Capitol Hilton, Washington, D.C.
March 9-11, 2009
This Year's Employment Law & Legislative Conference is Sold Out! No one-day passes are available, and there is no on-site registration. But there is an alternative: These issues will be covered thoroughly at the SHRM Annual Conference in New Orleans, June 28-July 1, 2009.
For HR professionals, 2009 will bring changes unlike any seen in decades. With a new Administration and Congress, the public policy and legislative agenda will be the most workplace-oriented in 30 years. HR will be in a unique spotlight, so it’s never been more essential for you to have the latest information on the issues.
SHRM has dedicated a significant portion of the Annual Conference to the key legislation issues that will impact your workplace. The robust offerings in the Employment Law & Legislative track highlight topics such as harassment, lawsuit prevention, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, documentation practices, and how to understand FMLA.
These sessions highlight the legal implications of workplace policies and practices, and focus on critical legal issues that affect the way that you conduct day-to-day business.
Now, more than ever, keeping ahead of HR knowledge is vital to the success of your career and your organization. With new legislation, updated regulations, and an ongoing economic challenge confronting HR professionals in very real ways, this conference will provide you with the tools, techniques and resources to ensure you come out ahead.
Go to Annual Conference for more information.


SHRM presents the SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference, March 9-11, 2009, at the Capital Hilton in downtown Washington, D.C. With the possibility of the most sweeping HR-related changes in 30 years taking place in a new administration, you can’t afford to miss this conference. The conference also includes a rare opportunity to visit the congressional offices of your senators and representative.
Officials from the new Administration, Congress and regulatory agencies will be featured speakers, available to answer your questions about both the policy and enforcement changes likely to affect your organization. Highly regarded sessions such as Washington Outlook: New Congress, New Administration and New HR Public Policy Issues will give you the information you need to anticipate HR-related changes coming in a new Administration.
Travel to Washington, D.C., is easy, with three major airports as well as trains available to choose from. There are numerous attractions of interest within walking distance of the hotel, including:
- The Washington Monument, with an aerial view from the top
- The International Spy Museum
- The Smithsonian Museum
- The White House
- Washington D.C. Monuments by Moonlight Tour
Preconference Workshop
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Legal Environment for Business Professionals
See Educational Sessions for a full description.
Welcome Reception at the Newseum!
A fantastic welcome reception will be held at the Newseum, D.C.’s newest hot spot, which stands between the U.S. Capitol and the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, and features dramatic vistas of Washington.
SHRM’s new CEO Laurence O’Neil and new SHRM Board Chair Robb Van Cleave will be introduced at this reception. This is a great opportunity to meet and interact with public policy decision-makers and other key industry and association leaders.
Agency Updates
Held in conjunction with the concurrent sessions, these programs give you the opportunity to learn from agency representatives on recent regulatory and enforcement activities from the executive-branch agencies. The sessions will provide the agencies’ views on recent enforcement guidance, the work agenda of the agencies for this year, and their views on enforcement priorities of various employment laws under the agencies’ jurisdiction. You will also be given a change to ask the experts.
Capitol Hill Visits
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to visit the congressional offices of your senators and/or representatives. SHRM provides you a unique chance to let him or her know, in person, how pending workplace legislation affects you as an HR professional. The appointments are scheduled by SHRM in advance, a briefing is held to familiarize you with current legislative issues, and a special session is scheduled to help you develop your message for the Hill visit.