoff Lessons: Downsizing with Care and Compassion
April 5
The loss of grant funds, government contracts or a decline in donations may necessitate the elimination of positions in a nonprofit. Downsizing is never a painless process, but it can be managed in a way that emphasizes care and compassion for affected employees while living up to the nonprofit’s commitment to honest employment practices.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You want to strengthen your ability to manage layoffs with care; You want to conduct a check-up of your downsizing procedure to make certain that your process doesn’t exposure your nonprofit to undue risk; Your nonprofit has ever terminated a poor performer and called it a “layoff”; You’re apprehensive about the best approach to handling employee layoffs;
- Your nonprofit has ever faced a claim related to a RIF.
$59.00
Exempt or Non-Exempt: How to Answer the Question
May 3
Nonprofit employers are not alone in the struggle to properly classify workers. Although new regulations issued in 2004 were intended to clarify federal wage and hour laws, confusion remains about the distinction between exempt and non-exempt personnel. This Web Seminar will offer a step by step approach to making the proper classification decision for each position in your nonprofit. Nonprofits that ignore this issue are exposed to back wages and potentially costly penalties.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You are concerned that your current method for classifying positions might not comply with the wage and hour regulations; You’re uncertain how to respond to requests for comp time from either exempt or non-exempt staff; You want to make absolutely certain that you have properly designated positions as either exempt or non-exempt;
- You have found it difficult to understand advice on this topic issued by government agencies or other sources.
$59.00
When Employees Are Out of Work: Disability Leave, Workers Compensation Leave and Family Leave — Solving the Puzzle
June 7
It is a true challenge when an employee is out of work: how long is the nonprofit required to hold the position open? What benefits is the employee entitled to while on leave? Balancing practical staffing needs and legal obligations to employees on leave is critical to ensure that a nonprofit does not violate any number of state and federal employment laws.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- Your nonprofit's existing policies do not clearly define the nonprofit's obligation to maintain a position or reinstate an employee on leave;An employee at your nonprofit has been 'out on leave' for a long time and you are unsure whether termination is appropriate;
- Your nonprofit is in the process of revising policies pertaining to leaves of absence or you are interested in learning about permissible reasons to grant an employee a leave of absence and procedures your nonprofit should employ to comply with state and federal leave laws.
$59.00
Regulating Conduct Outside Work Hours: Practical Strategies for Nonprofit Employers
July 12
Recent litigation against employers has established the legality of regulating out of office conduct by employees under certain circumstances. A closer look at litigation in this area reveals practical lessons for the uncertain nonprofit employer.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- Your nonprofit has existing rules which prohibit or require certain behavior by staff when they are outside the bounds of the organization;
- Your nonprofit is considering adopting new policies that impose discipline on staff who engage in certain conduct when on their own time.
$59.00
Workplace Privacy: Steering Clear of Danger While Protecting Your Nonprofit
August 9
The issue of privacy in the workplace presents challenges for nonprofit employers. While on one hand employers do not want employees to feel uneasy because “big brother” is watching their every move, smart employers know that full access to an employee’s physical and electronic workspace is necessary for legal compliance and to protect the assets of the organization. Fear of invading an employee’s privacy could have troubling results for a nonprofit — inadvertently hiring someone whose presence threatens the workplace because the interviewer was fearful that a question might invade the applicant’s privacy, or failing to investigate an employee’s visits to inappropriate Web sites.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You are concerned that your nonprofit may not be effective in monitoring employee conduct due to a fear of invading an employee’s privacy;
- You want clarity about how far you can and should go in investigating the backgrounds of prospective employees or volunteers.
$59.00
Employment Practices Litigation: Lessons for Nonprofit Employers
September 6
Claims alleging wrongful employment practices are among the most costly claims filed against nonprofits. And, according to several insurers, employment claims represent more than 90% of all claims filed under nonprofit directors’ and officers’ liability policies. This Web Seminar will explore lessons learned from employment litigation involving nonprofits.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You want to fortify your nonprofit to withstand a legal challenge to its employment practices;
- You want to conduct a check-up of your employment practices to make certain you’re avoiding common missteps.
$59.00
Putting Your Insurance Program Out to Bid: A Practical Approach
October 4
Is your nonprofit paying a fair price for its insurance coverage? Are you receiving the services you deserve from your agent or broker? If you or any member of your board has asked one of these questions recently you might want to consider putting your insurance program out to bid. Doing so is often seen as a daunting process, which leads many busy nonprofit executives to remain loyal to an agent or broker with whom they are not fully satisfied. In other cases a nonprofit leader may renew the organization’s insurance coverage over and over again without taking a close at its suitability for the nonprofit’s changing needs.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You want to hear from about the various options for putting a nonprofit’s insurance program out to bid; You’re considering putting your program out to bid but you need practical tips about getting started; You’re committed to identifying the best qualified insurance advisor for your nonprofit;
- Your insurance agent or broker has told you that he or she has shopped the insurance market on your behalf but returns each year with a quotation from just one company/carrier.
$59.00
Your Insurance Agent or Broker: Managing the Relationship and Getting the Help You Need
November 8
Among the gravest errors a nonprofit can make in managing its insurance program is devoting a great deal of time to the selection process without committing to managing the new relationship. While some relationships fail because the service provider promises more than he or she can deliver, others fail because of neglect on the nonprofit’s part. The most important first step in managing the relationship with an insurance advisor is to establish a set of agreed upon expectations.
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You are committed to getting the most out of your relationship with an insurance agent or broker; You have been less than fully satisfied with the services or support provided by your insurance professionals and you are committed to improvement;
- You want to find out what you must do and what you mustn’t do to enable your agent or broker to effectively serve your nonprofit.
$59.00
Professional Liability Insurance: Understanding the Exposure and the Coverage Options
December 6
Many nonprofit leaders are unaware that they are exposed to claims alleging negligence in the delivery of professional services. Even more serious is the failure to recognize that these claims are generally excluded under the nonprofit’s existing general liability and directors’ and officers’ liability policies. Professional liability coverage is needed by a wide range of nonprofits — it’s not just for healthcare agencies or legal services providers!
Purchase this Web Seminar if:
- You’re wondering if there might be a gap in your existing insurance program (collection of coverages);
- You’re interested in learning about the major and subtle differences in widely available professional liability policies.
$59.00
About the Faculty
Melanie Herman is executive director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center and a frequent speaker at conferences sponsored by various nonprofit organizations. Melanie advises nonprofits of all sizes on issues ranging from managing legal risks to employment practices to insurance buying. She has authored and co-authored 20 books during her career at the Center.