September 2018 

HR InTouch

The Monthly Newsletter of the Greater Madison Area SHRM

In This Edition

President's Message

By Tammy Wacek, SHRM-CP, PHR
 

Government Affairs & Legal Updates


Update on the “Workflex in the 21st Century Act”

Bills Introduced in U.S. House and Senate Would Enable Employers to Help Employees Pay Off Student Loans on a Tax-Free Basis

2019 WI SHRM Day on the Hill Planning Begins
 

Professional Development


Why Offer Workplace Charging?
 

Workforce Development & Diversity


FutureQuest 2018

 

GMA SHRM Media Relations


Media Relations Q&A 

Follow Us On Instagram!  


GMA SHRM News & Upcoming Events


Community Resource Tables/Representatives Available at the Sept. 18 PDS​ 

September 18, 2018 - Professional Development Summit

Session 1:  The Legal and Practical Impact of the Opioid Crisis on the Workplace
Session 2:  The Impacts of Domestic Violence on the Workplace

 

GMA SHRM Member News


Spotlight: 2019 Human Capital Conference Kickoff!

Welcome New Members!

Movin' Up

In Transition

 


 

 

President's Message

GMA SHRM
2018 Corporate Partners

Gold Level

Boardman & Clark Law Firm
Career Momentum
Godfrey & Kahn
Hausmann-Johnson Insurance Group
The Payroll Company
Remedy Intelligent Staffing
UW School of Business - CPED

Silver Level

Bunbury & Associates
M3 Insurance

Bronze Level

The Alliance
Associated Bank - HSA Plus
Edgewood College
Express Employment Professionals
First Weber Relocation Services
Quartz
The QTI Group
Restaino & Associates Relocation
Summit Credit Union
 

Thank you!

 


 

Greetings GMA SHRM Members –

Thanks to everyone that attended our August Professional Development Summit! We had great attendance for an end of summer event. As a reminder, the Wisconsin State Conference is fast approaching on October 10th – 12th at Kalahari Resorts. If you haven’t yet registered, you can find all the information here: http://www.wishrm.org/2018-State-Conference
 
If you have an interest in additional educational opportunities, there are a variety of SHRM seminars being held in Chicago this fall. A couple of the topics that stand out to me are:

  • HR Analytics: Using Data to Drive Results
  • HR Business Partners: Enhancing Your Strategic Contributions

You can find details and how to register here. I would also like to share a discount for members. If you sign up, use the code 18FSEMCHI to save $200!
 
Several of our GMA SHRM Board members had the opportunity to learn and network with board members from all over the state at our annual leadership conference last month. We were able to gather ideas for our chapter based on what other chapters have done. We also learned about SHRM initiatives and heard updates from the state and national levels. I would like to share one of my takeaways. One project that is underway with the SHRM Foundation is an initiative to support veterans, specifically tied in with hiring and retention of former service members. They have several tools available for employers to help support us with Integrating & Engaging Veterans in the Workforce. I hope some of our members are able to take advantage of this information! Our chapter will continue to find ways to raise money for the SHRM Foundation so they can continue to support HR professionals with scholarships and their work on these types of initiatives. 



Take Care,

Tammy Wacek, SHRM-CP, PHR
President
GMA SHRM

Click here to view the full GMA SHRM Board of Directors

 

Government Affairs & Legal Updates

Update on the “Workflex in the 21st Century Act"

Submitted by: Jeff Palkowski, Director of Government Affairs GMA SHRM and SHRM Advocacy Captain (Wisconsin 1st CD)

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has been supporting and advocating the “Workflex in the 21st Century Act” for several years. If you are not familiar, this proposal (H.R. 4219) was introduced last year by U.S. Rep Mimi Walters (R-CA) and was created with input and support from SHRM. The basis for the proposed legislation would be to allow employers to voluntarily offer employees paid leave and a flexible work arrangement, in exchange for an exemption from some state and local paid leave laws. The proposal was developed to address a growing patchwork of state and local paid leave laws that create administrative challenges for employers that may have employees in multiple locations, subject to different paid leave laws.
 
On July 24th, a U.S. House Education and Workforce subcommittee held a hearing to hear testimony for and against the proposal. SHRM CEO and President Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. provided testimony in support of the bill. He stated that this bill would help employers that are currently challenged with “outdated workplace rules and government mandated leave requirements” that make it difficult to attract and maintain a high-quality workforce. Those in support of the legislation believe that it is a “win-win” for both businesses and employees to find a common ground to address a current system with 10 separate state paid leave laws and over 30 local and municipal laws.
 
