Employment
LawCornell

Certificate Program

Human resource professionals must navigate and deal with a wide range of legal and policy issues in the workplace. They must know the responsibilities and boundaries of their own role, and they must assess issues and consult appropriate legal or expert counsel.

This course will help current and aspiring HR managers and staff to establish a structured framework for systematic analysis of employee issues that may have legal implications. It focuses on the layers of employee rights, the HR role, appropriate consultation with legal counsel, and the use of a step-by-step process in the assessment of workplace issues. By the end of this course, you will develop a systematic foundation for managing employment law issues.

Human resource professionals in the United States must assess and manage workplace issues relating to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, medical and family leave, and other matters dealing with treatment of employees.

This course is designed to give you a broad understanding of US laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and similar laws. The course begins with a look at basic terminology and provisions relating to equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, diversity, and inclusion. The focus then moves to legal protections for certain classes of individuals before addressing issues relating to disability, religion, harassment, and retaliation.

HR professionals today must consider the legal implications of policies and practices relating to employee leave, compensation, benefits, safety, workplace agreements, electronic communication, and privacy. These often go beyond questions of discrimination or employee treatment and require a basic awareness of relevant laws and the need for appropriate consultation when issues arise.

This course provides an overview of US laws in key areas, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and others. You will leave this course prepared to work with colleagues and legal experts to address legal issues within your organization.

Employment laws vary widely from one type of legal system to another, from country to country, and even from one state or province to another. Human resource professionals may be faced with a need to analyze workforce laws and regulations in places where they have little prior experience.

This course provides a bird's-eye view of how employment laws vary by country or region and the underlying reasons for that variation. Practical guidance will be provided for HR specialists who need to research relevant employment requirements and work with relevant authorities and organizations. By improving your knowledge of global employment law, you will gain a competitive perspective allowing you to employ effective strategies with all stakeholders.

Human resource professionals may need to go beyond simply gaining a knowledge of how employment laws vary in different parts of the world and in specific countries. When a company begins operations in a new country, HR staff must make changes to their current policies or establish new ones that meet local requirements.

This course examines key practices and issues relating to employment and is designed to help your organization adapt its current policies and practices to a new legal environment. Through a multi-part course project, you will have an opportunity to apply what you learn to your own personal or organizational situation.

Symposium sessions feature three days of live, highly interactive virtual Zoom sessions that will explore today’s most pressing topics. The HR Symposium offers you a unique opportunity to engage in real-time conversations with peers and experts from the Cornell community and beyond. Using the context of your own experiences, you will take part in reflections and small-group discussions to build on the skills and knowledge you have gained from your courses.

Join us for the next Symposium, in which we’ll share experiences from across the industry, inspiring real-time conversations about best practices, innovation, and the future of human resources work. You will support your coursework by applying your knowledge and experiences to some of the most pressing topics and trends in the HR field. By participating in relevant and engaging discussions, you will discover a variety of perspectives and build connections with your fellow participants from across the industry.

All sessions are held on Zoom.

Future dates are subject to change. You may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete any certificate program. Once enrolled in your courses, you will receive information about upcoming events. Accessibility accommodations will be available upon request.