Hi GMA SHRM Members, 

Hello and Happy March to my favorite people in Madison - GMA SHRM Members!
 
Last month our first-ever virtual WI-SHRM Day on the Hill took place - it was a big success and one more example of how SHRM continues to offer compelling and unique opportunities for members in the virtual space.
 
Hopefully you're signed up for the March 9th Professional Development Summit. If not, there's still time!  You do not want to miss Summer Rector & Tina Hallis - the work of these remarkable professionals have inspired me in both my personal and professional life - I'll see you there!
 
SO excited to share that registration for the 2021 Virtual Human Capital Conference is open!  I could go on and on about the unbeatable presenters and content we've got for you this year - instead I'll urge you to run, not walk (virtually….) to check out the speakers and register. Our show stopping keynote speaker, Risha Grant, made a welcome video just for you!
 
Both the March PDS and May HCC will be held in GMA SHRM's ultra-sleek new virtual event platform called Remo - prepare to be impressed!  In Remo, you can 'walk' around to different tables and 'visit' your fellow GMA SHRM members - remember the days when we could do that in person?  Well, we' are pretty darn close with Remo! 
 
Need to pause and say none of the above events would be possible without the dedication and wisdom of GMA SHRM volunteer leaders.  THANK YOU!
 
Succession planning for the 2021-2022 Board Year (starting July 1st) is well under way - if you want to get in on the action and dedicate your talents, start thinking about becoming a GMA SHRM Volunteer Leader.  Not sure how?  Ask me or any Board of Director member - our contact information is here!
 
Another great way to learn about GMA SHRM involvement and meet new HR friends, is to join one of the many virtual networking opportunities happening in March - join a virtual Advice Network Roundtable or Meet, Eat & Greet - see the list here!
 
Brittany Hanson, MBA, PHR
President
GMA SHRM

COVID-19 Resources

Keep Your At-Will Employees At-Will

Submitted from Brian P. Goodman, GMA SHRM Programming Member, and Sarah J. Horner, both Attorneys at Boardman & Clark LLP

Brian P. Goodman

Wisconsin is an at-will employment state, which means that either employees or employers may terminate employment at any time without notice for any reason—as long as that reason is legal. Employers might be aware of this general concept and yet be surprised to learn that their employment policies and practices could be the reason that at-will employment suddenly becomes something else.   The following tips can help organizations preserve an employee’s at-will status: Avoid employment contracts. If you use contracts in certain situations, avoid placing language in them that implies a specific term of employment or a standard for discipline or termination such as a “just cause” standard. If using an employee handbook, include a disclaimer that the handbook is not a contract and that the employer may unilaterally change the language of the handbook at any time with or without notice to employees. Do not promise employment longevity or otherwise suggest continued employment in the introduction to your employee handbook (or anywhere else). Refrain from implementing a “probation” or “trial” period that implies permanent employment or other non-at-will employment upon completion of that period. Stay away from including a standard for discipline or termination in an employee handbook, such as a “just cause” standard. If you have employees sign off on the employment handbook, do not make them agree to be “bound by” or “abide by” all of the policies of the handbook. That language makes it sound like the employees are signing a contract.  An employee’s signature acknowledging that they have received the handbook and reviewed it to the extent desired is sufficient for most purposes. Avoid making oral promises to employees of continued employment that might undermine well-written policies and result in an employee relying on those oral promises to their detriment.   With these tips in mind, employers can keep at-will employees truly at-will and maintain flexibility with respect to employment decisions

Sarah J. Horner

Professional Development

March 9 PDS - Focus on Retaining Top Talent

Join us on March 9th for our next virtual Professional Development Summit focused on Retaining Top Talent.  This event is free for GMA SHRM members and Student Members.
 

Session 1:  HR Trends: The New World of Work Presented By:   Summer Rector, The QTI Group •8:00am-10:00am
Participants will learn to:     Learn about the top HR challenges and what high performing organizations are doing to attract, retain, and engage talent Learn how your organization can make forward progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments and actions Learn about the compensation, benefits, well-being, and career trends to optimize your total rewards investment
Session 2:  Staying Positive During Change & Uncertainty
Presented by:  Tina Hallis, Ph.D. •10:15am-12:15pm
Participants will learn: Gain a deeper understanding of the meaning and importance of positivity in people’s lives and in your organization Leave with ideas on how to increase and promote positivity in your people and organization based on Positive Psychology Discover a new appreciation for the power of our thoughts and how to tap into that power for more success

 

 

 

Register Now!  2021 Human Capital Conference featuring Risha Grant!

