Workforce Readiness & Diversity

Greetings!
 
Welcome to fall!  I hope each of you is able to enjoy the beautiful fall weather before the cold and snow soon overtake us. 

Corporate Partnerships for 2017 are now available but we must take time to thank our current 2016 Corporate Partners.  GMA SHRM would not be as successful as an organization without each of our Partners and we sincerely appreciate your support and involvement in the Chapter.  For those who have been a Partner to us in the past, we hope you will continue to be a Partner to us in the coming year.  For those who are interested in becoming a Partner, please contact our Chapter Administration.

Each of us are busy individuals, pulled in many directions with volunteer commitments, friends and family needs, our paying jobs and trying to find time to relax.  It’s far too easy to get lost in our own workplace situations, dealing with crisis management, developing meaningful programs for our employees and balancing the needs of our leadership and staff.  It’s important to take a step back and remind yourself that GMA offers you a community of HR professionals from a variety of industries and HR expertise.  The network is here, waiting for you take advantage of one another’s knowledge and experiences, instead of you trying to solve each issue on your own.  Here are some ideas of how you can harness the power of our HR Community:

• Attend a Professional Development Summit, GMA Revealed and our May Human Capital Conference. Our next GMA Revealed is on October 27; you’re encouraged to attend to learn more about GMA, what we offer our members and how you can get involved.  Our November PDS will focus on legal updates – always a highly attended event!
• Post or respond to a question in our members only Idea Exchange and experience the wisdom of the crowds as our members offer their experience and insights to help you tackle your challenge.
• Check out our HR Network Roundtables:  These peer-led roundtable discussions bring together our members on a monthly basis to share insights with each other on the unique challenges of being an HR professional.
• Volunteer! The great work of GMA SHRM wouldn’t happen without our network of volunteers.  Even if you only have an hour to give, there is an opportunity awaiting you. Our volunteers help with marketing, programming, workforce development and diversity, educational and professional development, volunteer engagement, technology, and governmental affairs.
• Participate in our twice-annual networking and GMA Revealed events. Annually, we offer 2 GMA Revealed events and 2 Networking events. We’ve restructured our events to allow for informal networking along with some fun.  GMA Revealed is on October 27 and our networking event is scheduled for February 2017; details TBD.
• Visit our GMA SHRM Facebook page to learn what we’ve been up to and see pictures of our past PDS, networking events, committee meetings and volunteering in our community. 
• Check out our GMA SHRM webpage where you can consult the online member directory, read this newsletter, register for our programs, participate in the Idea Exchange and learn more about the array of programs and services we offer.

I hope to see many of you at GMA Revealed on October 27 at Badger Bowl.  This event is not only for new members, current members are also encouraged to attend and learn more about the chapter, opportunities we provide our members and how you can get more involved with the chapter.  Our last PDS of 2016 will be on November 3 - Hot Topics in the HR Legal World.  I hope to see you there!


Best Wishes,

Melissa Chadwick
President
GMA SHRM

Recent Changes to WI Workers’ Compensation Law 

Submitted by Mary Wilkosz

Local law firm, Boardman & Clark LLP, recently hosted another of their informative and engaging “Bagels & Coffee” events featuring updates on trending workplace legal issues.  One of the breakout sessions, “Alcohol in the Workplace”, addressed two recent changes to Wisconsin’s Workers’ Compensation law that went into effect 3/2/2016. 

Wis. Stat. 102.58: Previously this section of the law required a 15% reduction in all indemnity benefits paid to a worker if he/she suffered an injury which resulted from his/her intoxication (alcohol or controlled substances); there was a $15,000 limit to the reduction.  Under the revised statute, if an employee violates the employer’s policy regarding employee drug or alcohol use and he/she is injured and if the policy violation is cause for the employee’s injury, then the employee will not be eligible for Workers’ Compensation or death benefit; incidental compensation, including medical expenses, still must be paid.

Wis. Stat. 102.43(9)(e):  This section of the law provided that benefits for temporary disability are available for the period of time during which the employee is within his/her healing period for the injury and the employee experiences an actual wage loss.   The employee remains entitled to temporary disability benefits even if he/she has been granted a limited release to return to work as long as the employee is still within the healing period. 
The statute was revised to add the following exception to the preceding rule:  in the event a worker who has been returned to work with restrictions is subsequently suspended or terminated due to misconduct or substantial fault as defined in the unemployment statutes (108.04) for a violation of the employer’s reasonable written policy concerning the use of alcoholic beverages, no temporary total disability will be payable.  The employee must have had knowledge of the policy and admitted to the violation, refused to be tested for, or tested positive for the use of alcoholic beverages in order for this provision to apply.

