Michael Pierce

The myth is that "diversity" is a buzz phrase to mask hiring and promotion of unqualified minorities in the workplace. The reality is far from this altogether. This presentation runs between 45-60 minutes and delves into the numbers and the real world experiences of minorities and women with respect to law firms and private practice. We look at the current climate for diversity hiring, what the data shows us, what the law requires, and what people are actually experiencing from day-to-day. This presentation is eye-opening as it moves from the culture way framework of diversity and nails down what the problems actually are and how they can be resolved in a practical way.

*Virginia law* Marijuana is legal for recreational use now, but what exactly does that mean for employers? Are you still allowed to drug test employees for marijuana? Can you terminate a person for smoking marijuana before work or during the work day? There's a whirlwind of questions to be asked and not enough time to get them all answered. This presentation can be set up to run 30 to 60 minutes and will answer these and other questions that HR professionals in Virginia need to know.