 Tuesday, November 9 - General Labor Discussion 1:30 p.m.
Ted Boehm, Fisher Phillips 
 Migrant Seasonal Protection Act (MSPA) and Farm Labor Contractors
Description: The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) may have been created in 1983 but it applies more today than ever before. Ann Margaret Pointer of Fisher Phillips is one of the afore most experts in MSPA. Come engage with her to understand how MSPA applies to your operation as it protects migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and the employment standards related to wages, housing, transportation, disclosures and recordkeeping. MSPA applies to operations using H2A, migrant labor, seasonal labor, and farm labor contractors. A farm labor contractor (FLC) can play a critical role in providing and managing a work force for many ag operations. And while the workforce is technically under the employment and management of the FLC, many obligations still fall on the farmer. For anyone using or considering using a FLC, you do not want to miss this presentation by Fisher Phillip’s Josh Viau. These presentations will be given live to all attendees on Thursday, November 19 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, with time for questions. All recordings will be made available to registered attendees for on-demand viewing after the live presentations. Guest Speakers: Migrant Seasonal Protection Act (MSPA) is Alive and Well Ann Margaret Pointer, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, GA What Every Farmer Should Know about working with a Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) Joshua Viau, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, GA This presentation is available as a video or as a pdf:  H-2A Toolkit and Answers
Description: For produce operations considering moving to the H-2A program or for those who have been using it for years, Dan Bremer of AgWorks is one of the afore most experts on the H-2A program. After all, Dan formed AgWorks after retiring as the District Director of the US Dept of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Learn from and engage with Dan as he discusses how the H-2A program can work for your operation. This 2020 produce season has underscored the high’s and low’s of the H-2A program. From DOL offices and border closings to the critical phone call from Kentucky, not many farmers should go the H-2A program alone. This panel of H2A and labor experts are here to help provide guidance and answer your questions: Tracy Dowdy, Constituent Services Representative, Congressman Earl L “Buddy” Carter, GA-1, Savannah, GA, Ellen Henley, AgWorks, Lake Park, GA, Ann Margaret Pointer, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, GA. For anyone currently using H-2A labor or considering it, this is a day you will not want to miss. These presentations will be given live to all attendees on Tuesday, November 17 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, with time for questions. All recordings will be made available to registered attendees for on-demand viewing after the live presentations. Guest Speakers: How can the H2A Program Work for My Operation Dan Bremer, AgWorks, Lake Park, GA H2A Panel Discussion to Answer Your Questions Tracy Dowdy, Constituent Services Representative, Congressman Earl L “Buddy” Carter, GA-1, Savannah, GA Ellen Henley, AgWorks, Lake Park, GA Ann Margaret Pointer, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, GA This presentation is available as a video or as a pdf:  H-2A and US DOL
Description: Engage with US Department of Labor’s John Rotterman, H-2A Certifying Officer and Supervisory Immigration Program Analyst, about workload trends in the H-2A program nationally and in Georgia, insights into any initiatives at the Department of Labor designed to improve the H-2A program for farmers, and give important filing tips and best practices to help obtain timely certification. Then be part of the always popular discussion with US Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division Enforcement Coordinator for Agricultural Investigations, Mike Rios. Mike will give an overview of the focus of US DOL enforcement during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and how they are planning to move forward in FY 2021. For anyone currently using H-2A labor or considering it, this is a day you will not want to miss. These presentations will be given live to all attendees on Thursday, November 12 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, with time for questions. All recordings will be made available to registered attendees for on-demand viewing after the live presentations. Guest Speakers: Issues and Updates from the Office of Foreign Labor Certifications (OFLC) John Rotterman, H-2A Certifying Officer, US Dept of Labor, Ofc of Foreign Labor Certification, Chicago, IL Wage and Hour Audit Overview – An Investigator’s Perspective Mike Rios, Enforcement Coordinator, US Dept of Labor, WHD, SE Region This presentation is available as a video or as a pdf: 
Description: The most recent, unexpected agricultural labor issue that has touched every operation around the world has been the management of COVID-19. While it made for an erratic and unsettling 2020 Spring and Summer season, we survived and gained experience to be able to manage an operation while keeping employees safe. Senior Epidemiologist Amanda Feldpausch with the Georgia Department of Public Health has been a huge partner helping manage COVID-19 “hot spots” within the industry, as well as create workable guidelines for Georgia’s agricultural workforce. She will give an overview of current Georgia Department of Public Health guidance for agricultural employees, as well as review several tools created in collaboration with industry partners, such as GFVGA UGA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Fisher Phillip’s OSHA Attorney Travis Vance will discuss how successful operations continue in this post-pandemic world. He will review policies and procedures that should be in place, how to handle confirmed cases of COVID-19, give guidance on how to handle vaccines, review lessons learned and give tips to lead your operation during these crisis times. This is a complimentary presentation to that of Marty Heller on Day 1 of the Forum reviewing Joint Employment and FSLA Ag Overtime Exemption. These presentations will be given live to all attendees on Tuesday, November 10 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, with time for questions. All recordings will be made available to registered attendees for on-demand viewing after the live presentations. Guest Speakers: GA Dept of Public Health Guidance to Manage COVID-19 with Ag Employees Amanda Feldpausch, MPH, Senior Epidemiologist Consultant, GA Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA Preserving Your Company’s Brand: Your Business During a Pandemic Travis Vance, Fisher Phillips, Charlotte, NC This presentation is available as a video or as a pdf: 
Guest Speakers: Political Outlook: How the Current Political Climate May Impact Ag Labor and Workforce Bob Redding, The Redding Firm, Washington, DC Joint Employment and FSLA Ag Overtime Exemption Marty Heller, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, GA Description: Just two days after the greatly anticipated 2020 Presidential Election, GFVGA Lobbyist Bob Redding of the Redding Firm, will forecast how the current political climate may impact ag labor and the workforce. Additionally, ask questions of wage and hour attorney, Marty Heller of Fisher Phillips, as he gives the most recent updates on joint employment and FSLA ag overtime exemption. These presentations will be given live to all attendees on Thursday, November 5 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, with time for questions. All recordings will be made available to registered attendees for on-demand viewing after the live presentations. This presentation is available as a video or as a pdf : |