The hearing also provided testimony that was in opposition to the proposal, including from ranking subcommittee member U.S. Rep Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-Northern Marianas Islands) who expressed concerns that the bill could result in employees having fewer leave options as employers would be subject to a voluntary plan as opposed to government mandates. Rep Sablan also expressed concerns that workers would actually lose state and local protections regarding paid leave, that are currently in place or being developed.
 
In addition to the “Workflex in the 21st Century Act”, other proposals are also under consideration in Congress.
 
The FAMILY Act (S.337) would provide employees with a paid family leave option, through the establishment of an Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration. Qualifying employees would receive paid leave benefits for up to 60 days within a 12-month period. The paid leave would be funded through an increase in the payroll tax.
 
The “Economic Security for New Parents Act” (S.3345) was recently introduced by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and has the support of the President’s daughter and advisor, Ivanka Trump. This paid leave option would only apply to new parents who would use a portion of their Social Security benefits to use paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Access to this paid leave would result in a 3 to 6 month delay in Social Security retirement benefits for recipients that utilize the paid parental leave benefit.
 
With only a few months left in the current congressional session, and with each proposal having no bipartisan support, it is unlikely that there will be anything passed and signed into law this year. As family leave continues to be an important issue for both employers and employees across the country, it remains a top issue to watch, as new proposals will likely be introduced soon next year once the 116th United States Congress convenes on January 3, 2019.

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Bills Introduced in U.S. House and Senate Would Enable Employers to Help Employees Pay Off Student Loans on a Tax-Free Basis

Submitted by: Abigail Darwin, GMA SHRM Government Affairs Committee Member and Employee Benefits Attorney at Quarles & Brady LLC

Two bipartisan companion bills -- one in the U.S. House of Representatives and one in the U.S. Senate -- were recently introduced that would enable employers to help employees pay off their student loans on a non-taxable basis.  The bills, H.R. 795 (introduced by Congressmen Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Scott Peters (D-CA)) and S. 796 (introduced by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD)) would expand Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") to cover student loan repayment. 
 
Section 127 is the provision of the Code that currently enables employees to exclude from income up to $5,250 per year in tuition assistance from their employers for educational courses the employees take at the undergraduate, graduate or certificate level.  It also enables employers to receive a tax deduction in the same amount.  If Section 127 were expanded to include student loan repayment, employers could take a tax deduction, and employees could exclude from income, up to $5,250 in employer-funded student loan repayment benefits. 
 
Under current law, any money that an employer provides to an employee to help pay off student loan debt is considered to be taxable income to the employee, and the employer cannot take a tax deduction for the amount.  Consequently, only 4% of employers currently offer student loan repayment programs, according to the Society for Human Resource Management's ("SHRM") 2018 Employee Benefits survey.  If the benefit could be provided on a tax-free basis to both employers and employees, however, it seems highly likely that many more employers would offer this benefit.
 
Student loan repayment benefits could be useful as both a recruitment and a retention tool by companies looking to hire and keep top talent.  In addition, if employees have assistance to pay off their student loan debt, they will have increased opportunities to buy a home and save for retirement.  Passage of H.R. 795 and S. 796 would therefore have a tremendous impact on both employers and employees. 
 
SHRM supports these bills and has put together a letter of support for including language from H.R. 795 in House Tax 2.0 legislation.  We will keep you apprised of further developments related to these bills.

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2019 WI SHRM Day on the Hill Planning Begins

Submitted by: Jeff Palkowski, Director of Government Affairs GMA SHRM and SHRM Advocacy Captain (Wisconsin 1st CD)

While it’s only September, your GMA SHRM Government Affairs committee is already getting started providing programming input for the 2019 WI SHRM Day on the Hill event to be held on February 13th and 14th next year.
 
If you have not attended a previous Day on the Hill event, it is held here in Madison on the Capitol Square at the Premier Park Hotel.  The morning is filled with HR legal updates, legislative speakers, or other topics of interest to the human resources community. In addition to an annual Legal Update from Bob Gregg of Boardman & Clark, LLP past speakers have included Wisconsin DWD Deputy Secretary Georgia Maxwell, Marquette Law School Pollster Charles Franklin, Capitol Times Government Reporter Jessie Opoien, and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch.
 
As we begin committee discussions to share ideas with the WI SHRM Day on the Hill Planning Committee, we would welcome any programming and/or speaker suggestions from both those that have either attended previously or those that are considering attending for the first time in 2019. While it seems like a few months away, we will need to reach out to potential speakers very soon to confirm their availability next February.
 
If you have any speaker or topic recommendations that you would like to share, please email them to me at jeff.palkowski@wisc.edu

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Professional Development

Why offer workplace charging?

Submitted by: Debbie Branson, New Market Manager - Madison Gas and Electric

IDo you have a colleague or employee who drives an electric vehicle (EV) to work? If not, you likely will know someone soon who is "going electric."   
 
