Meeting/Event Information

Note: Coffee and pasteries will be from 8:00 - 8:30 with the program kicking off promptly at 8:30.

A discussion of the legal topics impacting HR practitioners.

Join NKY SHRM Legislative Co-Chairs Allyson Cook and Sarah Leyshock for a timely and engaging roundtable discussion designed for HR professionals, as we dissect the ethical, cultural, and compliance challenges highlighted by the recent viral Coldplay concert video outing a workplace affair. This case study will spark practical conversations about leadership accountability, power dynamics, and protecting your organization from reputational harm.

Topics to be explored include: 

Join NKY SHRM Legislative Co-Chairs Allyson Cook and Sarah Leyshock for a timely and engaging roundtable discussion designed for HR professionals, as we dissect the ethical, cultural, and compliance challenges highlighted by the recent viral Coldplay concert video outing a workplace affair. This case study will spark practical conversations about leadership accountability, power dynamics, and protecting your organization from reputational harm.

 Topics to be explored include:

1. Succession Planning and Leadership Accountability

• How organizations handle allegations involving senior leaders or public-facing figures.
• Strategies for ensuring leadership transitions don't destabilize culture or operations.
• Preventing ethical blind spots in "untouchable" talent or high-value individuals.

2. Crisis Communications & PR Management

• HR’s role in shaping internal and external messaging during a scandal.
• Coordinating with PR/communications teams to align messaging with values.
• How transparency (or lack of it) affects trust and employer brand.

3. Internal Investigations & Due Process

• Building fair, unbiased, and confidential investigative processes.
• Balancing transparency with privacy in sensitive cases.
• Addressing the challenges of investigating contractors or non-traditional employees.

4. Privacy vs. Business Impact

• When does an employee's (or leader's) private conduct become an organizational concern?
• Balancing individual privacy rights with the company’s duty to protect reputation and culture.
• Managing confidentiality during high-stakes investigations—especially when rumors go public.
• Understanding the limits of employer oversight in off-duty conduct and consensual relationships.
• Legal and ethical considerations when handling public-facing allegations involving internal personnel.

5. HR’s Role in Organizational Culture & Risk Mitigation

• How seemingly "personal" scandals reflect deeper cultural blind spots.
• Creating a culture where bystanders and junior staff feel safe reporting concerns.
• Using case studies to train managers on what “gray area” behavior looks like.

6. Policy Development & Training Gaps

• Reviewing and updating relationship disclosure policies.
• Including emotional intelligence and boundary-setting in leadership training.
• Ensuring policies are inclusive of hybrid, remote, and global work contexts.