Click here to see the full GMA SHRM Event Calendar.
August 17, 2010 - My GMA SHRM Toolbox - Topic: Employee Relations - Working with your and for your employees Program Details
August 26 , 2010 - GMA SHRM Summer Networking Event Program Details
September 21, 2010 - GMA SHRM Summit - Topic: Employment Branding: How Can You Build Your Brand to Stand Out from the Crowd? Program Details
This program is sponsored by GMA SHRM Gold Partner Calibra
Bronze Level
M3
Melli Law, S.C.
Bunbury & Associates
Express Employment Professionals
QBE The Americas
Stark Company Realtors
Higgins Insurance Group
Edgewood College
The Alliance
Unity Health Insurance
UW Credit Union
Thank you!
Dave Furlan, PHR
GMA SHRM
President
Greetings,
GMA SHRM had an excellent response rate to our membership survey this year. This is great news as it provides a more reliable gauge to answer two key questions: (1) how do all of us value what our membership currently brings us? and (2) what may be areas of improvement or opportunity?
In July, I attended the Programming Committee meeting as they examined the survey results and began to map out their approach for 2011. Programming continues to be the number one member benefit. Fifty-seven percent of survey respondents cited Professional Development/Programming as the primary reason they joined GMA SHRM. Another 12% said maintaining PHR/SPHR certification was their primary reason.
The combination of those two responses was not lost on the Programming Committee as they laid out their procedures and approaches for our events next year. Committee volunteers have already presented ways to reimagine and rebrand our programs with some exciting new ideas built on past successes. But they aren’t stopping there. Another group of volunteers is also looking at the PHR/SPHR body of knowledge and using it as a framework for programming topics in 2011. I was very impressed by what each committee volunteer is and will be contributing to this important member benefit. I have no doubt that all of us will see some excellent learning opportunities as we head into next year. (And by the way, 95% of us are satisfied or very satisfied with programming opportunities, so we are building on an excellent foundation already.)
In addition to programming, I found communication to be a common factor in our membership survey. While there wasn’t a specific question on this topic, I noticed many of your comments related to how we deliver information to you about the chapter and the HR profession. You’ll be glad to know we are working on several initiatives in this area, most notably in technology, as part of our strategic plan. A core group of volunteers on the Communications and Marketing Committee have been doing an impressive amount of groundwork to revamp our website. Members should see a new look to the website in the coming months, and I am confident you will be pleased with the result. We expect the website to then be a springboard for both the image of the communication methods available to us and also how we deliver them. The dynamic relationship between our newsletter, weekly e-blasts, the GMA SHRM LinkedIn group, and other social media and communication vehicles carries so much potential for our chapter. I believe our members will find greater value in all of it in the very near future.
For those who know me, I always need to weave in a message about volunteering for our chapter whenever I can. Last month I challenged all of our members to seek out a volunteer opportunity this year. I hope you’ve taken up this challenge. However, if you need some motivation, I’ll end my column this month with a comment addressed to those of you maintaining a PHR/SPHR certification (both to the 12% who cite it as a primary reason to belong to our chapter and to the many others to whom I know it’s important). Don’t forget that volunteering for our chapter (committee chair/member or board member) can earn you up to 10 credits toward your PHR/SPHR re-certification. Not a bad payoff for something that can provide great personal development and a lot of fun, as it has done for me over the past several years.
I hope you enjoy these last weeks of summer and I look forward to seeing all of our members at events and meetings in the coming months.
Applications for Early Retiree Reinsurance Program Now Being Accepted. Contributed by Adam Jensen, JD, CEBS, GBA, FLMI, Director of Compliance Services, Cottingham & Butler Consulting Services.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) announced that it will begin accepting applications for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP).
The program was created through the national health care reform effort and will reimburse employers for medical claims for retirees age 55 and older who are not eligible for Medicare, and their spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents. Employers, including state and local governments and unions, who provide health coverage for early retirees are eligible to apply.
Reimbursements will be available for 80 percent of medical claims costs for health benefits between $15,000 and $90,000. Program participants will be able to submit claims for medical care going back to June 1, 2010.
Employers who currently sponsor retiree health plans should take prompt action as HHS does have the authority to stop reinsurance payments or accepting applications if it appears that the $5 billion in Federal funding is insufficient, based on the number and dollar amount of applications.
“Patient’s Bill of Rights” Released for Pre-Existing, Lifetime and Annual Limits Contributed by Adam Jensen, JD, CEBS, GBA, FLMI, Director of Compliance Services, Cottingham & Butler Consulting Services.
On June 22, 2010, the Department of Labor (DOL), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the interim final rules for pre-existing conditions, lifetime and annual limits, rescissions, and patient protections under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The new guidance is being called the “Patient’s Bill of Rights”.
Thank you to all those who participating in our 2010 GMA SHRM Benefit Survey. Our participation increased over 20% from 2008! The results of this survey will be available for purchase in September. We will include further information including pricing in next month’s newsletter.
August 17, 2010GMA SHRM Toolbox Topic: Employee Relations - Working with your and for your employees
Looking for ways to build more open relations and increase communication and morale with your employees?
Do you really know what your employees are thinking about management?
The August Toolbox program will provide many helpful tips and tactics for employers to use in building a more engaging workplace that supports employer goals of union avoidance. With the Employee Free Choice Act being discussed in Washington, employers cannot afford to assume they are immune to union activity and should ask themselves if they are doing everything they can to build positive employee relations in their organizations.
To learn more about this event or to register, click here.