U.S. sales of EVs increased about 32 percent in 2018, and that number is expected to grow.  Drivers are seeing more vehicle choices – you can now buy electric minivans and SUVs – and better battery range, which allows drivers to go farther on a single charge.  Drivers also love spending less on “fuel” and maintenance – no more oil changes or trips to the gas station.
 
What does this mean for employers?  More employees may be asking to charge their vehicles at work.  That’s why employers across the Madison area are installing charging stations for employees.  Companies of all sizes are offering workplace charging – from Glass Nickel Pizza Co. to Promega to Sub-Zero Wolf and more.
Companies with workplace charging find that it helps to attract new employees and keep current employees happy. It also shows support for sustainable initiatives and new technology. MGE’s research shows that more than 80% of employees support their company’s decision to install stations—regardless of whether they currently drive an EV!  
 
Need help getting started?  MGE can help businesses gauge interest, evaluate charging options, and create program guidelines to ensure smooth implementation of workplace charging.
Here are a few tips to get you started:

  • Create a working group that includes legal, facilities and your company's sustainability team.
  • Find out how employees feel about on-site charging with a brief survey.
  • Engage experts from MGE to help evaluate costs and benefits, and to conduct a site assessment to recommend equipment that fits your needs.
MGE is here to help you introduce a successful workplace charging program.  For assistance, please call Debbie Branson, New Market Manager - Madison Gas and Electric, at 608-252-5632 or send an email to dbranson@mge.com.  MGE’s employer's guide to workplace charging also is a great online resource to start the process.


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Workforce Development & Diversity 

 

FutureQuest 2018

Produced by the Dane County School Consortium and the Madison Metropolitan School District, FutureQuest 2018 will be held Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at the Alliant Energy Center. FutureQuest will provide approximately 5,000 middle school students with an opportunity to relate their current interests to future education and career opportunities found within 16 career clusters. Students who attend this event will be better prepared to choose high school classes that relate to their interests and strengths.

Unlike a job fair, YOU can help students explore their options by facilitating hands on activities and responding to questions regarding required preparation and training needed for entry into your industry while offering advice on the joys and challenges of your profession.

Why participate?
Your participation in this event will expose you as a representative of your industry and bring your profession to the forefront in the minds of middle school students. 
 
What is your role?
You will speak to middle school students that come to your exhibit about what you do, why you are interested in your field, how someone would prepare for your career, and the types of positions available within your organization.
 
You will answer questions such as:

  • What high school courses were essential in helping you learn about your areas of interest?
  • What education and career path did you follow?
  • How should students prepare for future opportunities?
  • Tell me about your career and how you got interested in the field?

Click here to view the information brochure or follow this link for registration

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GMA SHRM Media Relations

Media Relations Q&A –

Submitted by: Brittany Hanson, Director of Media Relations Committee

Q: What is the GMA SHRM Media Relations Committee?
A: The GMA SHRM Media Relations Committee manages the following things:

  • All GMA SHRM social media (Facebook, Linked In, Instagram, & Twitter)
  • THIS newsletter!  HR In Touch monthly member newsletter
  • Any media requests that GMA SHRM receives

 
Q: How can I learn more about the MRC Committee?
A: Attend our upcoming meeting!  Guests welcome, learn more about us, apps & drinks provided! 
Thursday, September 27th from 4:30pm – 5:30pm @ Pooleys (5441 High Crossing Blvd, Madison, WI 53718) 
Contact Brittany Hanson at bhanson@uwcu.org with any questions! 


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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.

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GMA SHRM News & Upcoming Events

Community Resource Tables/Representatives Available at the Sept. 18 PDS

Submitted by:  Submitted by: Kathy Konichek, GMA SHRM Programming Committee Member
 
As part of our September 18 Professional Development Summit focusing on The Legal and Practical Impact of the Opioid Crisis on the Workplace and The Impacts of Domestic Violence on the Workplace, we will also have the following community resources in attendance with tables staffed by the following organizations:
 
-          United Way of Dane County assists in the education, financial stability, and health of everyone in Dane County.  They follow our community’s Agenda for Change focused on Education, Income, and Health.   Hear about their HIRE program and their 2-1-1 resource line.
 
-          Forward Service Corp. is a non-profit employment and training organization providing services in 46 counties in Wisconsin.  They assist in helping people secure jobs, education and training, transportation, and housing.
 
-          Goodwill believes that Everyone can work!  Their Supported Employment program gives you access to a workforce of loyal, reliable, productive employees with developmental disabilities. (Average tenure is 9 years!) Plus, Goodwill provides every supported employee with a job coach at no cost to you.  They look forward to connecting with you at the PDS.
 
