Calgary lawyer Jean Torrens will present at the 2018 Western Cities HR Conference in Kananaskis, Alberta on October 3.
Jean will present “Accommodating Mental Health Conditions: Options and Pitfalls,” which examines employers’ legal obligation to accommodate employees with mental health conditions. This duty on employers can be challenging, even daunting. They must consider and carefully navigate human rights, privacy, and labour and employment law.
Conference attendees will learn about mental disorders under the DSM-5, understand the employee’s duty to disclose and the employer’s duty to inquire about certain mental health conditions, gain strategies for obtaining appropriate medical information, review their current assessment processes and consider accommodation options. During the sessions, Jean will also explore if and when discipline is appropriate, and discuss what constitutes undue hardship.
About the Presenter
Jean Torrens acts as a strategic partner with human resources and business leaders to manage complex legal situations involving employees and unions. She has extensive experience acting for management in conducting collective bargaining, advising on discipline and terminations, navigating challenging human rights and harassment situations, and defending employers facing litigation. She helps employers prepare proactively for medical and legalized recreational marijuana, and supports employers responding to urgent OH&S situations. Jean is a frequent presenter and former lecturer at the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan.
About the Western Cities HR Conference
For 63 years, the Western Cities HR Conference has been bringing together human resource professionals in the municipal and public sector from across Western Canada. This year’s conference is being held October 2 to 5 at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Alberta. Leaders from various areas of expertise will share insights on “Building Community” and address some of the unique challenges that HR professionals face.