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Christine Thelen Photo

Christine

Christine Thelen
Shareholder
Portland
D 503.778.2139
thelenc@lanepowell.com

As a former Human Resources Consultant, Christine Thelen brings to her practice a unique understanding of the challenges employers and HR professionals face, from workplace disputes and employee relation issues to compliant policies and practices.  

Christine excels at providing executives, managers, and HR professionals with practical advice and real world solutions that are tailored to their unique workplace culture and goals. She is a natural problem solver skilled at helping her clients navigate an array of compliance, employee relations, and workplace issues, including: 

  • Challenging separation and disciplinary actions;
  • Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other  workplace complaints;
  • Leaves of absence and reasonable accommodations;
  • COVID-19 related policies and practices;
  • Employee handbooks and HR policies;
  • Employee agreements; and
  • Pay equity and wage and hour audits and issues.

Christine is also a well-regarded presenter and trainer who integrates proven risk management and people management strategies into all of her sessions. She has consistently received great reviews for the numerous webinars, presentations, and training sessions she has provided on a host of timely employment-related issues, including (among others):

  • Respectful workplace/harassment training for employees and managers;
  • Manager training on effective people management practices that mitigate risk; and
  • Numerous COVID-19 related topics.

In addition to providing advice and training, Christine has represented employers in federal and state court, as well as before the EEOC and state fair labor practices agencies, in a variety of employment matters, including employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims; whistleblower claims; and state and federal regulatory matters.

Professional Experience

Lane Powell PC

  • Shareholder (2021-Present)
  • Counsel to the Firm (2018-2021)
  • Employment Attorney (2011-2012)

Trupp HR, Inc., Director, HR Services (2014-2018)

Epiq Systems, Inc., Project Manager (2012-2013)

Flaster Greenberg PC, Litigation & Employment Attorney (2007-2010)

 

Community Involvement

Habitat for Humanity, Family Selection Committee (2011-2017)

 