These community resource tables will be staffed before the PDS and at the break.  Please visit these community resource tables to see how they may be able to assist you with your employee needs and provide resources to you as an HR professional.
 
Thanks again for your participation!
 
 
Know a HR professional who is not a GMA SHRM member yet but could benefit from attending this event? Bring them as a guest! GMA SHRM has a limited number of Professional Grants available for potential members to attend one Professional Development Summit at no cost.  Please have your guest complete the contact information here http://www.gmashrm.org/GuestGrantRegistration  


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September 18, 2018 - Professional Development Summit

Alliant Energy Center

Full Program Details and Registration

Session 1:  The Legal and Practical Impact of the Opioid Crisis on the Workplace

Session 2:  The Impacts of Domestic Violence on the Workplace

The opioid crisis provides a myriad of challenging legal and practical dilemmas for HR professionals.   Failing to understand the law in this area could result in lawsuits, damage to workplace morale, and the loss of potentially viable employees and applicants. 
 
Brian’s portion of the program will analyze the challenging legal issues presented at each crucial stage of the employment “life cycle” and provide key strategies for navigating safely through the legal labyrinth surrounding these issues.
 
Then, Captain Nelson and Joe Balles, will present information on the Madison Addiction Recovery Initiative (MARI program) that strives to provide quicker access for treatment to people addicted to opiates who are committing low-level property crimes and who may have simple possession charges. Captain Nelson and Joe Balles will also discuss opiate abuse statistics in the Madison area.

Learning objectives:
  • The applicability of employment laws to the opioid epidemic including disability, medical leave, and arrest and conviction discrimination laws.
  • The difference in state and federal law regarding accommodating employees suffering from drug abuse issues, including the interaction of the FMLA with state and federal disability discrimination laws.
  • The extent to which opioid addiction impacts the lives of employees, businesses, and the community.
  • The community resources, programs, options, and tools for helping employees facing addiction issues.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are impacted by domestic violence.  Domestic violence not only affects the employee, it can also result in massive losses for the company.  It’s estimated that more than 1.75 million workdays are lost each year to domestic violence and that victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work a year—more than 32,000 full-time jobs combined. That loss of productivity comes with a huge price tag. Missed workdays and decreased productivity, along with increased health and safety costs, results in a loss of $8.3 billion annually to companies nationwide.

Don’t miss this program, where Brandie will discuss violence prevention & intervention in the workplace including the importance of trauma-informed care and risk mitigation. She will also cover corporate-social responsibility, policies and procedures, federal and local laws, and obligations according to OSHA.

Participants will learn:
  • The true cost of Domestic Violence on a business.
  • How to improve the mental wellness of their staff through effective support.
  • How to implement a Risk Mitigation Program via Policy and Procedure  development.







GMA SHRM Member News

Spotlight:  2019 Human Capital Conference Committee Kickoff!

Submitted by:  Dana Denny, GMA SHRM Director of Human Capital Conference
 
Have you attended previous Human Capital Conferences at the Alliant Center in Madison, WI and wondered how GMA SHRM is able to select such fantastic keynote speakers, maintain excellent yet practical breakout sessions and continue to provide programming options with content you’ve come to expect from national conferences yet have the opportunity to attend these in your own backyard? Well, creativity and imagination are trademarks of our GMA SHRM Human Capital Conference (HCC) Committee volunteers!

The GMA SHRM Annual Human Capital Conference (HCC) offers meeting attendees relevant human resource content on issues including compensation, government affairs, innovative recruiting techniques and employee engagement in an entertaining atmosphere that’s conducive for networking. Although the HCC is held in the spring of each year, planning for this event begins the previous August with the selection of the conference date and a slate of speakers. We are pleased to announce next year’s HCC will be held at the Alliant Energy Center on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, so mark your calendars!
 
Although we have just begun our planning efforts for next year’s Conference, we are always looking to add to our group of intrepid and wonderful volunteers! If you’d like to learn more about this committee and how you might benefit from volunteering for the GMA SHRM Human Capital Conference, please feel free to email me at dana_denny@hotmail.com with any questions. 

Welcome New Members!

GMA SHRM welcomes the following members who joined our chapter in July 2018!

Miranda Friske   Nelson Global Products
Chelsea Gallagher SHRM-CP Baker Tilly
Pamela Hinz SHRM-SCP, SPHR Amtelco
Jackie Huff   Express Employment Professionals
Courtney Kettleson   Paychex Inc.
Paul Leonhard   Ultimate Software
Marina Lowe   Alliant Energy
Rosalba Monsibais   Uniek, Inc.
Joan Pajari CTRM ABR Employment Services & Kinsa Group
Summer Rector   QTI Consulting
Nick Spencer   Student



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Movin' Up

Have 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!  
 

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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.

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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 .

 

 Amended