Dear GMA SHRM Members,

Happy Fall! This is an exciting and busy time of the year, with the WI State SHRM Conference October 9^th to 11^th and all that we know comes with fourth quarter planning. 

In addition to the conference, be sure to reconnect at one of our upcoming virtual HR roundtables this month and register for our highly anticipated Legal Update PDS on November 19^th, presented by Boardman & Clark and Littler. The first session will provide valuable insights to help you “Navigate Investigations, Discipline, and Performance Improvement Plans,” followed by “Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law for Wisconsin Employers.” You can find all the details and registration information for these amazing events and more on our GMA Education & Events page.

Additionally, we’ll be announcing the winners of our New Member Referral Contest at the November PDS.  You can still get in the running; it goes through the end of October and it’s simple: Share code “Save25” with your HR friends, colleagues, vendors, customers, and anyone you think might benefit from GMA membership. When a new member joins using this code and includes your name in the “referred by” field, they'll receive a $25 discount on their first-year dues, and you'll be entered into the contest with a chance to win $200. For more information, please visit https://www.gmashrm.org/NewMemberContest

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the GMA compensation survey! This valuable data will be shared with all participants and made available for purchase to non-participating members for only $95. Watch for more information to come!

If you’d like to get more involved with committees, such as the compensation committee or others, please join us at our upcoming GMA SHRM 101 event. We also invite you to explore all the ways you can get involved here and reach out to any of us on the board of directors to learn more. We’d love to have you join in the fun!


Warm regards,


Laura Bermudo, President
Greater Madison Area SHRM Chapter
lbermudo@myhaus.com / 608.383.4568

Legal Update – Reminders Regarding Performance Improvement Plans

Submitted from Storm Larson, Aiyanna Simms, & Mai Chao Chang, Attorneys at Boardman & Clark LLP, a Platinum Partner
 

Storm Larson

Mai Chao Chang

Aiyanah Simms

A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is an important document that organizations can use to help hold employees to high standards at work. However, HR professionals need to make sure they draft PIPs appropriately. You shouldn’t put an employee on a performance improvement plan solely for the purpose of going through the process. Well-drafted PIPs can be effective evidence of performance deficiencies if an employee is eventually terminated for performance reasons and challenges the validity of that termination. 

Here are some tips for drafting PIPs:

   A.     Ensure that you retain at-will employment through the term of the PIP.
   B.     You can include timeframes for review (“We will check in every 15 days”), but do not imply that employment is guaranteed until the PIP has expired.
   C.     Do not agree to exclude the PIP from the employee’s personnel records if the employee successfully corrects the issues. It should remain part of the file in the event of future performance issues.
   D.     An employee doesn’t have to sign their PIP in order for it to be valid. If they refuse to sign, just note that on the form.  Don’t water down the significance of the form by stating “Employee’s signature acknowledges receipt of the document, not agreement with its contents.” 

For more information on the legal aspects of PIPs, discipline, evaluations, and investigations, attend the November 19, 2024 PDS where we will be covering these issues in greater detail.
 

2025 Workplace Policy Conference

Submitted by Mai Xiong, Director of Government Affairs

We're thrilled to announce that the Workforce Policy Conference (formerly known as Day on the Hill) is returning! Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 20th, 2025 for an all-day event packed with insightful discussions on the latest workforce policies and trends.

Don't miss this chance to engage with industry experts! Stay tuned for more details. 

 

HR Student Night Out!

Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Wisconsin School of Business - Room 2190

Students!  Network with local HR Professionals, ask career questions to an expert panel representing a variety of HR areas, and learn more about GMA SHRM Student Scholarship.

Members!  Attend this event to meet and share with the next class of HR Professionals!

More Information

Diversity Observances in September and October

Submitted by Mary Vesely, GMA SHRM Director of Diversity 

Article of the Month: In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, check out this page for ways to foster a culture of inclusion: 
https://askearn.org/page/disability-inclusion-in-the-workplace


October and November Observances

 

Use these observances for team engagement! Have fun, celebrate diversity, and take this opportunity to share stories and learn more about your teammates.  

**NEW – Check out our 2024 Diversity Calendar on our DEI Resources page.

Return to Top

 

 

HR InTouch Guidelines