Thought Leadership

  • November 9, 2022Event / CLE
    Navigating Current Employment Law and HR Updates
    Oregon Health Care Association | Virtual
  • November 9, 2022Event / CLE
    Managing Performance in Legally Risky Situations
    Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries | Virtual
  • October 13, 2022Event / CLE
    'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar
    Lane Powell | Seattle, Washington
  • September 20, 2022Event / CLE
    Culturally Competent Care: The Key to Enhancing Compliance, Satisfaction, and Morale
    Oregon Health Care Association | Portland, Oregon
  • September 15, 2022Event / CLE
    Complying with the Oregon Equal Pay Act Post-COVID-19
    LeadingAge | Virtual
  • April 15, 2022Event / CLE
    Drug Testing Employees in the LTC Setting: Risks and Alternatives
    LeadingAge | Virtual
  • October 6 - December 8, 2021Event / CLE
    'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Webinar Series
    Lane Powell | Virtual
  • November 18, 2021Publication
    Court Orders and Challenges to OSHA ETS Mandating Vaccination and Testing: What Does This Mean for Employers?
    COVID-19 Resource
  • November 17, 2021Event / CLE
    New Strategies for Managing Remote Workers During the Pandemic Era (Part Two)
    Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
  • November 9, 2021Publication
    Injunction Stalls Enforcement of Federal Large Employer Soft Vaccine Mandate — What, if Anything, Should Employers Do?
    COVID-19 Resource
  • October 29, 2021Event / CLE
    Large Employer Vaccine Mandate - What Employers Need to Know
    Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce | Virtual
  • September 14, 2021Event / CLE
    Implementing Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
    LeadingAge | Virtual
  • September 8, 2021Event / CLE
    Legal and Practical Considerations for Employer COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
    BASIC | Virtual
  • September 2, 2021Event / CLE
    Implementing Washington’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Proclamation
    LeadingAge Washington | Virtual
  • September 2, 2021Event / CLE
    Implementing Oregon’s Temporary Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Rule
    LeadingAge Oregon | Virtual
  • August 20, 2021Event / CLE
    COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policies for Employees and Reasonable Accommodation
    LeadingAge Washington | Virtual
  • June 15, 2021Event / CLE
    Hiring and Recruiting
    Washington Food Industry Association | Virtual
  • June 1, 2021Event / CLE
    Marijuana and the Workplace: Issues and Best Practices for Senior Living Employers
    South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations | Virtual
  • May 27, 2021Event / CLE
    COVID-19 Vaccinations: Legal and Practical Considerations for Employers
    Washington Health Care Association Annual Convention | Virtual
  • March 2, 2021Event / CLE
    Assisted Living Virtual In-House Counsel Roundtable
    American Health Law Association | Virtual
  • February 18, 2021Event / CLE
    Vaccine Update Webinar
    Association of Washington Business | Virtual
  • January 1, 2021News
    Lane Powell Elects New Shareholders and Counsel to the Firm
    Firm Announcement
  • October 15 - December 17, 2020Event / CLE
    'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Webinar Series
    Lane Powell | Virtual
  • November 18, 2020Event / CLE
    Understanding COVID-19’s Impact on Employment Law
    Trupp HR and Lane Powell | Virtual
  • November 5, 2020Event / CLE
    'Phoning it In': Effectively Managing the Telecommuting Employee
    Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
  • September 30, 2020Event / CLE
    Employer Considerations 
    LeadingAge Oregon Annual Meeting | Virtual
  • September 25, 2020Publication
    … But Wait, There’s More! DOL’s Revised FFCRA Regulations Clarify but Also Raise More Questions
    COVID-19 Resource
  • September 22, 2020Event / CLE
    Employment in the Age of COVID-19: Employee Testing, Time Off, Accommodations and Other Issues
    Washington Health Care Association Fall Conference | Virtual
  • August 17, 2020Publication
    Federal Court Ruling Partially Vacating the DOL’s FFCRA Rules Creates Dilemma for Employers
    COVID-19 Resource
  • August 6, 2020Event / CLE
    Employment Law in a COVID-19 World: Employee Testing, Sick Leave and More
    Oregon Health Care Association Senior Housing and Independent Living Conference | Virtual
  • June 15, 2020News
    Thelen Interviewed in NPR Story ‘Who Should Pay for COVID-19 Tests?’
    In the News
  • June 2, 2020 Event / CLE
    'Take It or Leave It'  – Coordinating Leave in the Wake of Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act
    LeadingAge Washington | Tacoma, Washington
  • April 27, 2020Publication
    EEOC Says Employers Can Require COVID-19 Testing
    COVID-19 Resource
  • April 22, 2020News
    Thelen Quoted in Association of Washington Business Article ‘Communicate Often, Be Flexible With Employees and Learn About New Benefits, Employment Experts Say’
    In the News
  • April 17, 2020Event / CLE
    COVID-19 Employer Resource Series: Employment Law & Employee Benefits
    Association of Washington Business | Webinar
  • April 3, 2020Event / CLE
    COVID-19: Employment FAQs for Senior Housing & Care Providers
    Lane Powell | Webinar
  • March 25, 2020Publication
    Oregon Expands Access to Unemployment Benefits
    COVID-19 Resource
  • March 23, 2020Publication
    Seattle and Washington Continue to Expand Financial Support for Workers in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
    COVID-19 Resource
  • March 13, 2020Publication
    COVID-19 Employment FAQ’s for Long Term Care and Senior Living Providers
    COVID-19 Resource
  • February 26, 2020 Event / CLE
    'Take It or Leave It’ – Coordinating Leave in the Wake of Washington’s PFML Act
    Washington State Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) | Bellevue, Washington
  • October 11, 2019Event / CLE
    Show Me the Money: What You Need to Know to Comply with Pay Equity Laws
    Northwest Human Resource Management Association Annual Conference | Portland, Oregon
  • October 1, 2019Event / CLE
    SOLD OUT: 37th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor & Employment Seminar
    Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
  • July 8, 2019Publication
    Oregon Employers Required to Update Anti-Discrimination Policies and Agreements After Legislature Tilts the Playing Field for Employees
    Labor, Employment & Benefits Update
  • June 7, 2019Publication
    New Washington Law Allows Affirmative Action Efforts by Public Employers
    Labor, Employment & Benefits Update
  • June 5, 2019Publication
    Oregon Passes Law Expanding Pregnancy-Related Accommodations for Employees
    Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
  • May 14, 2019Publication
    New Washington State Law Levels the Playing Field: Employers Prohibited From Asking Salary History But Mandated to Disclose Salary Ranges
    Labor, Employment & Benefits Update
  • May 1, 2019Event / CLE
    36th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor & Employment Seminar
    Lane Powell Seminar | Portland, Oregon
  • April 4, 2019Publication
    Washington Employers Take Heed: Paid Family Leave Amendment May Unexpectedly Extend Your Employees’ Paid Leaves
    Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
  • March 20, 2019Event / CLE
    Best Practices for Complying With Pay Equity Laws
    East Portland Chamber of Commerce | Portland, Oregon
  • December 21, 2018News
    Thelen Quoted in The Oregonian Article ‘Oregon’s New Pay Equity Law Raises Prospects, Worries’
    In the News
  • December 6, 2018Publication
    BOLI Releases Oregon Equal Pay Act Rules. Does Your Business Have an Effective Pay Equity Strategy?
    Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
  • October 23, 2018Event / CLE
    'Show Me the Money' — What You Need to Know to Comply With New Pay Equity Laws
    Lane Powell Labor and Employment Seminar | Seattle
  • October 1, 2018Publication
    Ready to Comply? State Law Mandates Equal Career Opportunities
    Seattle Business Magazine
  • July 9, 2018News
    Thelen Rejoins Lane Powell on Labor, Employment & Benefits Team
    Firm Announcement
  • December 1, 2012Publication
    At-Will Employment is Never as Simple as it First Sounds: Employers Must Treat Workers in a Consistent Manner
    Portland Business Journal
  • January 2, 2012Publication
    NLRB Strikes Down Arbitration Agreement Containing Class Action Waiver
    Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
  • September 9, 2011Publication
    Ask the Legal Professionals Column
    Portland Business Journal
  • May 13, 2011Publication
    Ask the Legal Professionals Column
    Portland Business Journal
  • April 21, 2011Event / CLE
    Health Care Reform: What Every Best Employer Needs to Know
    28th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor and Employment Seminar
  • 'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar

Practices & Industries

  • Labor, Employment & Benefits
  • Wage & Hour
  • Senior Living & Long Term Care

Education

  • Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007
    • Dean’s List
    • Temple Journal of Science, Technology and Environmental Law, Published Staff Member
    • International Law and Public Policy Award Recipient
  • Claremont McKenna College, B.A., Government and Economics

Accreditation

SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP®), Society for Human Resource Management

Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®), HR Certification Institute

Admissions

  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Before proceeding, please note:  If you are not a current client of Lane Powell PC, please do not include any information in this email that you or someone else considers to be confidential or secret in nature.  Prior to the establishment of a lawyer-client relationship, unsolicited emails from non-clients containing confidential or secret information cannot be protected from disclosure.

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