The Many Hats of HR: Navigating the Ethics of Conflicting Roles
***This will count as an Ethics credit for
HRCI Certification***
Agenda:
Program - 3:30-4:30PM
Networking Reception to follow from 4:30-6:00PM
HR professionals routinely operate in overlapping and sometimes conflicting roles. As members of the company's leadership team, they are expected to support and represent the company's interests – while also being tasked with building the relationships and trust that position them as an advocate for employees. HR fields employee complaints, conducts workplace investigations, prepares and delivers discipline, coaches managers, and advocates for employees, often during the same day or even the same conversation.
This session examines the ethical tensions and potential conflicts of interest these dual and competing roles create: When does being a trusted resource for managers compromise objectivity in an investigation? When does representing the company's interests conflict with an employee's reasonable expectation of confidentiality or fair treatment? When does HR have an ethical obligation to speak up and challenge upper management’s directions or decisions?
Using realistic workplace scenarios, attendees will explore where role confusion most commonly arises, how it can create ethical risk for both HR professionals and their organizations, and practical strategies for maintaining role clarity, managing conflicts of interest, and preserving trust and credibility across every “hat” HR is asked to wear.
Speakers:
Christine Nentwig, Esq., Excelist Law
Christine E. Nentwig, Esq. is the founder and principal attorney at Excelist Law, a boutique law firm dedicated to helping employers and businesses achieve their goals with practical, business-focused legal solutions. With experience in both business and law, Ms. Nentwig specializes in providing effective guidance to address complex legal challenges.
Ms. Nentwig partners with clients to proactively address potential legal issues, offering strategic support in areas such as developing clear policies, navigating employee relations, conducting confidential workplace investigations, mediating disputes, and providing informative training for managers and employees on diverse topics related to business, employment, and labor law. When legal 
challenges do arise, Ms. Nentwig provides efficient representation to help her clients identify and implement prompt, practical, and cost- effective solutions.
Ms. Nentwig holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Maryland School of Law and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She also holds a Professional Mediation Certificate from Cornell University’s ILR Scheinman Institute and is certified as a federal court mediator in Labor and Employment Law for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Ms. Nentwig is an Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder (AWI-CH), demonstrating her expertise in conducting impartial workplace investigations.
Beyond her practice, Ms. Nentwig is an active community leader and educator, currently serving on the Board of the Appell Center for the Performing Arts, leading seminars covering key legal topics, and teaching Employment Law as an adjunct professor at York College of Pennsylvania.
Sarah Doyle, Esq., Attorney, Barley Snyder
Sarah is an experienced attorney in the firm’s Employment and Litigation practice groups. She represents both private and public sector clients, with a focus on employment law and litigation. Sarah offers a comprehensive range of legal services, including advising employers
on contentious personnel issues, developing and refining workplace policies, and navigating collective bargaining matters. Her goal is to minimize legal risks for her clients while fostering a fair and compliant workplace. Sarah is a trusted speaker and frequently addresses current HR topics, offering the employer’s perspective on key issues such as Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act, the FMLA, the ADA, workplace discrimination, the FLSA, workplace investigations, and other employment and labor issues. Sarah is also a seasoned trial attorney and has successfully litigated cases through appeal.
Sponsor: TBD
Certification: Pending certification credit through HRCI and SHRM.
All attendees MUST register by December 10.
*** Please help to keep our costs down. ***
If you register and circumstances change that prevent you from attending, you MUST send an email to YorkSHRM@yahoo.com by December 10, 2026. No credits or refunds will be issued if the cancellation is received after December 10, 2026.
