Dealing with harassment in the working environment
Speakers
Jocelyn R. Cuttino, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Lesli Ligorner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Louise Skinner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Date and time
29/07/2021
16:00 BST/17:00 CEST/11:00 EDT
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Cyber bullying

Tags

Allegations of harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct have affected countless well-known employers since the MeToo movement began exposing unacceptable workplace behaviour in 2017. Now new research suggests employee harassment is not just limited to in-person interactions but is increasingly occurring online; a trend that may well continue in the post-pandemic world.

With numerous challenges to businesses, how employers respond to allegations of inappropriate behaviour is of the utmost importance. IEL welcomes a panel of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius’ international employment lawyers to offer employers, HR professionals, and in-house counsel insights from the UK, China, and the US on a range of important issues including:

  • What do we mean by “harassment” and how can you recognise it in your workplace?
  • How to best investigate allegations of workplace harassment or bullying.
  • Should employers take a zero-tolerance stance when it comes to harassment?
  • What are the legal, PR, and business risks of such behaviours existing among management and staff?
  • How to create an effective speak-up culture within your business.
  • Crisis management advice for when harassment is found in your workplace.

Speakers:

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Jocelyn Cuttino


Jocelyn R. Cuttino, Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius (Washington, DC, USA) 

Jocelyn Cuttino advises clients on labour and employment matters including statutory compliance, anti-discrimination practices, employment policies, HR procedures, and best practices for avoiding litigation and developing positive employee relations. Jocelyn conducts internal investigations related to alleged sexual harassment, performs workplace culture assessments, advises on responses and remediation measures in connection with alleged misconduct, and defends companies in employment litigation and other workplace crises. She defends clients at trial and in all phases of complex employment and class litigation, and represents clients before US federal and state fair employment agencies.

Jocelyn handles claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Railway Labor Act, and related state employment laws. She represents employers in disputes involving claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, failure to accommodate, and wage and hour litigation. In addition, she conducts employee training on the prevention of unlawful harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Previously, Jocelyn was an associate at a large international law firm, handling employment-related claims, complex commercial litigation, and business and financial litigation.

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Lesli Ligorner


Lesli Ligorner, Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius (Beijing and Shanghai, China) 

Lesli Ligorner has more than 20 years of experience serving clients on a wide range of labour and employment matters, with nearly 15 of those years spent on the ground in China. She has been advising a broad range of financial services; telecommunications, media, and technology; life sciences; and general manufacturing clients on the full suite of employment issues in China, including involving hiring and termination, establishment and enforcement of company policies, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and local anti-corruption compliance, and discrimination and harassment policies, training, and investigations. Lesli is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.

Lesli leads the labour and employment practice in mainland China and handles cross-border employment matters and internal investigations across the Asia-Pacific region. She advises on global mobility and immigration, employment and anti-corruption due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, leaves of absence, wage and hour laws, intellectual property protection, and unionisation, and collective bargaining. Lesli also counsels multinational corporations on data privacy and cybersecurity.

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Louise Skinner


Louise Skinner, Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius (London, UK) 

Louise Skinner is a partner in Morgan Lewis’ labour & employment group in London and has many years of experience advising banks and other financial services clients on employment law issues, focusing particularly on the intersection with regulatory compliance. She supports many clients through complex disciplinary, whistleblowing, and regulatory investigations and proceedings, and has extensive experience in employment tribunal and high court litigation. Louise is currently working closely with clients in relation to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, in particular with regard to the ongoing assessment of fitness and propriety, regulatory references, and the impact on in-house compliance and HR practices and people management. 

Louise also has a particular interest in matters concerning equality and diversity in the workplace, offering clients strategic and specific advice on issues relating to the gender pay gap, including equal pay, parental rights, quotas, and positive action in both recruitment and promotion. In addition, Louise conducts investigations into workplace culture and advises on harassment prevention, crisis management, and remediative action.