Workforce Readiness & Diversity

Greetings!
 
As I write this article, the fall chill is in the air.  For me, fall is a welcome change after the hot, humid weather we have been having this summer.  It is hard to not look forward to beautiful new season, with the changing colors, the return of football season and tailgating and kids going back to school.  For many people, the fall season is a busy time at work with budgets, year-end activities and planning for next year.  Our GMA SHRM schedule has also been busy as  we enter our time for planning programming events for next year’s programming events and focusing on closing year on a high note.
Below are a few of our upcoming events, but be sure to check our programming calendar for all of them!
 

• Our September Summit is September 13^th.  Darcy Louma, a certified Leadership and Life Coach will be joining us to discuss Coaching as a Management Style: Be More Effective with Less Effort. This dynamic workshop explores the different management styles and core principles of coaching as an effective management style that leads to more engaged employees and greater results. You won’t want to miss this event. 
• The annual WI SHRM conference is October 5-7 at the Kalahari Resort. This conference always has fantastic programming, networking and fun.  As an added bonus, it’s in our own “backyard”!  Check out their website for more details.  http://wishrm.org/2016-State-Conference
• We will also be having our GMA Revealed in October, date TBD.  This event is for all GMA SHRM members to learn more about the organization and how you can get involved.  Board Members will talk about their committees in a round table format and there is time at the end for one-on-one questions.  If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, I encourage you to check out this event!

 
In early August, our GMA Board attended a two day leadership conference in Wisconsin Dells.  This event was sponsored by WISHRM and allowed for all local SHRM Boards in Wisconsin to come together for 2 days of learning, best practice sharing, networking and fun.  While we are the largest chapter in the state, all who attended walked away with new ideas for their committees and chapters and were able to meet great leaders from other SHRM chapters in the state.
 
We recently had a wonderful Betty Lou Cruise for our volunteers to say “thank you” for all the time they put into our organization.  It was a beautiful summer night and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.  Thank you LaShana Miller from the Volunteer Engagement committee for organizing!  
 
I also want to recognize Heather Kennedy and her Workforce Readiness and Diversity Committee for organizing another very successful Job Boot Camp for our community. It provided job seekers information regarding using staffing agencies and job fairs, access to local HR professionals to offer advice and feedback regarding resume review, mock interviews and more! Great job, team!

Best Wishes,

Melissa Chadwick
President
GMA SHRM

Wisconsin Unemployment Rate Continues to Decline 

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) released unemployment statistics for June 2016 and preliminary estimates for July 2016.  Overall, the unemployment rate continued to decline and remains below the national rate.  The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Standards, had Wisconsin at 4.2%, a 15-year low.  For Wisconsin counties, Dane County continues to maintain the lowest rate with an estimated July 2016 rate of 3.0%.  The county with the highest unemployment rate is Menomonee at 8.9%
 
To view the full release from DWD, including statistics for metro areas, major cities, and counties in Wisconsin, visit: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2016/unemployment/160824_july_local.pdf


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Time off Due to a Disability Could be considered a Reasonable Accommodation
 

There is a recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) case that provides an important reminder to employers. The EEOC filed a lawsuit against Wayne Farms, LLC on August 18, 2016 for allegedly violating Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC charges that Wayne Farms has an inflexible attendance policy. The ADA requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations that could include time off work to workers with disabilities. Employers should avoid attendance policies that have a maximum number of absences and, if exceeded, automatically lead to termination of employment. When an employee indicates a need for time off work even beyond Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), employers should engage in an interactive discussion to determine if the accommodation is reasonable to avoid violating the ADA. For more information on this case or this topic, visit the EEOC website at  https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/8-22-16.cfm.


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Professional Development

The Education and Professional Development Committee

Interested in joining the Education & Development Committee?  Simply want to learn more about them?
 
Mark your calendars for one of their upcoming meetings!  All who are interested are free to attend!
 
Future Education & Development Committee Meetings – held at 4:30 pm (venue TBD)
            Tuesday, September 20th
            Wednesday, October 19th
            Tuesday, November 29th
            Wednesday, December 6th

Contact Jeff Westra for more information and meeting locations.


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GMA SHRM Idea Exchange

Sometimes you just have that question…..you would really just like to ask an HR colleague quickly.  Perhaps it is limited to your field of work, or a specific situation.  Let GMA SHRM help! 
 
In response to a specific need, we are excited to launch the “Idea Exchange” as part of your membership in GMA SHRM!  The goal of the Idea Exchange is to provide a secure area for all GMA SHRM members to be able to start a dialogue and find someone to network with on a particular issue, and to share files in a more secure format - or at least share contact details so files could be shared.
 
This great new tool is available to all members of GMA SHRM.  You simply sign in on the GMA SHRM Home Page (click on Member Log In at the top) to access questions or to provide your response!”



Once you are logged in, click on ‘File Library’ at the top right, and Idea Exchange will appear on the drop down menu. 



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Interested in Getting Your HR Certification?

GMA SHRM offers tools and direction to help you achieve your HR Certification!  Check out these resources.

