HR Compliance & Workforce Management Certification
Make Better Employment Decisions, Reduce Legal Exposure, and Protect Your Organization
Michele A. Mathews
Designed for professionals responsible for workforce decisions, this five-session certification focuses on the judgment behind compliant HR work. It shows how to evaluate the facts, follow consistent procedures, and reduce risk when the correct response is not immediately clear.
Complete the program with a stronger understanding of HR compliance and a more consistent approach to managing employee matters.
Please note: This course replaces the retired Employment Law for HR Certification course.
What to Expect
You are expected to protect the organization while giving managers and employees clear answers. This certification helps you replace inconsistent decisions with a repeatable approach to hiring, leave, investigations, pay, performance, discipline, and termination.
- A stronger review process for hiring and classification
- A clear response process for leave and accommodation requests
- An organized method for handling complaints and investigations
- Better documentation before discipline and termination
- Hiring steps that create avoidable compliance concerns
- Leave decisions made without a complete review
- Investigation gaps that weaken the organization's response
- Pay and performance issues left unaddressed
- Better questions for managers and employees
- Stronger records of actions and decisions
- Greater consistency across employee situations
- A clearer understanding of major HR compliance responsibilities
What You'll Walk Away With
- Review hiring documents and interview practices for compliance concerns
- Manage FMLA leave and ADA accommodation requests
- Respond to harassment complaints and conduct workplace investigations
- Identify wage and hour classification and pay errors
- Document performance concerns and apply discipline consistently
- Prepare for terminations with stronger records and procedures
Course Outline
Session 1: Build a Compliant Hiring and Classification Process
- Job descriptions that reflect the position's actual duties and requirements
- Structured interviews and consistent questions for every candidate
- Interview topics and practices that may create legal concerns
- Clear offer letters and appropriate at-will employment language
- Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements for background reports
- Exempt and non-exempt classifications under the FLSA
- Hiring records that support consistent employment decisions
Session 2: Manage FMLA Leave and ADA Accommodation Requests
- Employer and employee responsibilities under the FMLA and ADA
- Employee eligibility, available leave, and reinstatement rights
- Medical certifications and confidential employee information
- Intermittent leave and reduced-schedule requests
- The ADA interactive process and reasonable accommodation review
- Coordination among the FMLA, ADA, and workers' compensation
- Documentation and communication throughout the leave process
Session 3: Respond to Harassment Complaints and Conduct Investigations
- Anti-harassment policies and employee reporting procedures
- Manager responsibilities after receiving a workplace complaint
- Investigation scope, timing, and investigator selection
- Interviews with the complainant, respondent, and witnesses
- Credibility reviews and conflicting information
- Confidentiality and investigation documentation
- Corrective action and the Faragher-Ellerth defense
Session 4: Prevent Wage and Hour Classification and Pay Errors
- Employee classification and common misclassification problems
- Exempt and non-exempt requirements under the FLSA
- Work activities that must be treated as compensable time
- Accurate timekeeping and overtime calculations
- Work completed before or after scheduled hours
- Travel time, training time, and related pay requirements
- Rules affecting interns, volunteers, and student workers
Session 5: Document Performance, Apply Discipline, and Prepare for Termination
- Clear performance expectations and measurable improvement requirements
- Objective documentation based on specific facts and events
- Direct feedback that explains what must change
- Performance improvement plans and progressive discipline
- Consistent treatment across similar employee situations
- Documentation and procedures supporting termination decisions
- Termination meetings, final pay, and employee departure steps
Meet the Expert
Michele A. Mathews
With a passion for returning the "human" aspect to Human Resources and Safety, Michele Mathews brings over 20 years of hands-on experience to her consulting and training. In 2017, she founded Mathews' HR & Safety Consulting to help businesses protect their human capital, mitigate risk, and strengthen their safety investments. Her extensive background spans numerous industries, including construction, healthcare, and manufacturing, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges different organizations face.
Michele is a nationally recognized instructor and subject-matter expert who holds some of the highest credentials in her fields. She is a certified Safety Management Professional (SMP), an OSHA-Authorized Trainer for both General Industry and Construction, and holds both the PHR and SHRM-SCP professional credentials. Her commitment to leadership extends into her community, where she will serve as Chapter President for HR Tampa in 2025
Who Should Attend?
Credits
Training Includes
The HR Compliance & Workforce Management Certification course includes the following:
Course access and recordings
Access your course and any included recordings through your customer dashboard
Course materials
Includes PDFs of the presentation and any additional resources provided by the expert presenter
Certificates and exams
- Certificate of attendance included with all courses
- Certification courses include one exam attempt
- Successful graduates will receive an official certification along with verified digital credentials
Class experience
- Live sessions are small and focused to support questions and discussion
- Self-paced on-demand courses allow you to move through the material on your own schedule