• 7 SHRM/HRCI Professional Development Credits Available - Pre-Approved!
   
• Convenient 2 Day schedule to avoid Zoom fatigue!
   
• Remo Virtual Event Platform!  A more engaging, human and meaningful way to have a virtual conference.
   
• Door prizes and giveaways including a Sundara Spa Package!

Tuesday, May 18 Programs

• Keynote: Risha Grant - Get Rid of the BS  -  Explore Bias Synapse - our brains involvement in the processing and validation of bias.
• A Dose of Dare to Lead -   Kate Adametz Jenkins SHRM-CP, PCC,  UW Credit Union, Brene Brown Certified Facilitator
• The Annual Employment Law Update (COVID-19 Edition)  - Brian Goodman and Jennifer Mirus, Boardman Clark Law Firm
• Top Total Rewards Metrics You Need to Know - Summer Rector, The QTI Group  and  Mike Johnson, Hausmann Johnson Insurance

Wednesday, May 19 Programs

• Keynote: Risha Grant - Get Rid of the BS Workshop - Explore our own biases and discover actionable tips to navigate bias in the workplace.
• Coaching for Excellence -  Phil Martin
• The Annual Employment Law Update (Non-COVID-19 Edition) - Brian Goodman and Jennifer Mirus, Boardman Clark Law Firm
   

---

 

Benefits of Being a GMA SHRM Volunteer

Submitted by Tammy Wacek, SHRM-CP, PHR, Sr Human Resources Business Partner with NeuGen and GMA SHRM Immediate Past President

  Hi there GMA SHRM members! I am here to share my perspective on the benefits of being a volunteer with our chapter. Specifically, I want to highlight what a rewarding experience it is to serve on our Board of Directors.
 
I became a volunteer shortly after joining the chapter around 2008. I was new to Human Resources at that time and wanted to develop my experience and grow my network.
 
Becoming a member of the Government Affairs committee allowed me to stay up to date on legislation that I needed to know for my job. I became a go-to person on my team because I was on top of the newest legislation being discussed and enacted into law. I was also fortunate to be a volunteer for multiple events which gave me experience with event planning that I never would have gotten otherwise.
 
When I joined the Board of Directors, I really expanded my network by being more involved at meetings and events and getting the opportunity to hear about things going on in other parts of the chapter. Moving into the President role was a lot of work but extremely beneficial to my career. I feel like I have a really expansive network now that I wouldn’t have achieved without that visibility. Most members of our chapter know me just from the newsletter or from when I speak at our events. I really enjoy getting to know all of our volunteers and engaging with new members whenever possible.
 
I think my experience in these leadership positions within our chapter gave me an edge when I was applying for new jobs a year a half ago. It demonstrated my leadership abilities and passion for my career. I realize not everyone can commit the time to volunteer, but you should consider getting involved if you want to develop your skills, meet new people and have a lot of fun doing it. It is extremely rewarding to give back and have input into the events and resources we provide HR professionals in the Madison area. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. 
 

---

Virtual Roundtables and Social Events Extended Into 2021!

Thanks to some amazing GMA SHRM volunteers, our popular virtual roundtables and social events are continuing into 2021!  

Roundtables - These less formal virtual gatherings are held 3 times per month on Zoom.   More information about our Roundtables and registration can be found here!

Social events like our Meet, Greet & Eat programs are continuing too!  Our next one is Thursday, February 11th so visit the Meet, Greet & Eat​ information page and sign up now!

Return to Top

 

GMA SHRM welcomes the following members who joined our chapter in January 2021!
 

Return to Top

Member Awards and Recognition

Have you recently earned a professional achievement award? If so, we want to hear about it. 
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!  

Return to Top




 

In Transition

If 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.

Return to Top 

HR InTouch Guidelines

Article 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 .