SHRM Certification
Earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential makes you a recognized expert and leader in the HR field—and a valuable asset to your organization, keeping you and your organization more competitive in today's economy. This professional distinction sets you apart from your colleagues, proving your high level of knowledge and skills.
Click this link to learn more: https://www.shrm.org/certification/pages/default.aspx

SHRM’s Assurance of Learning Exam for Students 
Students are eligible to take the Assurance of Learning Exam 1 year prior to graduating and 1 year after graduation.  This exam demonstrates to employers the student has acquired the minimum knowledge required to be a successful HR professional, and it gives recent graduates an important advantage over other entry-level candidates by showing the student has achieved the Certificate of Learning upon passing an exit exam.  For more information on the exam, registration and testing windows, visit https://www.shrm.org/academicinitiatives/aol/pages/default.aspx

HRCI Certifications
Over 135,000 HR professionals in more than 100 countries are HRCI certified. Holding an HRCI credential demonstrates relevance, competence, experience, credibility and dedication to human resources to your employers, clients, staff members and professional peers. Click here for more information on HRCI's certifications to help guide you through which certification is right for you whether you are just beginning your HR career, you want to establish yourself as a professional, demonstrate your cross-border expertise in the field, and more.  Exam preparation options and testing window dates and deadlines are located at this link too. 

Certification Information Webpage is available!
GMA SHRM has a dedicated page on our website which provides information on the SHRM and HRCI Certifications, in addition to information on the student Assurance of Learning Exam. Visit www.gmashrm.org and click on “Certification Information” under the “Education and Events” header to learn more or at this link - http://www.gmashrm.org/CertificationInformation.

SHRM Learning System
Have you considered getting your SHRM certification?  The UW Madison Small Business Center offers the SHRM learning system preparation course.  The program starts September 21 and runs 9 weeks, meeting on Wednesday nights 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Grainger Hall.  This intensive program combines expert instruction with the SHRM Learning System® for SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, so you will learn faster, retain more knowledge and stay on track for success on the exam.  To learn more, visit this link: https://bus.wisc.edu/cped/sbdc/program-topics/special-programs/shrm-learning-system-course   Discounts are available for National or local members, with an extra discount if you’re both a national and local member!

Certification study group!
Interested in obtaining your PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP?  Sign-up for a study group!
Each year, GMA SHRM offers a study group for those preparing for the PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP certifications. The meetings are focused on open discussion/dialogues for participants on topics in any of the modules as well as test taking skills.  If you are interested in participating in a study group, please contact Kathy Wright at kathyw@cues.org with “SHRM Study Group” in the subject line.  Kathy will connect interested members to work out a mutually beneficial meeting location and time.


 

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Workforce Readiness & Diversity

GMA SHRM Member Spotlight

Name: Laura Bermudo
 
Where do you currently work?  
The QTI Group
 
What is the focus of your position? 
Connecting client companies, their HR & management team members to the right resource and solutions for their staffing, recruiting, compensation and HR consulting needs.
 
How long have you been in the Human Resource field?
10+ years
 
Which of your career accomplishments makes you proudest? 
Helping mentor other HR professionals and seeing them flourish as they grow within the industry.
 
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 
Every challenge is an opportunity & with the right perspective can be overcome.
 
Why did you decide to join GMA SHRM?
It came highly recommended, when I came to the Madison market, as a link to phenomenal HR Professionals and knowledge. 


 

GMA SHRM Volunteer Spotlight

Name: Tyler Wood
 
How long have you been volunteering with GMA SHRM?
I have been volunteering with GMA SHRM since 2011.       
 
What committee are you volunteering with? Have you volunteered on other committees? If yes, which one?
I have spent the majority of my time volunteering with the Philanthropic committee. I also spent a brief amount of time with the technology committee. The philanthropic committee has been very exciting to be a part of, especially over the past year. In the past, a large amount of our effort was spent towards the annual golf outing. Our focus is now geared towards giving back to the community in different ways by leveraging the skillsets of our GMA SHRM members. This allows our members to connect more with the community.
 
What do you enjoy about volunteering?
Interacting with other peers and professionals has been enjoyable for me. The world of HR in Madison is relatively small, and the connections I’ve built over that time allows myself and my peers to leverage each other as HR professionals. I have been able to reach out to these peers outside of the committee to connect on best practices, experiences, and to bounce ideas off of.
 
What would you say to others who are considering volunteering with GMA SHRM? 
The GMA SHRM volunteer groups are incredible. The have direct impact on the SHRM organization and there is opportunity to gain experience to help your career, whether it be project management or leadership skills. There are committees involved in many different areas: education, programming, philanthropic, diversity, and plenty more. 
 
 
What have you gotten back from volunteering with GMA SHRM?
One of the most valuable receivables from volunteering has been personal development. Like many members, I’ve wanted to grow my experiences and skills. Helping coordinate, plan, lead and work with the committee provides meaningful experience out of my day job.
 
However, it is like any tool or resource: it is only as valuable as the effort you put into it. The value is up to you. Some individuals only contribute a few hours a month while other individuals can do more. The positive news in no matter which end of the spectrum you’re on, there is an opportunity for everyone. 




If you’d like to be published in an issue of HR InTouch, please complete this profile and submit (along with a photo) to Brittany Hanson @ brittanyahanson@gmail.com

 

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Welcome New Members!

GMA SHRM welcomes the following members who joined our chapter in June 2016!
 

Movin' Up

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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 .