September 21, 2010 – GMA SHRM Summit Topic: Employment Branding: How Can You Build Your Brand to Stand Out from the Crowd?
Branding is just as important today in attracting and retaining top employees as it is for attracting and retaining customers. In fact, the right employment message attracts the best candidates over and over again; candidates who could help your company reduce costs, improve productivity and increase revenue.
This program has been pre-approved by HRCI for 2.5 hours general recertification credit.
Click here for important information about HRCI pre-approval.
To view more information or to sign up for this event, click here.
The GMA SHRM Membership Committee invites you to our Summer Networking Event to be held on Thursday, August 26th at the Coliseum Bar on Olin Avenue.
This fun evening will provide you with an informal opportunity to re-connect with GMA SHRM members and make new connections with HR Professionals in the Madison Area. The event will be held from 4:30-6:30. Registration is free but we do request an RSVP. Free hors d’oeurves will be served. Cash bar.
The Workforce Readiness & Diversity committee is planning for the fall workshop series at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. If you are interested in leading a workshop (materials are already prepared), please email Kristina Kaker kkaker@teamsoftinc.com
Workshop Dates:
Tuesday, September 14th – The Process of Networking and Job Explorations & Exploring Various Resumes and Applications.
Thursday, September 16th – Cover Letters, Thank You Notes, and References, & Pre-Employment Testing, Interview Preparation
Thursday, September 23rd – Individual Mock Interviews
All workshops are from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at the Dane County Job Center.
What is the Pay It Forward Membership Program? GMA SHRM provides active members who are unemployed at the time of their membership renewal a one-time opportunity to extend their membership for up to one year – at no cost. GMA SHRM believes this continued affiliation to our loyal members will help transitioning members stay current on the issues impacting the HR profession and provide them with the needed resources to assist them in their job search.
Click here to see if you qualify or to complete the request form.
Do you have a burning HR question that you’d like to see featured on our GMA SHRM Member Poll? If so, please submit your questions to Jake Siudzinski at jsiudzinski@starkhomes.com.
What is the focus of your position? Helping companies get the most value out of their corporate Benefits program, develop long-term strategies to keep costs under control, provide services to ease administrative burden, and help with compliance.
How long have you been in the Human Resources field? While not directly in Human Resoruces, I have worked with many HR professionals for 15 years.
Which of your career accomplishments makes you proudest? My wife Melissa would say it was marrying her. I can’t pinpoint one thing, so probably the cumulative effort of many years of working hard for my clinets and having them be so grateful for my efforts. Health insurance renewals are often not happy moments for clients and I am the messenger, but when they feel I have truly done all possible, that makes it all worthwhile.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My goal has always been to give the amount of effort to my clients that I would expect if I was the HR Director or owner of their company. If that is my philosophy, my clients will be getting 100% from me.
Why did you decide to join GMA SHRM? I feel a great Benefit Agent does not concern themselves with just the insurance, but understands all the issues/challenges that HR professionals deal with. SHRM gives me the tools to better understand all the other challenges they face.
If you’d like to be featured as the Member of the Month in an upcoming issue of HR InTouch, please e-mail Dawn Koopman at dkoopman@musicnotes.com .
Come join our GMA SHRM Chapter group on LinkedIn! What is LinkedIn? It’s a business-oriented social networking site that can be used to connect with friends (old and new), find or post jobs and get information. In order to join, sign in at www.linkedin.com and keyword search GMA SHRM Chapter.
GMA SHRM welcomes the following members who joined our chapter in June of 2010!
Jennifer Carerros
Employee Relations Specialist
WPS Health Insurance
Melissa Casey
HR Generalist
RMT, Inc.
Shana Cornell, PHR
HR Director
Wisconsin Heart, S.C.
Meghan Daly
Staffing Specialist
Manpower Inc.
Tricia Hall
HR Generalist III
TASC
Diane Jensen
Talent Management Specialist
American Family Insurance
Jennifer Kalka
Director of Career Services
ITT Technical Institute
Paul Kotz, SPHR
Owner/General Manager
Express Employment
Tanja Lazarevic
Campus Relations Specialist
Manpower Inc.
Tasha Naylor
Staffing Specialist
Manpower
Gary Praznik
Group Manager
HealthChoice
Colleen Rogers, PHR
HR Manager
Madison-Kipp Corporation
Tracy Schmit
HR Director
Unity Health Insurance
Angela Timm
Managing Partner
TAG – The Associates Group
Micheal Vega
Branch Manager
Manpower Inc
Lesly Vetter
Human Resources
Mike Flint Enterprises, Inc.
Movin' Up
Congratulations to JoAnna Vanderpoel who recently joined the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) as their HR Director. Congratulations JoAnna on your new role!
Congratulations to Jennifer Jackson and Meghan Linton who recently received their PHR certifications. Thank you to Jennifer and Meghan for continuing to advance the HR profession!
ABR Employment Services is pleased to announce the addition of Angela Runge. In her role as Staffing Coordinator at the Madison, WI branch, she is responsible for interviewing potential job candidates, staff placement and interacting with client employers. Congratulations Angela on your new position!
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!
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.
What’s Cool in HR in the Greater Madison Area?
What’s going on in HR in your workplace?
Have you…
completed a major project,
implemented something new,
managed a change,
Is there something…
your company/dept does really well,
interesting about your company culture
that makes your company an employer of choice
We want to hear about it! Share it with your HR colleagues in HR InTouch. Send us an e-mail
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.
Dave Furlan, PHR
Name: Scott Wieland