Return to Top

2017 Day on the Hill in Madison 

WISHRM, along with some programming assistance from the GMA SHRM Government Affairs Committee, will be hosting the 3rd Annual “Day on the Hill” event on January 17-18, 2017 at the Park Hotel on the Capitol Square in Madison.
 
This event attracts HR professionals from across the state for a day filled with employment law updates, discussion about pending state legislation that may impact our HR community, as well as the opportunity to meet personally with your state legislators and/or staff in scheduled meetings at the State Capitol. There is also a social/networking session the evening before the event to meet with your fellow HR colleagues.
 
If you want to learn how you can personally get involved in helping to shape state human resources related policy that affects all of our organizations, we encourage you to register for the 2017 Day on the Hill Event.  More information, including a registration link can be found at the WISHRM web page here:  http://www.wishrm.org/2017-Day-on-the-Hill
 
If you have any questions about the 2017 Day on the Hill, please contact Jeff Palkowski, GMA SHRM Director of Government Affairs, jcp@athletics.wisc.edu

Return to Top
 

Professional Development

Second Annual All Student Night Out

Thursday, November 10, 2016 6 pm – 8 pm

As part of GMA SHRM’s commitment to attract new talent to the Human Resources profession, the Education and Professional Development committee is hosting an educational event for students with an interest in HR career paths.  This year’s event will take place at American Family Insurance National Headquarters at 6000 American Parkway in Madison, WI. Appetizers will be provided and activities will include speed networking and panel of HR professionals to answer student questions you have about building your career within the HR industry!  We will also be collecting student resumes for creating a resume book to supply to interested GMA SHRM members in attendance.  Seating is limited, so interested members should RSVP no later than Friday, October 28, to Alicia.Foulker@unityhealth.com

Return to Top
 

---

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 – 
            Wednesday, October 19th – 4pm-5pm in Grainger Hall 1195
            Tuesday, November 29th– 4pm-5pm in Grainger Hall 1080
            Wednesday, December 6th – TBD


Contact Jeff Westra for more information and meeting locations.

Return to Top

 

---

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. 


 

Return to Top
 

Workforce Readiness & Diversity

GMA SHRM Member Spotlight

Name: Linda Greene, PHR, SHRM-CP
 
Where do you currently work?  
The Employer Group
 
What is the focus of your position? 
As a Human Resources Business Partner, I am responsible for providing proper employment guidance and information to The Employer Group’s clients. I am responsible for a variety of specific human resources activities, including but not limited to: HR consultation and compliance for clients, benefits support, talent management, general human resources administration, and training.
 
How long have you been in the Human Resource field? 
20+ years
 
Which of your career accomplishments makes you proudest? 
Achieving my PHR Certification early in my career.
 
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 
I don’t have one specific piece of advice, but I would like to recognize and thank my mentor, who was willing to take a chance on me. Her guidance, training and wisdom influenced me greatly and contributed to my success as an HR professional.
 
Why did you decide to join GMA SHRM?
I joined GMA-SHRM because they are an excellent organization that provides training and networking opportunities and as well as resources for HR professionals.

 

GMA SHRM Volunteer Spotlight

Name: Shaun Thomson
 
How long have you been volunteering with GMA SHRM?
For about eight years.
 
What committee are you volunteering with? Have you volunteered on other committees? If yes, which one?
I am currently Chair of the Communications & Marketing Committee as well as serving on the Human Capital Conference Committee.
 
What do you enjoy about volunteering?
I’m the only HR Professional at Second Harvest Foodbank.  Volunteering with GMA SHRM helps me to get to know other HR Professionals that I can relate to and bounce ideas off of.
 
What would you say to others who are considering volunteering with GMA SHRM?
I would definitely recommend it.  There are so many ways to get involved, and you’ll get to meet some really great people.
 
What have you gotten back from volunteering with GMA SHRM?
I was a member of GMA SHRM for about seven years before I started volunteering.  I would go to the occasional event and gravitate towards the one or two people that I knew.  Once I started to volunteer, I felt like I was getting so much more out of my membership.  I’ve created wonderful friendships and really feel invested in the chapter




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

 

Return to Top

 

Welcome New Members!

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

Movin' Up

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 .