January 2014 |
HR InTouchThe Monthly Newsletter of the Greater Madison Area SHRM |
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In This EditionPresident's Message Professional Development PHR/SPHR Study Group Available Diversity The Currently Unemployed - A Freshly-Minted Protected Class for Workers in the City of Madison Community Events GMA SHRM Social Media Our Member Directory is Now Mobile Friendly! GMA SHRM Upcoming Events GMA SHRM Announcements Volunteers Needed – Student SHRM events! 2013-2015 Philanthropic Partner Mentorship Program – UW Whitewater 2014 SHRM North Central Regional Student Conference & Case Competition GMA SHRM Member News
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We have entered a new year. As G.K. Chesterton said, “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul … Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.” I hope you are able to start afresh this month, and have your resolutions or goals in mind, and I hope GMA SHRM can be part of your successful 2014. We hope you can take advantage of our many programming events throughout 2014. Programming has always been a primary focus for GMA SHRM in our mission, “To serve the needs of the human resources professionals and to advance the human resources profession in the greater Madison area.” GMA SHRM is excited to announce that we have committed additional funds to our programming events this year, and we hope to continue to increase our caliber of events. As a board, our focus is always on our members and fulfilling this mission, and we hope the increased funds, while still remaining fiscally responsible, will do so. Many of you attend events, but are you familiar with our programming structure? We have several different types of events. Here is an overview:
• Toolboxes are aimed at those functional HR areas which are important to many of our members.
Our many events at GMA SHRM would not be possible without the support of our corporate partners. I wish to thank our 2013 partners once again for their support, and I am pleased to announce the 2014 corporate partners noted next to this column. Corporate partners help keep our programs affordable and are an important show of support for our local HR community. Please take a moment to recognize and thank these organizations as you encounter them throughout the year.
To a healthy and successful 2014!
Jake Siudzinski GMA SHRM President
Click here to view the full GMA SHRM Board of Directors
Diversity
The Currently Unemployed - A Freshly-Minted Protected Class for Workers in the City of Madison
Contributed by John C. Gardner and Scott Paler – DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
 For some time, the City of Madison’s Equal Opportunities Ordinance has provided individuals who work in Madison with certain protections over and above those guaranteed by applicable federal and/or state laws. These protections include prohibitions on discriminating against individuals with respect to the fact that they have been dishonorably discharged from the military, and to their physical appearance. As of December 3, 2013, the City Council has created one more additional protection – prohibiting discrimination in employment on account of the fact that an individual is unemployed.
Madison-area employers are now prohibited from discriminating against a job applicant because the applicant is unemployed at the time he or she submits an application or, presumably, becomes unemployed at any point during the hiring process. This prohibition includes a ban against posting any hiring-related advertisements that reflect a preference against unemployed individuals or for currently employed workers. As a result, impacted employers now face yet another headache with respect to the hiring of new employees.
Without a doubt, nearly every Madison employer will face a situation in the near future in which it decides not to hire an unemployed job applicant. When faced with that situation, an employer should be careful to ensure that it can articulate one or more clear, non-discriminatory reasons for its decision. These reasons can include, but are certainly not limited to, the following: that the applicant failed to meet the position’s minimum qualifications; that the applicant was less qualified than another applicant that the business ultimately hired; and that the applicant was terminated from his or her previous position for reasons that render the applicant unqualified for the new position. The more documentation an employer can rely on in supporting one or more non-discriminatory reasons the better.
Perhaps even more importantly, to the extent that any employer looks to whether applicants are currently employed as a type of “first cut” with respect to the job applications it receives, it should stop that practice immediately.
The Literacy Network offers a variety of courses, tutoring and other services to Dane County community adults to further reading, writing and speaking skills. Specifically the Literacy Network offers customized language instruction to improve employees' English communication skills both on and off the job. Literacy Network excels at developing programs tailor-designed to meet your company's specific workplace needs. If you are interested in learning more please visit us at: http://litnetwork.org/programs/index.php?category_id=4493
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January Apprenticeship Conference Brings Together Partners to Celebrate Strategies for Developing Skilled Workers
By: Reggie Newson, DWD Secretary
The conference theme is The Apprenticeship Solution: Meeting the Workforce Challenge.
Wisconsin's apprenticeship program has trained workers to succeed in highly skilled occupations for more than a century. It has been and remains an effective tool to address the skills gap.
The conference will provide employers with an opportunity to learn more about Wisconsin Apprenticeship, get answers to questions they may have, and acquire information to dispel potential misconceptions they may have.
In addition to nationally regarded keynote speakers, the conference will feature workshops, events to recognize key partners, and an interactive "expo" that will draw high school students from districts across Wisconsin.
Governor Walker recognizes apprenticeship as a tried-and-true solution to meet the skills gap. His comprehensive agenda to develop Wisconsin's workforce supports and strengthens apprenticeship.
The conference is an ideal forum for employers, educators, apprentices, workforce partners and any other individuals who have a role or interest in Wisconsin Apprenticeship, which is a proven resource to equip workers with the skills needed for the jobs of today and in the years to come.
