The LaGrange Employer Committee and the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) are providing employers in west Georgia with the opportunity to learn directly from state officials how to better understand and conquer compliance challenges in the workplace.  

The two organizations are co-sponsoring an employer business summit and networking event Tuesday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Callaway Conference Center at West Georgia Technical College, 220 Fort Drive in LaGrange. Employers have until Tuesday, June 2, to pre-register. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says the idea for holding summits came directly from employers across the state. “We got this idea a few years ago when we heard from the business community that they had issues trying to keep up with new and changing business regulations,” Butler said. “We provide this service to give them updates, so they’ll know what’s going on.”

Entitled Employers In The Know, the summit will feature presentations by Commissioner Butler and Secretary of State Bryan Kemp, who will be participating in the annual summits for the first time. Additional experts will discuss issues about federal policies and legislation that will help ensure that businesses are compliant and profitable in the upcoming years. 

Commissioner Butler will discuss current GDOL initiatives and programs designed to encourage job growth and economic development throughout Georgia, while Secretary Kemp will discuss what employers need to know about issues regulated by his office. 

The GDOL provides labor market data necessary for economic developers and businesses to make sound decisions about starting or expanding businesses. The GDOL helps match employers with qualified job seekers, as well as helping job seekers be successful in securing jobs and developing their careers. 

The Secretary of State’s Office has the responsibility to register corporations, oversee and regulate securities, administer professional licenses, and conduct secure, accessible and fair elections. 

Nancy Castor Sprattlin, an attorney with the Atlanta law firm of McFadden, White, Sprattlin and Davis, will discuss practical tips on how to avoid U.S. Department of Labor investigations and costly wage and hour litigation, as well as current “hot labor law” topics. 

And, Taryn Parker, with the Georgia Department of Revenue in Atlanta, will conduct a small business workshop about steps that businesses may take to ensure compliance with that department. The revenue department is the state’s primary tax law and revenue-collecting agency. 

Recertification credits (3.75) are pending through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).  

If pre-registered, the cost to attend is $35 per person. If more than one person from an organization attends, the cost is $30 each. The cost at the door is $40 per person. Registration includes lunch. 

For more information about the summit, or to request registration forms, contact the GDOL’s Sherry Maddock at (404) 273-6339 or [email protected]