Dear GMA SHRM Members,

As November unfolds, it’s a perfect time to reflect and express my deep appreciation for each of you. GMA SHRM is far more than an organization: it’s a thriving community of HR professionals dedicated to excellence, growth, and steadfast support for your employees. Your passion, energy, and commitment are the heartbeat of our community, and I genuinely believe there is no other like it.

It’s hard to believe we’re rounding out another year and planning for next year’s programming, our Human Capital Conference, and much more already. 

Before 2024 ends, we still have an exciting lineup of events to bring you all together at:
 

• Our highly anticipated Annual Legal Update Professional Development Summit (PDS), with presentations by Boardman Clark and Littler, will take place on November 19^th. Be sure to register today to save your seat!
• Our monthly virtual HR Roundtables are a space for you to connect with other GMA SHRM community members in a confidential environment and be able to share ideas and discuss emerging challenges and opportunities with fellow HR professionals.

You are all individually and collectively some of the most amazing people and professionals I have been blessed to know – thank you for all that you do, it does not go unnoticed! I’m so grateful for every single one of you and I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events soon!

Warm regards,


Laura Bermudo, President
Greater Madison Area SHRM Chapter
lbermudo@myhaus.com / 608.383.4568

Legal Update – EEOC Files First Lawsuits to Enforce the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Submitted from Storm Larson, Aiyanna Simms, & Mai Chao Chang, Attorneys at Boardman & Clark LLP, a Platinum Partner
 

Storm Larson

Mai Chao Chang

Aiyanah Simms

In its first lawsuit to enforce the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), the EEOC alleges that a manufacturer of semi-trailers violated the PWFA by failing to accommodate a pregnant front plate assembler, a job that required her to bend over the tops of trailers. The employee, who was seven months pregnant, told the Company’s Human Resources representatives that her pregnant stomach made bending over trailers painful. She believed the discomfort and constant pressure on her stomach might jeopardize her otherwise healthy pregnancy. She asked to be moved from the front plate assembler position to another assembly line position, for which she was trained, for the rest of her pregnancy or to receive another accommodation.

The Company allegedly denied her request to transfer and told her she could take unpaid leave or return to her position without any modifications. (Under the PWFA, a leave should be an accommodation of last resort). The Company also allegedly refused to consider the employee’s request to switch positions with a co-worker to a different part of the assembly line, despite the availability of co-workers willing to switch positions with her, and her ability to perform these other assembly duties. Because the Company would not make an accommodation for her, the employee claims she resigned.

Employers should take steps to ensure that requests for accommodations due to pregnancy and related conditions are brought to HR for consideration in accordance with this law. This often starts by ensuring supervisors are aware of the rights of employees under the new law.
 

2025 Workplace Policy Conference

Submitted by Mai Xiong, Director of Government Affairs

We're thrilled to announce that the Workforce Policy Conference (formerly known as Day on the Hill) is returning! Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 20th, 2025 for an all-day event packed with insightful discussions on the latest workforce policies and trends.

Don't miss this chance to engage with industry experts! Stay tuned for more details. 

GMA SHRM Begins SHRM Certification Study Group!

Submitted by Stacy Wolfe, Certification Committee Member

The GMA SHRM Certification Committee is organizing virtual study groups for those actively preparing to take the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification exams this winter. These sessions will be one-hour, virtual roundtable discussions designed as a supplement to the SHRM class offered through UW Small Business Development Center (UWSBDC) OR for those studying individually using the SHRM Learning System or other self-study material.

The upcoming sessions are November 15th, November 22nd, December 6th, and December 13th. Registration is now available here! 

Additional certification resources, including details about the UW Small Business Development Center's SHRM Learning System Certification Course,  go to our SHRM Certification Prep Page or Certification Resources page.You can review the class dates and further details regarding the UWSBDC class through this link: https://sbdc.wisc.edu/shrm-learning-system-certification-course/. The course starts September 18th and runs through November 20th.

For any specific questions about the study groups, please feel free to reach out to GMA SHRM Certification Director, Andrea Wyant at andrea.m.wyant@gmail.com.


More Information

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Professional Development Summit  -  Government Affairs and Legal Update
 

Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Alliant Energy Center
Madison, WI

Session 1: Navigating Investigations, Discipline, and Performance Improvement Plans
     Presented by Brian Goodman and Storm Larson, Boardman Clark

Session 2: Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law for Wisconsin Employers
     Presented by Mike Gotzler, Littler

PDS programs are free for members!  Click the link below for program descriptions and registration.

More Information

 

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Committee Spotlight - Corporate Relations

Submitted from Carrie Falk, VP of Communications, and Payroll Broker of The Market Payroll

 

The Social Media Committee has been busy keeping our members and the broader HR community informed about GMA SHRM and the HR industry through our social media channels and this newsletter. We aim to cover everything from event reminders and informative posts to highlights of our board members and volunteers and support of our corporate sponsors.
 
We’d love for you to join our committee. We have a 30-minute meeting on the first Wednesday of each month to connect and collaborate! Our agenda for the meeting. 

Event Review and GMA SHRM Updates – Let’s celebrate our successes! 
Call to Action – Get ready to make an impact! 
Questions, Ideas, and Post Assignments – Your voice matters, so bring your creativity! 
Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn at GMA SHRM and on Facebook at Greater Madison Area
SHRM. Your likes, comments, and shares help us reach a wider audience! We’re also looking for members to help brainstorm new content and create posts—no social media expertise required! 

If you are interested in joining the committee, please reach out to our Director of Media Relations, Shannon Murphy at shannon.murphy@truitypartners.com.
 
Shout out to all of our committee members:

• Mai Xiong, Director of Government Affairs for GMA SHRM - Hometown Pharmacy
• Aimee Neu - ADP
• Abbie Mikula – Johnson Block & Company, Inc.
• Courtney Kettleson – Supporting Strategies
• Lisa Hirchert – MRA, The Management Association
• Kayla Schaller-Greenwood – Workforce Solutions
• Jared Schumaker – Third Coast Advisors
• Shanae Doerr – UW Madison College of Letters & Science

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New Member Referral Contest
 

Share code Save25 with your HR friends, colleagues, vendors, customers, etc. and new members will receive $25 off their first-year dues! (This is for new memberships only.)

Have them enter your name as "Referred By" on the New Member Application and you’ll be entered into the contest.

Most referrals = win a $200 Amazon Gift Card
Second most referrals = win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!
  
If your network is smaller, no worries, as two random "Referred By" names will be selected for $50 Amazon Gift Cards.

Winners will be announced at the November 19th Legal Update PDS!

Full Details

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GMA SHRM – Retiree Membership
 

Have you retired from a career in the HR profession or do you know someone who has?  Want to stay connected to friends and the profession while also giving back?  GMA SHRM now offers a Retiree Membership option.  Dues are discounted to $25 for a 12 month membership for all retired HR professionals. 

To qualify you need to have been employed in Human Resources and no longer represent a company.   We ask Retiree Members get involved and join a committee and/or participate in monthly HR Advice Network group meetings (roundtables). 

For more information, visit our Retiree Membership page.

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Welcome New Members!

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