For conference details, visit: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/conference/default.htm.
GMA SHRM Social Media
Wish you could stay connected with GMA SHRM members? Now you can search for a member, call, e-mail or find directions to their listed location and be confident that it’s up to date. Check it out today, you can now stay better connected to GMA SHRM members and it’s just a click away at http://www.gmashrm.org/mobile
Forward HR Want to know what’s going on in HR for the other areas of Wisconsin? WI SHRM has a new blog, Forward HR. Click here to take a look.
January 21, 2014 - GMA SHRM Strategic Summit
Topic: The Top Five Threats Facing Business and HR’s Role in Leading through Them Location: The Alliant Energy Center
Pre-Approved by HRCI for Strategic Credits
We are entering a new economy and business model with tremendous potential for success. However, your business is facing new threats for survival. You must be able to anticipate, respond and adapt to these threats quickly or risk becoming extinct. The old economy was embodied by large companies facing limited competition in stable markets. The new economy is about competition through the entrepreneurial spirit where the fast eats the slow. The facts point towards five critical threats that all businesses face today. Find out why the best CEO’s are turning to HR to lead their organizations through these challenges and how you can prepare!
Our speaker, Jack Smalley, provides human resource training and consulting for over 600 Express offices and their clients in the U.S. and Canada. Jack offers clients extensive leadership guidance from a progressive career as an HR Executive. His presentation on Business Threats has been described as “riveting, brilliant, inspiring, and uber excellent” by HR professionals across the country. Jack has presented at 5 national SHRM conferences. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a national speaker without the travel expenses on January 21, 2014 at Alliant Energy Center!
Volunteers Needed – Student SHRM events!
The 2014 WISHRM Student Conference and HR Games Competition will be held on March 7th and 8th, 2014. UW Madison is excited to host the event at their state of art facility, Grainger Hall. Volunteers are needed to help out as judges, presenters, timekeepers and scorekeepers/matrix managers. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend so you can help make a difference in the lives of our future HR Leaders. Click http://www.wishrm.org/2014-WISHRM-HRGames to register and sign up for volunteer options. For immediate questions, please contact Matt Nechodom, PHR, 2014 College Relations Director at mnechodo@amfam.com or 888-374-7121 ext. 38692.
UW Milwaukee will be hosting the 2014 North Central Regional Student Conference April 25-26, 2014. Again, many opportunities are available and time commitments vary based upon the position. This is an exciting opportunity for UW Milwaukee and many volunteers will be needed to make the event a success. More information can be found at www.shrm.org under “conferences” and “student conferences”.
PHR / SPHR Certification
Have you been thinking about obtaining your PHR or SPHR Certification? The 2014 spring testing window opens January 22, 2014 and the testing window is May 1 – June 30. There are many options available for exam preparation: UW Madison offers a Wednesday night course starting February 5. Find out more information at bus.wisc.edu/sbdc, programs, special programs or learn more at hrci.org. If you’re interested in participating in a self-study group, contact Melissa Chadwick at melissa.chadwick@bakertilly.com to be connected with others who are also interested!
GMA SHRM has recently partnered with Reach-a-Child (www.reachachild.org) for our 2013-2015 philanthropic partner. Beginning at our January Summit, we will have a bin available for donations of new or gently used children's books for ages 2-12. They ask that these books have no writing (To Jimmy, Love Grandma, etc.) in them.
Even more than donations of books, Reach-a-Child can use monetary donations. Many of their expenses are shipping related to get books out to all of the organizations (police departments, EMTs, etc.) that are part of their network.
Reach-a-Child is looking for companies that are interested in setting up corporate giving programs. Do you have a Friday $5 jeans day? Corporate match program? Please consider RAC! They will feature you in their social media posts, newsletter, come out and take pictures with you of your donations and books that you can use in your PR campaigns, and do whatever they can to help you make your program successful!
If your organization is interested, please contact melissav@payrollcompany.biz to be put in touch with Reach-a-Child.
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UW Whitewater would like to offer a mentorship program to its members. They are looking for professionals to volunteer in a mentoring role by meeting with their mentee 1-2 times a month through an email or phone call and answer any questions they may have, share experiences and advance or perhaps arrange for a site visit. The mentors and mentees will be matched on field of interest or specific industry, to the extent possible. If interested in volunteering, please contact the UW Whitewater President, Stephanie Wilson, at wilsonsa08@uww.edu
The Pay It Forward (PIF) Program was created several years ago to help GMA SHRM members who were unexpectedly laid off as many others were. Although the economy has gotten stronger, there will always be situations where layoffs may occur to our fellow HR colleges. GMA SHRM will continue to assist those affected to get back on their feet. The PIF program is available for these situations to allow members to continue their membership for 12 months or until new employment is secured. A few years ago, GMA SHRM expanded this offering to recent HR graduates who have not been able to find a position in Human Resources. In exchange for this membership, PIF members must volunteer 10 hours through GMA SHRM or refer one paid member. If you or someone you know may be able to utilize this program, please click here for more information.
North Central Region (IA, IN, IL, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI)
April 25 – 26, 2014 Hilton Milwaukee City Center, Milwaukee, WI
The 2014 North Central Regional Student Conference & Case Competition is just around the corner, and SHRM is pleased to present a conference packed with keynote speakers, educational sessions, career development opportunities, networking and a Regional Case Competition, where teams of graduate and undergraduate teams compete separately to win two grand prizes: $2,500 cash and complimentary team registration to the 2014 Annual Conference & Exposition in Orlando.
As always, SHRM could not be successful without the hard work and dedication of its volunteers and volunteer leaders. The student conference provides a unique opportunity for HR professionals to engage and give back to the future of the profession by volunteering to serve in a variety of roles at the conference and case competition. A minimum of 30 volunteers are needed to serve for 2-6 hours on each day. Please help by sharing this information with your professional chapters and state councils and encouraging them to come out and volunteer.
Visit this website for online registration, future keynote speaker announcements and special programming notes as the date gets closer.
GMA SHRM Member Spotlight Where do you currently work?
Globe University-Madison West
What is the focus of your position?
As the Career Services Coordinator I contact employers for prospective job openings, conduct company site visits, provide guidance and leads for students seeking employment, resume, cover letter and interviewing assistance, attend career fairs, and teach the Career Development class.
How long have you been in the Human Resource field?
I graduated UW-Whitewater with a degree in Human Resource Management and started my career in Human Resources in May 2012. I started out as an intern in a corporate setting but found my niche in education. I am just starting my professional career and looking forward to where it takes me.
Which of your career accomplishments makes you proudest?
My proudest accomplishments are helping students find their dream job after graduation.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t pick a job with great vacation time. Pick one that doesn’t need escaping from.
Why did you decide to join GMA SHRM?
I was a part of my SHRM chapter at UW-Whitewater and really enjoyed learning about the field from professionals and volunteering and that is what I was looking to do on a more professional level. As a member for the GMA SHRM I am volunteering through the Workforce Readiness Committee and I feel like I am making a difference in our community, all while looking for employment opportunities for Globe University students.
If you’d like to be published in an issue of HR InTouch, please complete this profile and submit (along with a photo) to Tia Gibson @ tia.gibson@covance.com.
GMA SHRM Volunteer Spotlight
Name: Jason Gault
 How long have you been volunteering with GMA SHRM?
I have been volunteering for 4 years.
What committee are you volunteering with? Have you volunteered on other committees? If yes, which one?
Currently, I’m the Chair of the Government Affairs and previously, I volunteered with Marketing and Communications
What do you enjoy about volunteering?
I enjoy giving back to the HR community and being involved.
What would you say to others who are considering volunteering with GMA SHRM?
Definitely sign up! The time commitments are minimal, you get a chance to meet and work with some great HR professionals, and you get some experiences you might not otherwise get from your work life.
What have you gotten back from volunteering with GMA SHRM?
I have received a greater sense of inclusion in the HR community, and have met some interesting contacts outside of HR, especially when helping to coordinate event presenters/speakers.
Welcome New Members!GMA SHRM welcomes the following members who joined our chapter in November 2013!
Movin' UpHave you started with a new company? Has your organization recently promoted you to a new position? Or do you want to recognize a new person or promotion within your department? If so, we want to hear about it. Send us an e-mail, and we’ll publish your good news in the next HR InTouch! In TransitionIf you are a member who is in between jobs, or who is currently employed but seeking new positions or career paths, write us a brief description of your skill set, areas of expertise, what you’re looking for, etc. Send us an e-mail. We’ll publish your information in the next HR InTouch.
HR InTouch GuidelinesArticle Writing: Do you have an interest in writing for the HR InTouch? We have an interest in learning more about your area of expertise! Why should you volunteer? Top three reasons: 1) to share your knowledge and experiences to educate others; 2) to become more connected in the HR and Dane County communities; and 3) to contribute towards the advancement of GMA SHRM and the HR profession. The first step is for you to choose a submission option: you can pre-submit an article to GMA SHRM at any time for us to use in any of the upcoming newsletters, you can sign up to write for a particular month, or we can put you on a list of people to contact in future months whenever we need articles. Article length: Because the HR InTouch is now in an online format, the size is flexible. The article should be engaging and hold readers’ attention. Include the core information in your article, and we will advise if it is too lengthy. Solicitation: GMA SHRM is conscious not to allow solicitation through the articles, in an effort to protect the interests of our partners and members. The nature of the article should be educational (i.e., what are the business advantages of having a product like yours) or informational. Otherwise, if you truly are interested in advertising through the HR InTouch, you can work with our Marketing Committee. As a rule of thumb for article writing, if the submission relates to a for-profit event, or specifically markets your company (vs. your industry), it is an advertisement, and should be purchased. If it is a not-for-profit event that your company is hosting, or an announcement (i.e., a SHRM member recently joined your company), it is an acceptable addition to the HR InTouch content. If you have any questions related to the appropriateness of your submission, please contact us. If you have questions, or to submit an article, contact GMA SHRM at chapteradmin@gmashrm.org .
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